Asbestos and hazardous materials risk management procedure
1 Purpose
To prevent asbestos-related disease resulting from exposure to airborne asbestos in the workplace.
2 Application
This procedure applies to all staff, students, contractors and other personnel at workplaces under the management or control of the University of Melbourne.
The University has undertaken comprehensive hazardous materials audits for each building under the management control of the University. Control of asbestos is through a written plan of action that involves removing, enclosing or encapsulating asbestos.
This procedure indicates how risks arising from asbestos in the workplace will be identified, assessed and controlled.
3 Legislation
Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2007 (Vic)
Occupational Health & Safety Act 2004 (Vic)
4 References
University Services, Infrastructure Services, Campus Services hazardous materials audits
5 Responsibilities
5.1 University Services, Infrastructure Services, Campus Services
Instigate (Division 5) asbestos audits to identify asbestos products within the structure or fabric of all buildings under the management control of the University.
Responsible for ensuring asbestos products identified in the audits are appropriately labelled where practicable.
Coordinate removal of asbestos from University buildings, where required, consulting with affected staff on the removal process.
5.2 Associate Director, Health & Safety
Ensure the provision of advice relating to asbestos.
Ensure the provision of advice on equipment likely to contain asbestos to departments and faculties.
Provide labels for the identification of asbestos.
Ensure the provision of advice on the disposal of asbestos-containing equipment.
5.3 Departmental managers
Ensure that equipment purchased does not contain asbestos products. (As of 31 December 2003 all asbestos products are prohibited for sale in Australia.)
Ensure that all equipment under a department’s control that contains asbestos is identified and labelled.
Ensure that a register of all equipment containing asbestos is maintained. This register must contain a description of the equipment, serial number (where applicable), location and type of asbestos (if known).
Ensure that risk assessments are carried out on all equipment that contains asbestos and are available to staff.
Seek advice from the Local Health & Safety contact on the disposal of equipment containing asbestos.
5.4 Campus Services staff/contractors
Check the asbestos register held by Campus Services before commencing any work requiring access to any building spaces.
5.5 Staff
Staff must not bring asbestos products on to University property, nor cause such materials to be delivered to the University.
Staff must not interfere with any asbestos materials on University property.
Staff must not attempt to collect samples for asbestos identification. If the composition of the material is unknown but it is believed that asbestos may be present, then seek advice from the Local Health & Safety contact.
6 Procedure
Divisions and departments are responsible for identifying equipment under their control that may contain asbestos where practicable.
Where asbestos is present, the equipment must be appropriately labelled. An assessment of risk must be conducted to determine (as far as practicable) the risk to persons in the area.
Equipment that may contain asbestos is usually old equipment (most likely pre-1985) where heat insulation was required. Some examples of this equipment are electric drying ovens, furnaces, heater stirrers, bar heaters, distillation apparatus, heating mantles, heat resistant mats and equipment made from Asbestos Cement sheet.
If the asbestos is fully encased and presents no risk, the equipment must be labelled as containing asbestos and the information documented on an asbestos register.
If asbestos is not encased, the equipment needs to be labelled as containing asbestos and a risk assessment conducted for possible exposure. The assessment must take into account:
· The type of asbestos.
· The condition of the asbestos (for example, is it friable or poorly bonded to the equipment).
· The age and general condition of the equipment.
· Whether using the equipment is likely to cause a disturbance of asbestos in the equipment.
· Any other factors that could affect the health of staff or students carrying out their duties.
If the assessment indicates that asbestos in the equipment presents a risk to health, the then seek advice from the Local Health & Safety contact on risk control or disposal.
7 Document control
Established by: Administrative Committee on 15 August 1993
Review due by: 23 February 2019
Version: 1.4 (Updated 29/02/2016)
Approved by: Associate Director, Health & Safety on 23 February 2016