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(1) The purpose of this procedure is to ensure the management of risks associated with asbestos management at Southern Cross University (SCU) are appropriately managed and controlled. (2) The purpose of this procedure is to ensure Southern Cross University’s management, employees, contractors, students, visitors and others are aware of the risks associated with asbestos management in the workplace, management strategies and to provide advice on appropriate controls. (3) All employees, students and others including both independent contractors and contractors under SCU control are to be made aware of and follow this procedure. (4) This Procedure applies to all SCU Work Units and sites. The procedure aligns with WHS legislation in the relevant jurisdictions SCU operates in. (5) SCU minimises the risks of asbestos to SCU employees, students, and visitors within our workplaces by: (6) Consultation and communication with a person who may be affected by any maintenance and service work that might disturb asbestos will occur. People performing the work must receive all necessary training and review the current asbestos register and the appropriate asbestos management plans and the work should be documented and supervised. (7) Where there is more than one Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU), for example an asbestos contractor and an air quality technician, both must consult to coordinate activities to ensure all risks are known and controlled. (8) SCU will provide nationally recognised Asbestos Awareness training through a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) to all Property Services employees. (9) Contractors engaged by SCU to carry out licenced asbestos removal work must have completed the relevant Asbestos Removal Training, and the correct classification, provided by an RTO and should be able to provide this to Property Services upon request. (10) The person(s) removing asbestos must be a holder of an A class asbestos removal licence for friable asbestos and a B class asbestos removal licence for non-friable asbestos. (11) Property Services must ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, that all asbestos or Asbestos Containing Material (ACM) at the workplace is identified and inspected by a competent person. EAL soil and compost samples must also be analysed for ACM by a competent person. (12) An inspection of the Work Unit for asbestos and ACM by a competent person must occur: (13) All buildings and structures constructed and/or refurbished prior to December 2003 are assessed by the competent person. The assessment report includes the following: (14) Research equipment owned or controlled by SCU, due to the age of the equipment, may contain ACM. Work units should conduct inspections to identify such equipment. Equipment that contains ACM should be disposed of correctly and replaced with non-asbestos equipment or components. The work unit should contact the WHS team and Property Services for further instructions on the disposal of such equipment. (15) Naturally occurring asbestos (NOA) is unlikely to be encountered at the majority of SCU workplaces. However, NOA and ACM may occur during construction or excavation activities that involve disturbing the earth and creating dust. Where this occurs, work should cease, and Property Services should be contacted for further instructions. (16) An asbestos register as described in the requirements of the WHS Regulations is to be maintained by Property Services and includes the following mandatory requirements as a minimum. An additional register is maintained for G block at Lismore campus. (17) The register is reviewed at least once every five years by the competent person. The competent person conducts a visual inspection of the asbestos and ACM listed within the register to determine its condition and to revise the asbestos register as appropriate. (18) An update of the asbestos register is also required: (19) An asbestos management plan sets out how asbestos or ACM that is identified at the workplace will be managed, for example what, when and how it is going to be done. (20) An asbestos management plan must include information about the following: (21) Other information that may be included in the asbestos management plan is: (22) The asbestos management plan should be kept at the workplace to ensure it is accessible and it must be reviewed and revised, if necessary, every five years or when: (23) The SCU Asbestos Management Plan can be found in the SCU Policy and Procedure Library. (24) Managing the risks arising from asbestos-related work is to be done in a way that is consistent with the hierarchy of control measures. Whatever the control method used, it should be effective in making all employees aware of the presence of asbestos and prevent any work activity that might expose them, or others nearby, to airborne asbestos. Particular attention should be paid to controlling work activities that affect inaccessible areas listed in the asbestos register, such as wall cavities and ceiling spaces. (25) For effective control measures refer to the Code of Practice ‘How to manage and control asbestos in the workplace’. (26) There are a variety of maintenance and service work processes that have the potential to disturb asbestos-containing materials. These include any process that is likely to release asbestos fibres such as: (27) Asbestos related work, meaning any work involving the disturbance of asbestos or ACM is prohibited. The exception to this is that a trained and competent person may conduct works involving asbestos for the purpose of implementing a control measure or removing asbestos or ACM. As a minimum a Class A or Class B licensed asbestos contractor should be used for such tasks when required. (28) Property Services have designed a system whereby suitably qualified contractors are required to complete a Permit prior to working in an area identified in the Asbestos Management Plan as having or potentially having Asbestos or ACM. Refer to the Access Permit to a Restricted Work Area Containing Asbestos Form found here. (29) The ‘Code of Practice – How to safely remove asbestos’ includes detail of the licensing requirements for employees engaged in removing asbestos. (30) The exposure standard for asbestos must not be exceeded in the workplace. (31) If respirable airborne fibres are suspected or identified, air monitoring may be required. This requires consultation with a competent person who may request an Occupational Hygienist or Licence Asbestos Assessor to take a sample measurement of the air quality within the employees’ breathing zone. This sample is sent for analysis by an approved laboratory to assess the sample against the exposure standard. The result may require (as guided by the hygienist or competent person) the use of PPE including respiratory protective equipment. Where necessary, work may be stopped to assess and mitigate the cause of the airborne asbestos level before continuing on. (32) If test results suggest employees have been exposed to asbestos, the WHS Regulator is to be notified. A report of the action the SCU has taken in response to the findings is to be supplied to the WHS Regulator. (33) An air quality test shall be conducted prior and post completion to removal of ACM, in accordance with the Asbestos Management Plan and is organised by Property Services. (34) All warning signs and labels must comply with AS1319:1994 – “Safety Signs for the Occupational Environment”. (35) Examples of signs and labels are included in the Code of Practice – How to manage and control asbestos in the workplace – Appendix A. The wording may vary in accordance with AS1319:1994 – Safety Signs for the Occupational Environment. The positioning of these must be determined by the competent person, adhere to the asbestos management plan, and placed in positions that provide the necessary identification and information required to prevent inadvertent disruption to the asbestos or ACM e.g. at access points to ceilings or next to valves where asbestos has been used as pipe lagging. (36) Any exposure or potential exposure is reported in RiskWare incident notification form. For individuals who have been potentially exposed, SCU will arrange for an appropriate personal health surveillance where required, which usually includes a chest x-ray. Detail of any potential exposures will be kept on employees’ personal staff records. Employees who have been exposed must be registered with the Regulatory Asbestos Register within three months of the exposure. (37) SCU will maintains a register of people who are known to have been exposed to asbestos. This register includes: (38) Further information on Asbestos Registers and Asbestos Management Plans can be obtained by contacting Property Services. (39) Refer to WHS Responsibility and Accountability Statements. (40) The Vice Chancellor has the following WHS responsibilities: (41) Vice Presidents/Pro/Deputy Vice Chancellors have the following WHS responsibilities: (42) Heads of Work Units have the following WHS responsibilities: (43) Managers and Supervisors have the following WHS responsibilities: (44) All relevant documentation will be recorded and kept in accordance with WHS Legislation and other legislative obligations including: (45) The following documents are also required at sites with asbestos and sites where there is a possibility that asbestos is present: (46) Health surveillance records for employees are maintained and kept for a period of 40 years. The employee is also be provided with a copy. (47) All other asbestos records are maintained and retained for at least 5 years, or if a notifiable incident has occurred 40 years. (48) This procedure will be reviewed as per nominated review dates or because of other events, such as: HRP03: Asbestos Management
Section 1 - Purpose and Scope
Section 2 - Definitions
Top of Page
Section 3 - General Principles
Consultation
Information, Instruction and Training
Identification and inspection
Assessment
Naturally occurring asbestos
Register
Asbestos Management Plan
Control indicators for asbestos-containing materials
Potentially Hazardous Processes
Exposure Monitoring
Warning Signs and Labels
Health Surveillance
Section 4 - Roles and Responsibilities
SCU Vice Chancellor
Vice Presidents/Pro/Deputy Vice Chancellors
Head of Work Units
Managers and Supervisors
Top of PageSection 5 - Records of Documentation
Section 6 - Revision and approval history
Top of PageSection 7 - References
Top of Page
Section 8 - Related Documents
WHS Responsibility and Accountability Statement