The Gaskin Report is a comprehensive investigation and audit into the way the Department of Education and Training (DET) manages asbestos-containing materials in State Schools.
The highest priority of the department is the safety of students and staff at all times.
Asbestos-containing materials that are in sound condition do not pose a health risk unless disturbed.
The Gaskin Report investigated the processes around managing and removing asbestos from schools, to determine if the department was meeting its health and safety requirements as well as its requirements under Queensland Law.
The report was initiated to ensure that the safest possible measures are put in place to protect the health and wellbeing of students, staff and volunteers.
The report does not include schools in the non-government sector.
John Gaskin is one of Queensland's leading construction and development experts.
Mr Gaskin has over 35 year experience in the industry and has worked on some of Queensland's most iconic landmarks including Suncorp Stadium, Queensland Supreme Law Courts, the AMP "Gold Tower", Comalco House and Boondall Sports and Entertainment Centre.
Read more about John Gaskin (new window) 74k 
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Asbestos-containing building materials were used extensively throughout Queensland between the 1940's and the 1980's. These materials were used in floors, walls, roofs and many other building applications for houses, shopping centres, businesses, schools and other types of commercial buildings, both government and non-government.
Therefore it is possible that any building built or renovated during these times may have materials that contain asbestos.
In 2009 the Queensland Government introduced the most transparent and comprehensive public reporting of asbestos locations in Queensland state schools.
To find the location of presumed or confirmed asbestos-containing materials in individual schools, please refer to the Queensland Government State Schools Asbestos Register.
The Gaskin Report found that the department's policies, processes and guidelines are compliant with the Queensland Government Asbestos Management and Control Policy for government buildings and the Workplace Health and Safety Act and meet the intent of these documents.
However, Gaskin made a number of recommendations. These included:
Recommendation 1
Ongoing training needs to be provided for Principals, Deputy Principals, School Administrators, Facilities Management staff and Groundsmen on the management of asbestos in schools. This training does not need to be of a technical nature but focus on the management and controls in the day to day operations of the schools including new construction, refurbishment or maintenance works that are proposed and where asbestos is registered on the BEMIR.
Recommendation 2
Training should include the requirement to provide proper briefings to subordinate staff that may be required to provide assistance in management of the ACM environment. Regular reviews and updates should be included as part of this initiative.
Recommendation 3
It is recommended that the responsibilities for the management, control and compliance of asbestos related issues, including notices, access permits and updating of the BEMIR become the responsibility of the Business Service Manager (BSM) or other approved nominee, with the Principal's responsibility retained as the senior executive responsible for overall performance.
Recommendation 4
QBuild will update the BEMIR for work carried out by QBuild and/or its contractors or where Q Build has been notified by the relevant authorised DET personnel that other parties have undertaken the work.
Recommendation 5
It is recommended that a requirement to provide compliance and licence details needs to be part of the procurement process and should be highlighted on the Work Area Access Permits and other relevant documentation.
Recommendation 6
The monitoring and management by the Principal of P&C Association appointed contractors should be subject to the same conditions as other contractors referred to in this report.
Recommendation 7
It is recommended that a more rigorous system for the management and control of volunteers should be considered. Where it is proposed that volunteers carry out work in areas where ACM including LDB is confirmed or suspected they will need to be subject to the same compliant requirements as contractors.
Recommendation 8
It is recommended that an Incident Management Plan for schools be prepared by the Department of Education and Training, or their consultants.
Recommendation 9
The service provider compliance and licence details are confirmed as part of the procurement process.
Recommendation 10
The service provider compliance and licence details are provided for retention.
Recommendation 11
The contractor and/or trades person executing the Work Area Access Permit is responsible for the closeout of this permit at the conclusion of the work and is verifying that they have complied with all of DET requirements on the management of asbestos in schools. (The Principal's or other approved nominee's signature only acknowledges that the work has been carried out).
Recommendation 12
That non-compliance with Workplace Health and Safety Legislation may result in service providers being requested to show cause as to why they should not be excluded from future DET contracts.
Recommendation 13
That the Asbestos Management Plan for DET Facilities, and the revised Management of Asbestos Products in DET Facilities FCM-PR-003 and additional training for school personnel be implemented as soon as practical.
All of these recommendations are being implemented by the Department of Education and Training.
In addition to Mr Gaskin's recommendations, the Queensland Government will also implement the following:
Further information about the Terms of Reference for the above panels and positions can be found on the Independent review of asbestos management policies in Queensland state schools webpage.
The report also stated that the department's approach to asbestos management and monitoring of Queensland state schools provides the necessary controls and disciplines to meet the department's stated objectives.
The commissioning of the independent audit and the review of current policies and procedures are steps that have been taken to ensure the ongoing safety and wellbeing of students, staff and volunteers.
The revised policies and procedures will provide greater clarity on roles and responsibilities of staff, contractors and volunteers and will provide the operational context for schools and TAFE Institutes in the management of asbestos and any incidents that may arise.
Further details about the recommendations from the Gaskin Report (new window) 1.3M are available online.
To find out more about the management of asbestos in Queensland state schools, visit the Asbestos Management in Schools website.
The department has now engaged with stakeholders to discuss the audit's recommendations and their impact on asbestos management.
All recommendations have been considered and incorporated into the revised draft asbestos management policy and the new draft procedures.
The department has established an Asbestos Expert Advisory Panel (AEAP) and an Asbestos Stakeholders Reference Panel to further support and strengthen asbestos management policies and procedures in the department's facilities.
Mr Gaskin will be retained on a standing basis as the department's Chief Asbestos Safety Advisor to provide expert advice, investigate asbestos related incidents and manage complaints.
Dr Keith Adam has been appointed as the Department of Education and Training Chief Asbestos Health Advisor to provide expert advice, prepare standardised procedures pertaining to health issues and the provision of information and support to staff and communities where asbestos related incidents occur.
Associate Professor Dr Keith Adam, M.B., B.S., F.A.F.O.E.M., has been practising as a specialist in occupational medicine for over 20 years.
Dr Keith Adam's qualifications include:
Dr Adam has been a consultant to a number of organisations regarding asbestos related matters, including Queensland Electricity Commission, the Queensland Department of Public Works (QBuild) and organisations in the chemical industry.
He has also advised the Department of Education and Training in relation to asbestos related matters in schools.
Read more about Dr Keith Adam (new window) 18k .
In addition to working with the Department of Public Works and Workplace Health and Safety Queensland to ensure that asbestos-containing material is managed and potential asbestos related risks are controlled, the department is also removing asbestos-containing material identified as being in poor physical condition or having a BEMIR score of 76 or greater to ensure on-going student and staff wellbeing.
More than $95 million has already been spent removing 919 Queensland state school roofs identified as containing asbestos.
The Queensland Government allocated an initial budget of nearly $18 million to replace vinyl flooring containing asbestos during the 2009/10 financial year and for removal of other asbestos-containing materials.
In 2010/11 it is proposed $18 million be allocated for removal and replacement of asbestos-containing materials.
Parents with any concerns about asbestos in their child's school should contact your school principal.
Information for parents about the management of asbestos in Queensland state schools can be found on the Asbestos Management in Schools Information for parents website.
In 2009, for the first time the department publicly published online a school asbestos register containing information about known confirmed, presumed or removed asbestos at each state school.
The register reflects information contained in the Built Environment Materials Register maintained by the Queensland Department of Public Works. The information on this website provides a snapshot at a particular point in time and will be updated quarterly.
This page was last reviewed on 19 Jun 2010
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© The State of Queensland (Department of Education, Training and Employment) 2010.