F30. Asbestos Removal Control Plan

Documents for use on site

Introduction

The purpose of this Asbestos Removal Control Plan is to ensure that adequate controls are implemented and that timely notifications are made to affected stakeholders.

Objectives

The objectives of this Asbestos Removal Control Plan can be summarised as follows:

• Ensure the health and safety of all workers, and others, and surrounding areas;
• Identify potential emergency situations and provide planning and adequate instruction to workers on how to deal with potential emergencies on a site specific basis.
• Prevent, reduce and effectively manage potential impacts to the environment resulting from the works, material handling and associated disposal;
• Ensure that environmental management is undertaken in accordance with relevant legislative and policy requirements; and

Asbestos vacuum cleaners should comply with the Class H requirements in Australian Standard AS/NZS 60335.2. Industrial vacuum cleaners or its equivalent.  

Asbestos vacuum cleaners should not be used on wet materials or surfaces. Attachments with brushes should not be used as they are difficult to decontaminate. Filters for these vacuum cleaners should conform to the requirements of AS 4260 High efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters – Classification, construction and performance or its equivalent. 

Prohibited Tools and Equipment 

Tools and equipment that generate dust must not be used on asbestos. These include: 

High-speed abrasive power and pneumatic tools, for example angle grinders, sanders, saws and high-speed drills, brooms and brushes (unless brushes are used for sealing), high-pressure water spray, jets, power or similar tools and instruments on asbestos in the workplace. Household vacuum cleaners must never be used where asbestos is or may be present, even if they have a HEPA filter.

Access to Heights 

• All workers working above 3m for residential and 2m for commercial work must hold a “work at heights “ competency. 
• Ladder access 
  • Ladders shall be: 
    • industrial rated. 
    • sited on level ground. 
    • secured at the top.
• Edge protection 
  • Edge protection shall be installed. 
  • A designated access point shall be provided by the installer. 
  • The edge protection shall be certified. 
  • The edge protection cannot be modified by anyone except the installer. 
  • While transiting from the ladder to the roof workers should consider attaching their harness to the edge protection. 
• Working on the roof - Where no safety wire is installed 
  • Workers shall wear a fall restraint harness  
  • be attached to an engineered anchor point. 
• Working on the roof – Where a Heavy-Duty Tarpaulin is installed by removalist. 
  • The tarpaulin shall be rolled across the roof by harnessed workers. 
  • The tarpaulin shall be secured. 
  • The tarpaulin shall be rolled back to expose the live roof edge only as required. 

Any worker walking across an unprotected roof frame shall be harnessed.

Enclosure system details:

TESTING OF DECONTAMINATION PROCEDURES shall be performed prior to commencement. 

• Non-Friable Asbestos removal 

Decontamination area to be setup on edge of work area near with a facility to dispose of asbestos suits. A entry and exit point will be setup to allow a clear delineation. 

Builders plastic to be rolled out on floor and any on surfaces where dust may be able to settle. Enclosure to be built around asbestos removal area. Following removal of asbestos, decontamination of area with HEPA vac and PVA to be carried out. The plastic is to be vacuumed, sprayed, and disposed of into asbestos bin. 

Other possible risk control measures to prevent release of asbestos fibres. 

• No power tools. 

• Enclosure systems. 

• Air-monitoring. 

• Minimise breakage of sheets. 

• Clean up debris

Site Assessment (Monitor & review) 

     The Site Supervisor will perform a Daily Inspection to perform this task.   

     The Safety Committee will conduct walk through inspections monthly 

Any breaches will be notified to the worker, his PCBU and the PC 

The wet spray method is the preferred asbestos removal method and should be used for the removal of asbestos from structures and plant. The wet spray method requires the use of a constant low-pressure water supply for wetting down asbestos and related items to suppress asbestos fibres. This can be achieved with a mains-supplied garden hose fitted with a pistol grip. If no water supply is readily available, a portable pressurised vessel (for example, a pump-up garden sprayer) may be used. The design of the spraying equipment will depend on the availability of a water supply and access to the area to be sprayed. The wet spray method involves applying a fine water spray to the asbestos in a manner that ensures the entire surface of the asbestos is saturated and the run-off is minimised. The asbestos should be maintained in a wet condition throughout the removal.

A wetting agent (surfactant), for example detergent, may be added to the water to facilitate more rapid wetting of the asbestos. A manually controlled, consistent low-pressure, fine spray (for example, from an adjustable pistol-grip garden hose) is recommended. For very small areas, a small spray water bottle may be sufficient. In all cases, the use of water should be in the form of a mist to minimise the potential to generate respirable dust. The asbestos should be wetted through to its full depth and the water spray should be directed at the site of the cut. The wetted material should be removed as the cut is progressed. Immediately after the asbestos is removed from its fixed or installed position, spray should be directed on sides previously not exposed. The wet friable asbestos removed in sections should immediately be placed in suitably labelled asbestos waste containers and properly sealed along with any small sections dislodged as the asbestos is cut.

Wherever reasonably practicable, a HEPA-fitted vacuum cleaner should be used in conjunction with the wet spray method. The HEPA vacuum cleaner should be used prior to spraying asbestos with water and for the collection of any dust spread over a large area. Airborne asbestos fibres are significantly suppressed when the wet spray method is used; however, they are not entirely eliminated so effective PPE including RPE is also essential. Refer to Section 4.5 of the Code for information on RPE. Consideration should be given to applying a PVA emulsion as it may be more effective than water (with a wetting agent) in minimising fibre release. For example, PVA can be applied and allowed to dry on AC roofing prior to its removal as an alternative method to prevent slip hazards.

The dry method is not preferred as there is a much greater potential for airborne asbestos fibres to be generated. The dry removal method can only be used if the wet spray or soaking methods are not suitable, for example if there are live electrical conductors or if major electrical equipment could be permanently damaged or made dangerous by contact with water. If the dry removal method is used, the following controls should be implemented:

Enclose the asbestos removal work area as far as is reasonably practicable.

Fully enclose the asbestos removal work area with plastic sheeting (a minimum 200 µm thick) and maintain at a negative pressure (at least 12 Pa water gauge). Ensure all workers involved in the removal operation wear full-face positive-pressure supplied air-line respirators.

The asbestos should be removed in small, pre-cut sections with minimal disturbance to minimise the generation of airborne asbestos fibres as much as possible. Wherever reasonably practicable, a HEPA-fitted vacuum cleaner should be used.

All waste material should be immediately placed in appropriate wet containers which are wetting to suppress creation of dust and airborne fibres.

Transport in trucks to search-disposal-facilities

Induction acknowledgement