Webinar Recap: Key Insights on Asbestos Management

We recently attended the May webinar held by the Western Sydney and Central Coast Safety Group, which featured an insightful presentation by Paul Paciullo MAIOH, CENVP, MOccHyg, and BEnvSc on asbestos testing, removal, and management. Here’s a high-level overview of the key points discussed:

Types of Asbestos:  Friable asbestos is high-risk and can be crumbled by hand pressure, while non-friable asbestos is mixed with hard materials but can become friable if damaged.

Legacy Asbestos in Homes: Buildings constructed before the mid-1980s are highly likely to contain asbestos, with decreasing likelihood in buildings constructed up to 2003.

Asbestos Register and Management Plan: Workplaces with buildings or structures built before 2004 (1990 in Queensland) must have an asbestos register and a management plan. The plan should be reviewed every five years, and consultation should be conducted regularly.

Asbestos Identification and Response: Suspected asbestos should be tested in a NATA-accredited lab. Work should stop immediately if found unexpectedly, and the area should be restricted and reported.

For more detailed guidance, check out these resources:
How to Manage and Control Asbestos in the Workplace
How to Safely Remove Asbestos

Thanks to the Australian Institute of Health & Safety for their support. To view the full presentation, click here.