• Section 1 - Purpose and Scope
• Section 2 - Definitions 
• 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 
• Section 5 - Records of Documentation  
• Section 6 - Revision and approval history 
• Section 7 - References 
• Section 8 -  Related Documents 

Section 1 - Purpose and Scope

(1) This Procedure aims to ensure Southern Cross University (SCU) management, employees, students, and others know the risks associated with asbestos in the workplace and relevant management strategies for the risk mitigation process. 

(2) All employees, students, and others must follow this Procedure.   

(3) This Procedure applies to all SCU Work Units and sites. 

Section 2 - Definitions 

Section 3 - General Principles 

(4) SCU minimises the risks of asbestos to SCU employees, students, and visitors within our workplaces by:  

1. Providing all employees access to this procedure, Asbestos Management Plan, asbestos register and an induction to the safety management system. 
2. Outsourcing asbestos removal to a competent Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU) who has received nationally recognised training and is certified to remove asbestos.  
3. Periodically engaging a competent person to survey all sites and facilities. The qualified person will provide a report that will form the basis of each building’s Asbestos Register and Asbestos Management Plan.  
4. Property Services maintains an up-to-date Asbestos Register located on the website and selected onsite locations. 
5. Labelling known asbestos locations with appropriate and visible signage.  
6. Prioritising the removal of any damaged or compromised asbestos materials as urgent projects.  
7. Ensure removal works are scheduled and all affected parties are notified.   
8. All maintenance and removal of asbestos is undertaken by an approved licenced contractor that is organised and coordinated by Property Services. 

Consultation  

(5) Consultation and communication with a person 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. The work should be documented and supervised.  

(6) Where there is more than one 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. 

Information, Instruction and Training  

(7) SCU will provide nationally recognised Asbestos Awareness training to all Property Services employees through a Registered Training Organisation (RTO).  

(8) 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 give this to Property Services upon request. 

(9) The person(s) removing asbestos must hold an A Class asbestos removal licence for friable asbestos and a B Class asbestos removal licence for non-friable asbestos. 

Identification and inspection  

(10) Property Services must ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, that all asbestos or ACM at the workplace is identified and inspected by a competent person. EAL soil and compost samples must also be analysed by a competent person for ACM. 

(11) An inspection of the Work Unit for asbestos and ACM by a competent person must occur:  

1. At least every five years, or 
2. Before any work impacting the Asbestos Management Plan is undertaken, or 
3. When any disturbance of the environment or buildings uncovers potentially or previously unidentified asbestos or ACM.  

Assessment  

(12) All buildings and structures constructed and/or refurbished prior to December 2003 are assessed by a competent person.  The assessment report includes the following: 

1. The sources of asbestos and ACM. 
2. The condition of the asbestos or ACM.
3. The likelihood of exposure and potential health risks.
4. The nature and location of any work that may be carried out that would disturb the asbestos or ACM. 

(13) Due to the age of the equipment, research equipment owned or controlled by SCU 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 disposing of such equipment. 

Naturally occurring asbestos 

(14) Naturally occurring asbestos (NOA) is unlikely to be encountered at most SCU sites. However, NOA and ACM may occur during construction or excavation activities that involve disturbing the earth and creating dust. Where this happens, work should cease, and Property Services should be contacted for further instructions. 

Register  

(15) 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. 

1. The date the register was last reviewed and/or updated by a competent person. 
2. The type of material, including a sufficient description for identification. 
3. The condition of the material. 
4. The location of all asbestos and asbestos-containing material. 
5. Ensure the register is accessible to the employees, contractors and sub-contractors at the site.  
6. The revision of the register.

(16) The register is reviewed at least once every five years by the competent person. The competent person visually inspects the asbestos and ACM listed within the register to determine its condition and to revise the asbestos register as appropriate.  

(17) An update of the asbestos register is also required: 

1. If more asbestos is identified on the site. 
2. If substances that are tested are suspected of containing asbestos. 
3. If asbestos has been damaged or compromised. 
4. After work affecting the Asbestos Management Plan has been undertaken. 
5. After completing demolition or refurbishment works where asbestos has been removed as part of the project.  

Asbestos Management Plan  

(18) 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 will be done.  

(19) An Asbestos Management Plan must include information about the following: 

1. The identification of asbestos and ACM, for example, a reference or link to the asbestos register for the workplace, and the locations of signs and labels.
2. Decisions, and reasons for the decisions, about the management of asbestos at the workplace, for example, safe work procedures and control measures. 
3. Procedures for detailing accidents, incidents, or emergencies involving asbestos at the workplace.
4. Employees carrying out work involving asbestos, for example, consultation, information, and training responsibilities. 

(20) Other information that may be included in the Asbestos Management Plan is: 

1. An outline of how asbestos risks will be controlled, including consideration of appropriate control measures. 
2. A timetable for managing risks of exposure, for example, priorities and dates for any reviews, circumstances, and activities that could affect the timing of action. 
3. Identification of each person with responsibilities under the Asbestos Management Plan and the person’s responsibilities.  
4. Procedures, including a timetable for reviewing and, if necessary, revising the Asbestos Management Plan and asbestos register.
5. Air monitoring procedures at the workplace, if required. 

(21) 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: 

1. There is a review of the asbestos register or a control measure. 
2. Asbestos is removed from or disturbed, sealed, or enclosed at the workplace. 
3. The plan is no longer adequate for managing asbestos or ACM at the workplace.  
4. A health and safety representative request a review because they reasonably believe that any of the matters listed in the above points affects or may affect the health and safety of a member of their work group. 

(22) The SCU Asbestos Management Plan can be found in the SCU Policy and Procedure Library. 

Control indicators for asbestos-containing materials  

(23) Managing the risks arising from asbestos-related work is to be done in a way consistent with the hierarchy of control measures. Whatever the control method used, it should be effective in making all individuals aware of the presence of asbestos and prevent any 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. 

(24) For effective control measures refer to the Code of Practice ‘How to manage and control asbestos in the workplace’. 

Potentially Hazardous Processes  

(25) There are a variety of maintenance and service work processes that have the potential to disturb ACM. These include any process that is likely to release asbestos fibres such as: 

1. Removal of asbestos or ACM. 
2. Drilling of asbestos or ACM. 
3. Sealing, painting, and cleaning asbestos cement products. 
4. Cleaning gutters on asbestos cement roofs. 
5. Handling asbestos cement conduits or boxes. 
6. Working on electrical mounting boards containing asbestos.  
7. Removing glass from external windowpanes where glad has been secured with ACM. 
8. Refurbishing flooring materials such as tiles which may contain ACM. 

(26) Asbestos-related work, meaning any work involving the disturbance of asbestos or ACM, is prohibited. The exception is that a trained and competent person may conduct works involving asbestos to implement a control measure or remove asbestos or ACM. As a minimum a Class A or Class B licensed asbestos contractor should be used for such tasks when required. 

(27) Property Services have designed a system whereby suitably qualified contractors are required to complete a Permit before 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. 

(28) The ‘Code of Practice – How to safely remove asbestos’ includes detail of the licensing requirements for employees engaged in removing asbestos.  

Exposure Monitoring  

(29) The exposure standard for asbestos must not be exceeded in the workplace. 

(30) Air monitoring may be required if respirable airborne fibres are suspected or identified. This requires consultation with a competent person who may request an Occupational Hygienist or Licenced 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. Work may be stopped to assess and mitigate the cause of the airborne asbestos level before continuing.  

(31) If test results suggest employees have been exposed to asbestos, the WHS Regulator will be notified. A report of SCU’s action in response to the findings is to be supplied to the WHS Regulator.  

(32) 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.  

Warning Signs and Labels  

(33) All warning signs and labels must comply with AS1319:1994 – “Safety Signs for the Occupational Environment”.  

(34) Examples of signs and labels are included in the Code of Practice: “How to manage and control asbestos in the workplace” (See Image 1. Examples of Asbestos warning signs). 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.  

Health Surveillance  

(35) Any exposure or potential exposure is reported in the RiskWare incident notification form. For individuals who have been potentially exposed, SCU will arrange for appropriate personal health surveillance where required, which usually includes a chest x-ray. Details of any potential exposures will be kept on employees’ personal records. Employees who have been exposed must be registered with the Regulatory Asbestos Register within three months of the exposure.  

(36) SCU will maintain a register of people who are known to have been exposed to asbestos. This register includes: 

1. Name of exposed employee. 
2. Staff number. 
3. Details of the exposure. 
4. Date of the investigation. 
5. Facility Contacts/Responsible Persons  

(37) (37) Further information on Asbestos Registers and Asbestos Management Plans can be obtained by contacting Property Services.  

Section 4 - Roles and Responsibilities 

(38) Refer to WHSMP13: Responsibility and Accountability Statement.

Section 5 - Records of Documentation  

(39) All relevant documentation will be recorded and kept in accordance with WHS Legislation and other legislative obligations including:

1. Details and scope of the work performed. 
2. Names of those performing the work. 
3. Date or dates of the work. 
4. Include copies of any clearance certificates or permits. 
5. Records of visual inspections. 
6. Copies of all disposal receipts.  
7. Copies of notifications to occupants. 
8. Images of any onsite visual restrictions. 

(40) The following documents are also required at sites with asbestos and sites where there is a possibility that asbestos is present:

1. Site asbestos audit. 
2. Site asbestos register. 
3. Site Asbestos Management Plan. 
4. Asbestos monitoring records. 
5. Clearance certificate.  

(41) Health surveillance records for employees are maintained and kept for a period of 40 years. The employee is also be provided with a copy.  

(42) All other asbestos records are maintained and retained for at least 5 years, or if a notifiable incident has occurred, 40 years. 

Section 6 - Revision and approval history 

(43) This procedure will be reviewed as per nominated review dates or because of other events, such as: 

1. Internal and external audit outcomes. 
2. Legislative changes. 
3. Outcomes from management reviews. 
4. Incidents. 

Section 7 - References 

Section 8 -  Related Documents