6 minute read
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.
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 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.
monitoring for asbestos fibres was recommended to ensure the ongoing safety of the building occupants.
The ongoing management of asbestos within workplaces is of particular importance within healthcare buildings, not only because of the sensitive nature of the hazards but also the often-complicated layout of healthcare facilities which have often had decades of refurbishment works occurring across multiple buildings and sites. A clearly laid out and comprehensive asbestos management survey is your best resource with the ongoing management of asbestos. Though it is still crucial that any suspected areas or items of concern are referred to a suitably qualified person such as a licensed asbestos assessor to sample, ascertain the risk and to update the asbestos register/management plan. To contact a local asbestos assessor and have them take a sample for analysis can usually get a result for you in less than one day.
Asbestos electrical insulator within older fuses. These can exist throughout older buildings and not always feasible to sample each fuse board location, based on age of fuse board it is usually more practical to assume there is asbestos present on the asbestos register.
Asbestos thermally insulated pipe within the subfloor. Identified after refurbishment/demolitions works had commenced. Asbestos filled linings within elevator shaft.
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The Opira Group is an Australian privately-owned indoor environmental risk management and product technologyThe Opira Group is an Australian privately-owned indoor environmental risk management and product technology company. We have offices in Brisbane, Perth, Sydney and Melbourne. Our team of qualified scientists have completedcompany. We have offices in Brisbane, Perth, Sydney and Melbourne. Our team of qualified scientists have completed over 3,000 risk management projects Australia wide, and are equipped to carry out projects to NATA standards.over 3,000 risk management projects Australia wide, and are equipped to carry out projects to NATA standards.
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