Asbestos Health & Safety

Obligations of the Client - Asbestos Specialists can Help!

A client is defined as a person in control of a house or building (either the owner, occupier, lessee or employer) who commissions asbestos removal work.

Under Part 7 of the asbestos removal code the client must do the following:

• Ensure that an asbestos removalist is used to perform asbestos removal work.
• Nominate one or more people to liaise with the asbestos removalist.
• Request the details of the removalist's certificate.
• Ensure a copy of the workplace’s register of asbestos containing materials (ACM) is given to the asbestos removalist.
• If there is no register of ACM it is the owner’s responsibility to create one before work starts.
• The owner must provide an asbestos removalist with detailed work specifications and requirements. This information is to include details of what is to be removed, where it is located and any hazards that may be associated with the asbestos removal work.

Obligations of Asbestos Removers

Code of Practice for the Safe Removal of Asbestos 2nd Edition [NOHSC:2002(2005)]

Under Part 7.3 of the asbestos removal code asbestos removalists must do the following:

				Hold a certificate to perform asbestos removal work and provide details of their certificate to the client.
				Develop an asbestos removal control plan before work starts.
				Ensure asbestos removal is carried out safely.
				Ensure asbestos removal supervisors have appropriate knowledge of precautions and procedures.
				Ensure persons performing the removal of ACM are competent to perform the tasks.
				Provide people doing asbestos removal work with adequate training to prevent risk to themselves and others.
				Establish a health surveillance program as determined by an assessment of potential risk.

Definitions

Definitions are provided by the Code of Practice for the Safe Removal of Asbestos 2nd Edition [NOHSC:2002(2005)]

Asbestos-Containing Material (ACM)

Means any material, object, product or debris that contains asbestos.

Asbestos Vacuum Cleaner

Means a vacuum cleaner that is fitted with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) Filter and complies with Australian Standard 3544-1988 Industrial vacuum Cleaners for Particulates Hazardous to Health. A domestic vacuum cleaner (even if it has a HEPA filter) is not suitable for use with asbestos.

Asbestos Work Area

Means the immediate area in which work on ACM is taking place. The boundaries of the asbestos work are must be determined by a risk assessment.

Clearance Inspection (same as Asbestos Specialists Safety Control Inspection)

Means an inspection, carried out by a competent person, to verify that an asbestos work area is safe to be returned to normal use after work involving disturbance of ACM has take n place.