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Version: 3.1

FCM-PR-003: Management of Asbestos Containing Material in DET Facilities

This policy provides an overview for the management of asbestos containing material (ACM) in Department of Education and Training (DET) facilities. Detailed procedures and responsibilities have been included in the Department's Asbestos Management Plan (AMP) which is to be read in conjunction with this policy.

Relevant legislation and policy

 Legislation and/or regulations Related procedures

Statement of intent

Asbestos is the common term used to describe a naturally-occurring fibrous mineral that was used extensively prior to 1990 by Australian industry because of its durability, fire resistance and excellent thermal insulating properties.

The term "asbestos containing material" (ACM) refers to any material, object, product or debris that contains asbestos. ACM can take several physical forms.

Asbestos Containing Material which include ceilings and wall sheeting, guttering, downpipes and vinyl flooring remain in DET facilities and if in sound condition, do not pose a health risk unless disturbed.

Appropriate measures are needed to ensure that ACM is managed and potential asbestos-related risks are controlled. The following measures have been developed and adopted by DET, based on the requirements of the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995, National Asbestos Management Code and the Asbestos Management and Control Policy for Government Buildings, and form part of a comprehensive framework for managing asbestos-related risks in DET facilities.

  1. Identification and registration of ACM
  2. Managing asbestos in-situ and periodic inspections of ACM
  3. Asbestos warning signage
  4. Safe business procedures and work practices
  5. Progressive removal of ACM (based on risk)
  6. Education and awareness programs
  7. Asbestos registers (Built Environment Materials Information Register)
  8. A 'work area access permit' process to control building-related work

DET has detailed procedures for the management of asbestos in DET facilities. These procedures have been included in the department's Asbestos Management Plan (AMP) and must be read in conjunction with this policy. The policy and AMP must be adhered to at all times by Schools, TAFE Institutes, Early Childhood Education and Care centres (ECEC), Parents and Citizens Association (P and C), DET Regional and Central Offices and all Service Providers (including but not limited to QBuild, QBuild engaged contractors, Project Services and DET and P and C engaged contractors/consultants).

The DET Asbestos Management Plan document can be sourced at:

http://education.qld.gov.au/asbestos/index.html

It is compulsory for all Building Managers of DET facilities to ensure the use of the Built Environment Materials Information Register (BEMIR) when any work including maintenance, refurbishment, installation and construction is being undertaken in DET facilities. The BEMIR is an electronic environmental management system designed and managed by DPW to assist government agencies with the management of environmentally significant matters within Government controlled facilities.

There are three critical asbestos management components of BEMIR. These include the:

The Department of Public Works in its role as the Queensland Government's management authority for asbestos containing material in government buildings is responsible for providing advice and services to DET on the management of asbestos containing material in their facilities.

DET engages QBuild to undertake:

  1. an assessment of the condition of State Schools and DET owned ECEC facilities on an annual basis. This includes an inspection of all building components known or suspected of containing asbestos. Where required, repairs and/or replacements are carried out using appropriate work procedures.
  2. a comprehensive asbestos inspection, including a review of the asbestos register for each DET site, is also to be conducted every three years (or more often as required by the type and/or condition of the asbestos containing material) in line with the Asbestos Management and Control Policy for Government Buildings
  3. to provide advice and support in relation to all asbestos-related matters including the management of in-situ ACM, corrective actions where required and the updating of the central asbestos register in BEMIR to reflect the current status of ACM.

As stated in the Asbestos Management and Control Policy for Government Buildings, the Queensland Government's long term objective is for all government controlled buildings to be free of ACM. Until this is achieved, DET has adopted and will implement the following strategies for the progressive removal of ACM based on risk:

  1. All ACM identified as being in poor physical condition (physical state 1 or 2) or having a BEMIR Score of 76 or greater will be made safe and scheduled for removal, to ensure the on-going well-being of all building occupants.
  2. In addition to this removal strategy, the progressive removal of ACM is to be considered for all capital and minor works projects involving the refurbishment and upgrade of existing facilities. Based on the likelihood of extensive disturbance to friable ACM and the need for excessive control measures to mitigate risk and cost as part of the refurbishment works, consideration will be given to the removal of all identified friable ACMs in the work area.

As a precautionary measure DET policy is that whilst:

  1. ACM is being removed from a DET site, no-one is to be on site, other than service providers (unless approved by the DDG-Infrastructure Services Division in consultation with either the DDG-Education, Associate Director-General and Chief Officer (Office for Early Childhood Education and Care) and/or the Chief Operating Officer, Office of TAFE Queensland and DET Regional Operations.
  2. Testing of and/or maintenance is being undertaken on presumed or confirmed ACM, that the area or room is cleared of students and staff and access is restricted whilst the service providers are working.

Responsibilities

General:

A detailed list of all DET Officer's, associated entities and Service Provider's responsibilities have been included in the Department's Asbestos Management Plan (AMP). The AMP is to be read in conjunction with this policy for details of all roles and responsibilities in relation to asbestos management in DET facilities.

Building Manager:

Each DET site has a Building Manager who is responsible for implementing processes to manage risks associated with asbestos containing materials within their facilities (i.e. School, TAFE Institute, Regional Office).

The Building Manager must undertake DET asbestos management induction training in BEMIR and DET asbestos management policy and procedures prior to commencement in this role.

The Building Manager for Schools, TAFE Institutes and Regional Office can formally delegate part of their role to nominated officers at their site.

Where a potential asbestos related matter arises, the Building Manager must consult the site's Workplace Health and Safety Officer (where applicable) and involve this officer in processes for any corrective action where required.

Nominated Officer:

The Nominated Officer must undertake DET asbestos management induction training in BEMIR and DET asbestos management policy and procedures prior to carrying out this role.

Predominately a nominated officer should be a departmental officer who holds a position at a level in the public service award AO3 and above, or a promotional teaching position in a Head of Program or School Leader position.

The Nominated Officer is responsible for:

Where a potential asbestos related matter arises, the Nominated Officer must consult the site's Workplace Health and Safety Officer (where applicable) and involve this officer in processes for any corrective action where required.

All DET Staff:

All DET staff are required to adhere to departmental policy and procedures for the management of ACM and a duty of care to inform the relevant officers of any disturbance or concerns with any building materials.

Advisors and Panel Members:

The following links provide the roles and responsibilities of the panels and advisors which have been established to further strengthen the asbestos management policy and procedures in DET:

Service Providers:

All Service Providers are required to adhere to departmental policy and procedures for the management of ACM in DET facilities.

Parents and Citizens' Association (P and C) and Volunteers:

All P and C members and volunteers are required to adhere to departmental policy and procedures for the management of ACM in DET facilities.

ECEC Centre Staff:

For DET owned ECEC facilities, the ECEC centre staff are required to adhere to the department's 'Management of Asbestos Containing Material in DET Facilities' policy and their responsibilities as outlined in the department's 'Asbestos Management Plan'.

Forms

Guidelines

For additional detailed information pertaining to the management of asbestos please refer to the Department of Education and Training's Asbestos Management Plan document. Adobe PDF document

Other relevant documents

Contacts

For further information please contact the relevant person in the attached list

Document information

 Approval record: TRIM 10/
Date of implementation: 2006-10-01
Date of publication: 2006-11-16
Date to be reviewed: 2011-06-01
This procedure replaces:
Uncontrolled copy. Please refer to Education Policy and Procedure Register at http://iwww.qed.qld.gov.au/strategic/eppr/ for latest version.
Uncontrolled copy. Please refer to Education Policy and Procedure Register at http://education.qld.gov.au/strategic/eppr/ for latest version.

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