Contaminants - Asbestos

ETSSC

ASBESTOS

Employee Assistance Program

Mediation

Safety and Health

Injury Management

Workers' Compensation

Asbestos cement is manufactured from a mixture of asbestos fibres, cement and water. During manufacture, asbestos fibres are firmly bound into the cement matrix. Individual fibres are not normally released into the atmosphere unless the product is subjected to activities such as cutting, drilling, sanding and grinding, especially using power tools which have no special dust suppression facilities.

The Department has undertaken to replace all asbestos cement roofs at its schools because eventually deterioration of this material due to weathering would make these roofs structurally unsafe.

The Department and Department of Housing and Works (formerly CAMS) have developed asbestos cement records for all schools. These are based on visual inspections, to identify components that are likely to contain asbestos cement products. Upon request, the Department of Housing and Works will make these records available to schools as a guide in determining the presence of asbestos cement products.

For further information, please refer to the Asbestos Management Procedures in the Workplace and Schools Policy available from the Department's Our Polices webpage or contact the Department's Principal Consultant for Environmental Health on 9264 4096. Please also refer to the frequently asked questions.

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Last updated: 2 February 2007