ASBESTOS awareness presentation National HSEQ Manager

Management Commitment UCG ASBESTOS POLICY ‘Universal Communications Group is committed to ensuring that exposure to airborne asbestos in the workplace is eliminated or minimised so far as reasonably practicable and that the exposure standard for Asbestos is not exceeded.’

The presentation will also cover: What is asbestos Where is it found Welcome to the UCG Asbestos Awareness course Course content This Presentation is aimed at Providing UCG Workers with an understanding of Asbestos containing Materials (ACM) that may be potentially encountered at our worksites The presentation will also cover: What is asbestos Where is it found The Risks associated with ACM Risk controls

3. IDENTIFICATION Asbestos - the facts Naturally occurring fibrous material Used during 1940’s – 1980’s Used in various products including construction materials Asbestos banned since 31 December 2003. Asbestos-containing material (ACM) Any material, object, product or debris that contains asbestos. Can take several physical ‘forms’ depending on its method of manufacture and application

HEATLTH RISKS What Is asbestos? Until the mid-1980s, asbestos was widely used in a range of home building materials. If your house was built or renovated before 1987, it is likely you have asbestos in your home. Asbestos is a naturally-occurring fibrous silicate mineral. It was considered a versatile product, because it is able to withstand heat, erosion and decay and has fire and water resistant properties. It becomes a health risk when asbestos fibres are released into the air and breathed in, If asbestos is disturbed it can release dangerous fine particles of dust containing asbestos fibres. Breathing in dust containing asbestos fibres can cause asbestosis, lung cancer and Mesothelioma which is a cancer which most often occurs in the lining of the lung……There is no cure

RISKS Effects on Health Asbestos is formed in fibre bundles and, as it is further processed or disturbed, the fibre bundles become progressively finer and more hazardous to health. The small fibres are the most dangerous. They are invisible to the naked eye and, when inhaled, penetrate the deepest part of the lungs (respirable fibres). Significant health risks may arise from the inhalation of airborne asbestos fibres. Compared with straight amphibole fibres, such as amosite and crocidolite,.chrysotile fibres are curly and less likely to penetrate the deepest parts of the lung. Breathing in fibres brings a risk of asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma. Evidence suggests that asbestos causes gastrointestinal and laryngeal cancers in humans, but to a far lesser extent than lung cancer. Usually, asbestos-related diseases have a delay or latency period of 20 to 40 years between first exposure and the onset of symptoms and detection of the disease. Asbestos-related diseases can appear or progress even after a person is no longer exposed. Asbestosis is the scarring of lung tissue that can result from the inhalation of substantial amounts of asbestos over a period of years. It results in breathlessness that may lead to disability and, in some case, death. Minor changes in X-ray images may be detected for many years without any symptoms of asbestosis or progression of the disease.

RISKS Effects on Health Lung Cancer is related to the amount of fibre that is breathed in and the risk of lung cancer is greatly increased in those who also smoke tobacco. Mesothelioma is a cancer of the pleura (outer lung lining) or the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity). The risk of mesothelioma is less with chrysotile than with other types of asbestos. Both pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma can result from exposure to amosite and crocidolite. Exposure of humans to chrysotile alone has caused few pleural mesotheliomas, and has never produced peritoneal mesothelioma without exposure to either amosite or crocidolite. Mesothelioma rarely occurs in less than 15 years from first exposure, and most cases occur over 30 years after first exposure. As for many cancer-causing substances, no safe level of exposure for lung cancer or mesothelioma has been identified. However, the amount of asbestos fibre in the air that people inhale is the important factor in determining the level of health risk. The highest risks involve inhaling air that contains a high concentration of asbestos fibre.

VIDEO LINKS Asbestos information sources Below is a video link about asbestos. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQeZrnD7O9E This video is why need to take extreme care with asbestos. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnOdJMC67gM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjqwTi7__Gk

TYPES OF ASBESTOS Where is asbestos found Asbestos occurs naturally within rock deposits throughout the world including : -Russia, China, Australia, China, South Africa, India, Greece. Because of the desirable properties of asbestos it was added to many materials related to the housing, electrical and automotive component industries. Asbestos is - Fire Retardant, a thermal insulator, chemical stabilised and a high tensile strengthener. In Australia and New Zealand there were three main forms of asbestos used between 1950 and 1970. They are: Brown Asbestos White Asbestos Blue Asbestos

IDENTIFICATION Brown Asbestos Colour – Brown/Grey Brown Asbestos – (Amosite) Colour – Brown/Grey Look – Fibres are straight, spiky and needle like Uses – Heat insulation, fire protection, acoustic insulation.

IDENTIFICATION Blue Asbestos Colour – Blue/Grey Look – Needle like Blue Asbestos – Crocidolite Colour – Blue/Grey Look – Needle like Uses – Insulation, rope and yarn Strength – Strongest of all asbestos

IDENTIFICATION White Asbestos Colour –White Look – Fluffy and cotton White Asbestos – Chrysotile Colour –White Look – Fluffy and cotton Uses – Most Common type of asbestos used in Australia and New Zealand

Common uses Known places where asbestos may be found Items that may contain asbestos around your home if it was built prior to 1990. Chimney fumes Flat Partnered or corrugated wall and roof sheeting Lagging on hot water pipes Vinyl floor tiles and backing to cushion tile and vinyl flooring Asbestos cement sheeting, Internal and external Insulation in wood heaters Asbestos cement sheeting beneath heater hearths Imitation brick or weather board cladding Electrical meter boards Lining under eaves Garages and Car ports Dog kennels Garden sheds

Bonded asbestos tiles

Bonded asbestos (Fibro) Building cladding

Hardy Plank Eaves

Friable asbestos – Pipe Lagging

Friable asbestos– Sprayed on Beams

definitions Definitions Asbestos Register – A site register for a person who manages or controls a workplace identifying so far is practicable, all asbestos-containing materials present that are under the person’s management or control. This Register must be kept up to date and be current to correctly reflect the presence and state of asbestos on site. Where there is an Asbestos register pre-existing, a person who manages or controls the workplace must review and revise the asbestos register if it is inadequate having regard to the proposed work. Asbestos Disturbance work – Work which involves the disturbance of ACM (asbestos containing material) by drilling, coring or otherwise. Asbestos Removal work -   (a) Work involving the removal of asbestos or ACM; or (b) Removal of Friable asbestos. Friable Asbestos - Friable asbestos material is any material that contains asbestos and is in the form of a powder, or can be crumbled, pulverized or reduced to powder by hand pressure when dry. DO NOT DISTURB OR REMOVE FRIABLE ASBESTOS UNLESS LICENCED TO DO SO

Controls Risk Associated/Controls Asbestos material will be found in a lot of homes and work areas but if asbestos is not disturbed it will not harm you. If you suspect ACM (asbestos containing material) is present: Do not disturb or remove friable asbestos unless licensed to do so Check for an asbestos register for the site - if available and follow the requirements. Eliminate the hazard – do not disturb or remove the asbestos unless necessary If disturbance or removal is required - Observe legislative requirements. Restrict access to the area whilst works are undertaken and erect signage. Follow the recommendations of the Asbestos Code of practice Observe the requirements of the safe work statement relating to the task to be performed. Use personal protective equipment, including coveralls and a half-face P1/P2 respirator) – coveralls should preferably be disposable.

controls Risk Associated/Controls • Only use non-powered hand tools as they generate less dust – do not use power tools, such as abrasive cutters and sanders- wet down the ACM before drilling • Use wet methods to dampen material, or use a suitable vacuum cleaner that complies with the AS/NZ 60035.2.60 and is fitted with an appropriate attachment to reduce the release of dust -do not use a household vacuum cleaner • Work in well-ventilated areas, where possible • Use 200-micron thick plastic drop sheets to collect debris, and label and dispose of to a licenced waste facility • Clean-up using wet methods, or a suitable vacuum cleaner – do not use a household vacuum cleaner • Dispose of waste and collected dust in 200-micron thick plastic bags that are sealed and clearly labelled as containing asbestos waste

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