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