FEATURE ARTICLES
ASBESTOS IN HEALTHCARE: THE CHALLENGES AND HOW TO MANAGE By Stuart Buck Opira
Asbestos within the healthcare sector produces many challenges. Due the age of the buildings in healthcare in Australia there have been numerous renovations add-ons and refurbishments. Not to mention asbestos removals or remediation which may not have removed all the asbestos present in the area whether inadvertently or on purpose.
Thermal wraps of cables on the underside of lifts are usually not accessible without special access permissions being granted for inspection. It is important to be aware of these limitations when relying on a management plan. As anything not identified in the management survey could potentially be asbestos containing.
The most effective way of dealing with asbestos in the workplace is with an asbestos management plan. This incorporates the information from the asbestos survey which should be kept up to date and reviewed at least 5 yearly (in QLD) or whenever there are any changes. It is very important to understand the limitations of asbestos management surveys, as there are often areas which are inaccessible or are ‘presumed’ asbestos containing. These limitations make the asbestos management plans unsuitable for use when refurbishments are to occur. An asbestos refurbishment or demolition survey is required if any works are to take place which fit the description of refurbishments or demolition. Many asbestos materials can be found in obscured or previously inaccessible locations without gaining special access permission. Examples of this are asbestos thermal wrapping around elevator cabling on the underside of lifts. Another commonly overlooked asbestos containing product that we have come across many times in larger building are asbestos insulated pipes. Often seen in hospitals. Electrical insulation within fuses often contains asbestos. As seen within image 5 in the centre surrounding the wire. Due to electrical hazards these are usually not sampled during asbestos surveys. Often linings within elevator shafts can be made from asbestos containing materials or have insulating ‘limpet’ spray on fire insulation applied. In the photos below limpet asbestos had been applied as fire rating to the elevator shaft. This was enclosed behind plaster sheeting. These measures are normally sufficient, but with the changes in air pressure and vibrations caused by the movements of the elevators loose asbestos fibres were being disturbed and at risk of contaminating the occupied spaces. Due to the high risk and the difficulties in removing the asbestos entirely, the loose ‘limpet’ asbestos was encapsulated by sealing all gaps within the lift shaft lining as shown in image 7. This allowed the elevator to function with a manageable level of exposure risk to airborne asbestos fibres. On-going inspections and
Thermal wrap of cables on underside of lift.
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