Asbestos

Airsafe can perform air monitoring for asbestos when asbestos-containing materials are being removed to ensure control measures are effective. Air monitoring reports are NATA endorsed as part of our accreditation.

Airsafe carries out visual inspections of asbestos work areas prior to the resumption of normal work in the area by unprotected personnel. This examination can be used to confirm asbestos maintenance or removal works have been completed and there is no visual evidence of dust and debris.

Airsafe assists with the development of registers of asbestos-containing materials for premises. The asbestos register includes information on the identification of asbestos materials, as well as risk assessments and appropriate control measures for asbestos materials identified.

Airsafe provides analysis of bulk samples for the qualitative identification of asbestos by polarized light microscopy (PLM) and dispersion staining (DS) techniques. We offer rapid turn-around on sample analysis with results available on the same day when required.

Airsafe provides asbestos removal specifications, which provide precise details of the asbestos removal requirements prior to the commencement of works. All site specific hazards relating to asbestos will be assessed as part of this control plan. The purpose of the asbestos removal control plan is to help ensure the removal is well planned and carried out in a safe manner.

In some circumstances, soil can become contaminated with asbestos-containing material. This can occur during the removal of asbestos materials or as a result of existing landfill. Airsafe can provide professional site remediation services and advice on methods for the decontamination of the soil based on a risk assessment. Our competent occupational hygienists assess the site to determine if the asbestos material is bonded or friable, the extent of asbestos contamination, and safe work procedures for the remediation of the site. The assessment and safe work procedures will reflect the level of the hazards and the proposed use of the land, ensuring environmental and planning legislative requirements are complied with.

Airsafe can undertake project management on asbestos removal works encompassing preparation of tender documents and reviewing applications from contractors to ensure they are appropriately licensed and qualified.

Airsafe provides supervisory personnel to ensure asbestos removal works are adequately supervised and carried out in a safe manner. Airsafe staff have a detailed knowledge of the precautions and procedures outlined in the Code of Practice for the Safe Removal of Asbestos [NOHSC: 2002(2005)]. Visual inspections prior to the commencement of works determine suitable boundaries for the asbestos work area with a focus on appropriate security, signage and barriers. This will ensure that non-essential people do not enter and warn persons that asbestos work is being carried out. Smoke tests can be carried out on asbestos removal enclosures prior to the commencement of work to ensure the integrity of the work area. Our supervisory personnel ensure that the client is reliably and regularly informed of the progress of the removal work.

Information and training is provided to workers, contractors and others who may come in contact with asbestos containing materials in a workplace, either directly or indirectly.

As part of development applications, many Councils require Asbestos & Hazardous Materials surveys to be submitted in order to gain the Construction Certificate. Airsafe can provide all documentation that councils may need in order to meet the conditions of consent in relation to Asbestos & Hazardous Materials.

Asbestos is the generic term for a number of fibrous silicate minerals. There are two major groups of asbestos. The serpentine group contains chrysotile, commonly known as white asbestos. The amphibole group contains amosite (brown asbestos), crocidolite (blue asbestos) as well as some other less common types, which are tremolite, actinolite, and anthophyllite.

Chrysotile is the form of asbestos that has been used commercially from the serpentine group. In the past, chrysotile has been used in the manufacture of; asbestos cloth, tapes, ropes and gaskets for packing and in thermal and chemical insulation; asbestos cement sheets and pipes for construction, casing for water and electrical/telecommunication services; rubber, plastics, thermosetting resins, adhesives, paints, coatings, caulking compounds and sealants for thermal, electrical and insulation applications; fire-rated doors, equipment and structural beams of buildings; fillers and filters. Up until recently, chrysotile had been used almost exclusively in the manufacture of packing and friction material such as gaskets, brake and clutch linings.

Amosite and crocidolite were used in many products until the early 1980s. The use of all types of asbestos in the amphibole group was banned in the mid 1980s. These products were mainly; asbestos cement sheets and pipes for construction, casing for water and electrical/telecommunication services; thermal and chemical insulation ie, fire rated doors, limpet spray, lagging and gaskets.

Asbestos fibres are made up of many very fine fibrils, so that as asbestos is further processed or disturbed, the airborne fibres become progressively finer and more hazardous. The most dangerous fibres are the smallest ones which are invisible to the naked eye, but which penetrate the deepest part of the lungs.

Chrysotile fibres are curly and are less likely to become airborne to the same extent as the straight amphibole fibres such as amosite and crocidolite.

Breathing in the fibres brings a risk of asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma. There is evidence that asbestos causes gastrointestinal and laryngeal cancers in humans, but to a far lesser extent than lung cancer.

Asbestos-related diseases have a delay or lag period usually in the order of 20 to 40 years between first exposure and onset of symptoms and detection of the disease. Asbestos disease can appear or progress even after a person is no longer exposed.