Asbestos Management - Policy, Procedures and Guidelines

Overview

The Gaskin Report

In February 2010 the Department of Education and Training (DET) engaged asbestos expert Mr John Gaskin to undertake an audit of the Department's policies and procedures for the management and control of asbestos containing materials in Government buildings.

The Gaskin Report investigated the processes around managing and removing asbestos from schools to verify that the department was meeting or exceeding the legislative requirements around asbestos management, and to recommend enhancements to DET's systems to ensure world's best practice.

The report was initiated to ensure that the safest possible measures are put in place to protect the health and wellbeing of students, staff, volunteers and visitors.

Development of the revised Asbestos Management Policy and New Asbestos Management Plan

Mr Gaskin's report and recommendations were released and put online in June 2010. As a result of Mr Gaskin's report, Officers from DET's Infrastructure Services Division developed a revised Asbestos Management Policy and a comprehensive Asbestos Management Plan for DET Facilities.

All recommendations by Mr Gaskin were considered and incorporated in the revised policy for the Management of Asbestos in DET Facilities, the Asbestos Management Plan and a proposed training strategy.

In the development of the documents, the DET Asbestos Review Team consulted extensively with stakeholders including:

Asbestos Expert Advisory Panel Members
Representatives from Queensland Parents and Citizens Associations
the Queensland Teachers' Union
the Queensland Public Sector Union
the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union
Business Service Managers Association
Principal Associations
Deputy Director-General Education
the Chief Operating Officer - Office of TAFE Queensland and DET Regional Operations
Regional Directors
Regional Facilities Managers
DET Cleaning Advisors
Director Internal Audit, Director Organisation Health Unit
TAFE Institute Directors and Facilities Managers
Directors and Managers from Infrastructure Services Division
Department of Public Works
Department of Justice and Attorney-General
Senior Management at Mackay North State High School.

The Asbestos Management Plan provides the operational context for schools and TAFE Institutes and provides clarity regarding the roles and responsibilities in the management of asbestos containing materials, and any incidents that may arise.

The Department of Education and Training's highest priority is the safety of staff and students, and accordingly, the Department's asbestos policy is designed to be the toughest and most transparent in Australia.

Major reforms in asbestos management have been undertaken in the last 12 months as we continue to enhance our program:

The Department of Education and Training's revised asbestos policy and management plan is the toughest and most transparent in Australia.
Mr John Gaskin was appointed Chief Safety Advisor on Asbestos to provide expert advice to the Director-General of the Department of Education and Training regarding safety issues associated with asbestos incidents and management.
Dr Keith Adams, UQ Associate Professor of Occupational Medicine, was appointed Chief Health Advisor on Asbestos to provide ongoing advice regarding health issues associated with asbestos incidents and management to the Director-General, schools and parents.
The DET Asbestos Expert Advisory Panel and Asbestos Stakeholders Reference Panel were formed (made up of industry experts, health experts and stakeholders) to monitor the management of asbestos in schools, to inform best practice in ongoing asbestos management, and to develop information for staff, parents and the community.
Contractors found to have contravened asbestos regulations in Queensland schools are dealt with severely. This includes a range of sanctions up to and including the inability to perform future work on or in DET facilities.
The asbestos register (BEMIR), previously available at schools, was published online for all to access. Queensland is one of only two states to have done this.

The Expert Advisory Panel members include representatives from DET, Department of Public Works, Justice and Attorney-General and Queensland Health, an expert from QUT and the Asbestos and Related Diseases Association as well as our DET Chief Safety and Chief Health Advisors on asbestos.

Training

Department of Education and Training staff are receiving training on the new asbestos management policies and procedures to ensure they understand the new processes and are capable to carry out the roles and responsibilities within them.

The initial training is being provided to all staff who have asbestos management responsibilities during the period September to December 2010. From 2011 training will be provided in Term 1, and then on a regular basis as required for staff who become responsible for the management of asbestos containing materials in DET Facilities.

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This page was last reviewed on 19 Apr 2011