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SAFETY AND HEALTH ALERTS AND GUIDANCE
INSPECTORS PROVIDE ASSISTANCE AFTER TROPICAL CYCLONE SEROJA
Officers from the Department mounted a combined effort to provide assistance in the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Seroja in April. Inspectors from WorkSafe and Building and Energy travelled to Kalbarri after the cyclone struck to play a part in making the town safe, particularly in relation to asbestos, electrical and gas hazards. A large number of government agencies were involved in the clean-up of the town, including the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES), Australian Defence Force, WA Police, State Emergency Services, Western Power and Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. According to WorkSafe Inspector Valerie Hall, one of the most common concerns among Kalbarri residents was the risk posed by the asbestos that littered much of the town after the storm roared through. “Aside from the damage to properties, authorities and residents were most concerned about the pieces of asbestos littering the ground and roads of the town,” Inspector Hall said.
| 14 | ThinkSafe vol. 3 no. 2 September 2021
Aside and r from the d e piece sidents w amage to s of a ere m prop e of th e tow sbestos l ost conc rties, aut er itterin h n g the ned abou orities t the grou nd an d roa ds
“The pieces of asbestos were mostly from older roofs and fences and even entire asbestos structures that had been destroyed by the wind and rain of the cyclone. “Our first job was to assess whether the debris was actually asbestos, and then to assess the extent of the damage and decide if DFES was required for the clean-up or whether the damage could be handled by the local government authority. “The first priority was to clear the streets so Western Power could work on restoring power to the area, starting with the school, health centre and childcare facility. “We coordinated meetings with the contractors and made sure they had the correct personal protective equipment, that they were leaving locations clean, that they secured the loads on their vehicles and so on.”
