H and S 04.10 Asbestos Management Procedure 2019 Sep 2021.pdf

HEALTH AND SAFETY
PROCEDURE

Asbestos Management

Objective:

To  provide  a  healthy  and  safe  environment  for  South  Canterbury  District  Health  Board  (SCDHB)
employees, contractors, patients, volunteers and visitors.
Frequency:
SCDHB must review and (if necessary) revise the asbestos management  plan every five years, or
when:
  asbestos controls are reviewed
  asbestos is removed, disturbed, sealed or enclosed
  the plan is no longer adequate for managing the asbestos risks. For example, if new asbestos is
identified, or if a previously inaccessible area is now accessible.
This  procedure  applies  to  all  staff,  contractors,  patients,  volunteers  and  visitors  who  may  come  in
contact with asbestos on SCDHB premises.
Alert:
Asbestos or Asbestos Containing Material (ACM) must be considered present within all DHB buildings
and  as  such  the  Facilities  /  Maintenance  Manager  must  be  contacted  if  concerned.  Known  and
presumed locations will be listed within the Asbestos management plan & site management surveys
[register]: iHub Knowledge base / Health & Safety / Asbestos.
Definitions:
Asbestos
A generic name given to a group of fibrous silicate materials that occur
naturally in the environment:
Chrysotile (white asbestos).
Crocidolite (blue asbestos) – known to cause the most harm due to the
fibres  being  relatively  long  and  thin,  therefore  more  likely  to  reach  the
lungs than the curlier fibres of chrysolite.
Amosite (brown asbestos).
ACM
Asbestos Containing Material can be found in a wide variety of products
e.g. floor tiles, wallboard, roofing.
Asbestos management
A guiding document that outlines practices associated with the location
plan & site management  of all asbestos / ACM within SCDHB buildings.
surveys [register]
Compiled by an asbestos specialist.
PPE

Personal Protective Equipment

Responsibility:

Employees
  Will  ensure  the  Asbestos  management  plan  &  site  management  surveys  [register]  has  been
reviewed for clarification of asbestos in-situ locations in areas of intended work
  If unidentified asbestos / ACM is suspected in the workplace, advise the Maintenance Manager
immediately
  Asbestos incidents are to be recorded in Safety1st [Employee or Contractor and Facilities, Building
& Property forms]

AUTHOR:
P. Moore
FILE NUMBER:         H&S 04.10

AUTHORISED:
Sep 2019
REVIEW DUE:           Sep 2021


This is a controlled document. The electronic version is the most up-to-date. Printed versions are valid on the day of printing only.
Page 1 of 4

HEALTH AND SAFETY
PROCEDURE

  Seek  advice  from  the  Health,  Safety  &  Wellbeing  Manager  should  you  have  any  concerns
regarding asbestos / ACM +/- exposure.

Contractors
  Will ensure the Asbestos management plan & site management surveys [register] has has been
reviewed for the location of proposed works
  If unidentified asbestos / ACM is suspected in the workplace, advise the Maintenance Manager
immediately
  All  contractors  will  be  required  to  outline  their  own  asbestos  management  practices  when
submitting a ‘request for information’ (RFI).

Facilities / Maintenance Manager:
  Will adhere to the Controlling building and maintenance works flow chart contained within section
3.4 of the Asbestos management plan & site management surveys before initiating any building
works or maintenance tasks
  Will  ensure  the  Emergency  Procedures  [section  3.8,  Asbestos  management  plan  &  site
management surveys] are communicated and followed
  Will ensure a register of asbestos locations is maintained and updated with details of how the
asbestos risks are managed
  Will ensure signage is posted in all locations where asbestos / ACM remains in-situ
  Will ensure all contractors are advised of known asbestos / ACM in-situ locations and the safe
operating procedures required
  Will supervise all work associated with asbestos and undertake appropriate notifications
  Will advise the Senior Leadership Team and the Health, Safety & Wellbeing Manager of asbestos
issues

Building and Refurbishment Committees:
  Ensure asbestos free products are used in the construction / renovations within SCDHB
Procedure:
SCDHB will:
  Ensure asbestos material is not used by SCDHB
  Leave existing asbestos material in-situ where it is safe to do so, and have safety precautions
implemented in meeting legislative requirements
  Ensure no employee, patient or visitor is placed at risk of exposure to asbestos fibres
  Take  all  practicable  steps  to  confirm  the  identity  of  suspected  asbestos  products  in  SCDHB
properties. A register of confirmed asbestos locations will be held by the Facilities / Maintenance
Manager in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work (Asbestos) Regulations 2016
  Communicate newly identified asbestos to relevant staff, patients and others without delay and in
a planned manner
  Ensure contractors are informed of the presence of known or suspected asbestos in areas in which
they are working

Asbestos Related
Exposure  to  asbestos  fibre  may  occur  when  materials  containing  asbestos
Health
are sanded, sawn, drilled or handled during maintenance or removal tasks.
Considerations
All employees / contractors  working with asbestos are fully informed of the
hazards of exposure and advised of responsibilities associated with wearing
PPE, not entering restricted areas and reporting procedures.

AUTHOR:
P. Moore
FILE NUMBER:         H&S 04.10

AUTHORISED:
Sep 2019
REVIEW DUE:           Sep 2021


This is a controlled document. The electronic version is the most up-to-date. Printed versions are valid on the day of printing only.
Page 2 of 4

HEALTH AND SAFETY
PROCEDURE

Any  employee  who  is  potentially  exposed  to  asbestos  and  who  is  also  a
smoker will be offered appropriate information on the increased health risk of
the combined exposures.
Where SCDHB has previously directed any employee to undertake works that
involves  asbestos  prior  to  14  January  1999,  or  circumstances  out  of  the
employee’s control have significantly exposed the employee to asbestos, they
shall be entitled to “a full asbestos medical”.  This wil  include:
  A full occupational history
  Medical examination (referral to their GP)
  Chest x-ray
  Lung functions tests
This medical will be available to any former employee of SCDHB who meets
the criteria (above) and are not already enrolled in a surveillance programme
from another employer.  The cost of the medical monitoring will be met by the
SCDHB.    The  Health,  Safety  &  Wellbeing  Manager  will  arrange  medical
monitoring.  Staff identified as “significantly exposed” or who have developed
an asbestos related disease, are encouraged to register on the Department
of Labour asbestos exposure register.
Identifying
Possible sources of asbestos fibre that are of most concern include:
Asbestos
  Sprayed on fibre / sound proofing / thermal insulation
  Acoustic plaster sound proofing
  Insulation
  Lagging
  Asbestos cement materials
  Brake linings in vehicles and machines
Where asbestos / ACM is suspected, confirmation of presence will be verified
by sample analysis, obtained by a suitably licensed person and tested at an
accredited laboratory.
Results will be conveyed to the Facilities / Maintenance Manager with a copy
to the Health, Safety & Wellbeing Manager.
Work must not start until results of analysis are known.
Asbestos Register  A record of presence and condition of asbestos [in-situ] in the facility is made
and  maintained  by  the  Facilities  /  Maintenance  Manager.  The  register
contains the following details:
  Location
  Status
  Assessment of exposure risk – numbers of people entering location,
potential  to  release  fibres  into  workplace  air,  monitoring  results  (air
sampling)
  Hazard control plans that are regularly updated
Asbestos Signage  Where asbestos materials are to be left intact, signage is affixed to the area
and is clearly visible and indicates asbestos present.
Asbestos Hazard
The control of asbestos hazard must refer to the most appropriate method for
Control Plan
the particular circumstances.  Methods of control may include:
  Removal

AUTHOR:
P. Moore
FILE NUMBER:         H&S 04.10

AUTHORISED:
Sep 2019
REVIEW DUE:           Sep 2021


This is a controlled document. The electronic version is the most up-to-date. Printed versions are valid on the day of printing only.
Page 3 of 4

HEALTH AND SAFETY
PROCEDURE

  Encapsulation or sealing
  Enclosure
  Further assessment for damage or deterioration
Hazard control advice will be sought from a suitably licensed person.
Purchasing &
No  new  product  containing  asbestos  will  be  purchased  by  SCDHB.    No
Maintenance
maintenance, repair or new work will use any product that contains asbestos.
Associated Documents:
  Hazard Management & Control: (H&S 04)
  Risk management: (QR1)
  Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): (QR14)
Equipment:
References:
  Health and Safety at Work (Asbestos) Regulations 2016
  Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (HSWA)
  Health and Safety at Work (General Risk and Workplace Management) Regulations 2016
  WorkSafe NZ https://worksafe.govt.nz/topic-and-industry/asbestos/

AUTHOR:
P. Moore
FILE NUMBER:         H&S 04.10

AUTHORISED:
Sep 2019
REVIEW DUE:           Sep 2021


This is a controlled document. The electronic version is the most up-to-date. Printed versions are valid on the day of printing only.
Page 4 of 4