This document provides training on asbestos awareness for AusNet Services employees. It defines asbestos and its health risks, outlines how to identify asbestos and proper procedures for working with or near asbestos-containing materials. The training explains that friable asbestos poses more risk if disturbed, describes areas where asbestos is commonly found at AusNet sites, and emphasizes that suspected asbestos should not be disturbed without proper training and precautions.

1. Asbestos Awareness
AusNet Services

2. Asbestos Awareness
 AusNet Services employees may come across asbestos or asbestos
containing materials as part of their work duties
 This training outlines what is asbestos, how to identify it and what to
do when you encounter it
› Introduction to asbestos – definition/types
› Health effects of asbestos exposure
› Risks for exposure to asbestos
› Friable and Non-Friable asbestos
› Occupations that may come across asbestos
› How to identify asbestos
› Areas where asbestos can be found at AusNet Services
› Asbestos legislation requirements and responsibilities of AusNet Services
› Non-AusNet Services sites
› What to do if asbestos is suspected
› References and training
2

3. What is Asbestos?
 A naturally occurring mineral fibre
 Asbestos was widely used in a wide variety of industrial,
manufacturing, building and construction materials in Australia
between the 1940’s to late 1980’s
 Asbestos has been used because of its excellent strength, noise
absorption and heat and chemical resistance properties
 The fibres are microscopic and can become airborne easily if
disturbed posing a risk to health by inhalation
3

4. Types of Asbestos
 There are six known asbestos minerals including chrysotile (white),
amosite (brown), crocidolite (blue), anthophyllite, tremolite and
actinolite
 The three most common asbestos minerals types in Australia are:
Chrystotile Amosite Crocidolite
4

5. When does Asbestos pose a health risk?
 Asbestos containing materials (ACMs) do not pose a health risk to
people working and living in buildings, when it is left intact and
undisturbed
 ACM is not generally harmful unless dust or fibres are released into
the air where they can be inhaled
 Most fibres become trapped in the mucous membranes of the nose
and throat where they can be removed, but some asbestos fibres pass
deep into the lungs
 The fibres deep in the lungs are a potential health risk
5

6. Health Effects of Asbestos Exposure
 Exposure to airborne asbestos fibres is known to cause pleural
plaques, mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer, and other
respiratory conditions
› Pleural plaques: thickened parts of the pleura (membrane inside the
chest wall and outside the lungs). Latency period ranges from 5 – 10
years. Indication that a person has been exposed (not fatal).
› Malignant mesothelioma: cancer of the outer covering (pleura) that
protects the lungs and abdominal cavity. It is usually fatal. Latency period
ranges from 35-40 years.
› Asbestosis: lung disease – pneumoconiosis - scarring of the lung tissue
(fibrosis). Latency period ranges from 15-25 years.
› Lung cancer: uncontrolled cell growth in the lungs. Latency period
ranges from 20-30 years from first exposure.
› Note: Latency period means the time taken to before symptoms appear
6

7. Airborne Asbestos
 ACM can be friable or non friable. Friable asbestos is that which is
able to be crumbled by hand and is more easily inhaled
 The risk to health depend on:
› Whether the asbestos containing material is friable or not (is the asbestos
damaged or deteriorating?)
› Frequency of exposure (how often does exposure occur?)
› Duration of exposure (how long does each exposure last?)
› Volume/intensity of exposure (how much exposure?)
 Never:
› Drill, hammer, cut, saw, break, damage in any way, move or disturb any
asbestos containing materials or suspected materials unless you are
trained and competent to do so.
7

8. Friable Asbestos
 Any material containing asbestos that can be crumbled, pulverised or
reduce to powder by hand pressure when dry
 This definition includes material that was initially non-friable but as a
result of work process, becomes friable
 Examples of friable ACM:
› Pipe lagging
› Boiler insulation
› Fire retardant material on steel work
› Sprayed insulation
› Asbestos containing dust
8
Brooklyn TS – control building
roof space settled dust tested
to be asbestos

9. Non-Friable Asbestos
 Any material that contains asbestos fibres which are bonded by
cement, vinyl, resin or other similar material and cannot be crumbled,
pulverised or reduced to powder by hand pressure
9
 Examples of non-friable ACM:
› Vinyl floor or wall tiles
› Zelemite electrical panels and
switchboards
› Asbestos cement sheet (walls, ceilings,
roofs)
› Asbestos cement pipe and conduits
(including flues, downpipes, guttering,
water and sewerage pipes, cable pits)
› Sealants, gaskets, adhesives Waragul ZSS – Switchroom relay
panels – zelemite panel

10. Occupations and trades that are likely to
come across asbestos
 Demolition contractors
 Engineers – heating and ventilation or telecommunications
 Electricians, painters and decorators, joiners
 Plumbers and gas fitters, plasterers, builders and building surveyors
 Shop fitters, fire and burglar alarm installers, maintenance works,
automotive repairers
10

11. Identifying Asbestos
 There is no simple test to identify asbestos – an approved laboratory
analysis by a NATA approved laboratory is the only certain method
(NATA – National Association of Testing Authorities)
 All asbestos in permanent AusNet Services sites must be identified by
a competent person and included in a site asbestos register. More
information about site registers is included in later slides
 The following slides show some examples of where asbestos can be
found at AusNet Services
11

12. Areas where asbestos can be found at
AusNet Services
12
Asbestos zelemite
Electrical Mounting Board
(Keilor TS)
Cabinet lined with asbetsos
millboard (Brooklyn TS)

13. Areas where asbestos can be found at
AusNet Services
13
Asbestos vinyl floor tiles
(Yarraville Depot)
Asbestos cement sheet
behind wall tiles
(Thomastown ZSS)

14. Areas where asbestos can be found at
AusNet Services
14
Asbestos cement
corrugated walls and fibre
cement sheet eaves
(Pakenham ZSS)
Asbestos bituminous
membrane on roof
(Richmond Data Centre)

15. Areas where asbestos can be found at
AusNet Services
15
External air intake seals –
asbestos-containing mastic
(Mount Beauty TS)
Asbetos gaskets (Yallourn
PS)

16. Areas where asbestos can be found at
AusNet Services
16
Domestic meter boxes
mounted on asbestos lined
meter board

17. Areas where asbestos can be found at
AusNet Services
17
Asbestos cement pillar
(used in early URD
projects)
Asbestos cement pits (used
in early URD projects)

18. Areas where asbestos can be found at
AusNet Services
18
Public lighting control boxes
(asbestos gasket)
Switchgear arc chutes –
asbestos containing fibre
sheet (Dederang TS)

19. Areas where asbestos can be found at
AusNet Services
19
Asbestos cement water
pipes
Asbestos gaskets within
water and gas pipes

20. Areas where asbestos can be found at
AusNet Services
20
Up stand asbestos wrapped
water cement pipe

21. Areas where asbestos can be found at
AusNet Services
21
Asbestos cement gas pipe

22. Asbestos Legislation
 Each state has its own specific legislation regarding asbestos
› QLD, NSW, SA, TAS, NT and ACT: Workplace Health and Safety
Regulations 2011
› WA: Occupational Safety and Health Regulations 1996
› VIC: Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017
 Waste disposal is covered by the regulations and EPA in each State or
Territory
 All waste must be contained and labelled
22

23. Asbestos Compliance Codes
 WorkSafe Victoria has issue two Compliance Codes relating to Asbestos
› Removing Asbestos in the Workplace
› Managing Asbestos in the Workplace
23

24. Responsibilities of Employers
 Persons with control of a premises have a duty of care to:
› Develop, implement and maintain an asbestos management plan
› Investigate the premises for the presence or possible presence of
Asbestos Containing Material (ACM)
› Develop and maintain a site asbestos register of the identified or
presumed ACM, including details on their locations, accessibility,
condition, risk assessment and control measures. AusNet Services
Asbestos Register for its owned and leased stations, depot buildings,
offices and other properties is located in Sharepoint and is accessed
through the Enterprise Content Management system (ECM).
› Ensure any required control measures are implemented as soon as
possible and are maintained as long as the ACM remain in the workplace
24

25. Warning signs
 Areas which contain asbestos should be signposted with warning
signs, to ensure that the asbestos is not knowingly disturbed without
the correct precautions being taken
 Signs should be placed at all main entrances to the work area where
asbestos is present
25

26. Non AusNet Services sites
 AusNet Services employees should consult the site asbestos register
if it is available before starting work and include requirements in the
Job Safety Analysis (JSA). Consult with the site owner.
 If a site register is not available, materials that are suspected of being
asbestos should be treated as asbestos unless testing is undertaken
to confirm otherwise
26
 Never:
› Drill, hammer, cut, saw, break, damage in any
way, move or disturb any asbestos containing
materials or suspected materials unless you
are trained and competent to do so

27. So, what do I do if I suspect I’ve
disturbed asbestos accidentally?
 STOP WORK IMMEDIATELY
 If asbestos fibre is not disturbed and does not become airborne, there
is no risk
 Barricade and signpost the affected area
 If entering the area, obtain appropriate PPE (gloves and P2 respirator)
 Asbestos containing material is only to be removed by appropriately
trained internal employees or external asbestos removalists
 An external asbestos consultant should be engaged to take a sample
and initiate testing
27

28. References
 The following procedures are available to all employees via ECM:
› HSP 05-05 Asbestos Management
› HSP 05-05-1 Modification or Removal of Asbestos Containing Materials
› Many local areas also have their own dedicated SOP’s – refer to Line
Management for further information
28
In addition, the Asbestos
Register for permanent
AusNet Services sites
can be found in
SharePoint via ECM

29. Training – three tiered approach
 Asbestos Awareness
› General awareness of asbestos and legal requirements
 Modification or Removal of Asbestos – Module 1
› for those employees that will be involved in modifying/removing asbestos,
includes detail on HSP 05-05-1, legal requirements, detailed information
on PPE use and fitting
› Run by Hazcon
 Information session for specific tasks – Module 2
› developed by Line Management for their areas for specific tasks and run
in conjunction with Module 1
 Employees that will be modifying/removing asbestos will be expected
to complete all three training modules
29

30. Summary
 Asbestos can a both friable and non-friable. Friable asbestos is more dangerous as it can
become airborne and be inhaled into the lungs.
 Know how to identify asbestos. If you suspect it is asbestos, stop work and consult with
your supervisor. Testing of the material may be required to determine if the material
contains asbestos.
 Asbestos can only be modified or removed by internally trained employees or by external
asbestos removalists.
 An external asbestos consultant should be engaged to take any sample and initiate testing.
 Site asbestos registers are available for all AusNet Services owned and leased sites.
Consult with owners to determine if they hold an asbestos register before starting work.
 Never drill, hammer, cut, saw, break, damage in any way, move or disturb any asbestos
containing materials or suspected materials unless you are trained and competent to do
so.
 Familiarise yourself with all current work practices/SOP’s within your area
30

31. Complete
 Congratulations on completing the Asbestos Awareness online
training - please register your completion by following this link.
31