Asbestos Management and Awareness Training by ASEA

1. National Strategic Plan for
Asbestos Management and
Awareness
Peter Tighe
Chief Executive Officer, Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency

2. Deaths due to mesothelioma: number by sex, 1997 to 2011
Safe Work Australia, Asbestos Related Disease Indicators, September 2014
www.asbestossafety.gov.au
700
Males
Females
Total persons
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
600
500
400
300
200
100
0

3. • Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency Act 2013 passed
with bipartisan support - Agency commenced operation
on 1 July 2013
• Focus on issues beyond work health and safety to
encompass environmental and public health issues
• Implementation and delivery of National strategic Plan
for Asbestos Management and Awareness
• The Agency and Minister will be informed by the
Asbestos Safety and Eradication Council
• National Asbestos Exposure Register launched 3 June
2013, managed by agency. Over 2,000 registrations so far
Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency
www.asbestossafety.gov.au

4. • Coordinate, monitor and report on the
implementation of the National Strategic Plan for
Asbestos Management and Awareness
• Provide advice to the Minister about asbestos safety
and management
• Liaise with commonwealth, state, territory and local
and other governments, agencies or bodies
• Commission, monitor and promote research about
asbestos safety.
Functions of Agency
www.asbestossafety.gov.au

5. • Revision of National Strategic Plan through 2014
• Developed in consultation with all levels of
government and stakeholders
• Principles to guide the plan include:
– Precaution
– Evidence-based decision making
– Transparency
– Public participation
– Collaboration
• All states and territories have endorsed the plan
www.asbestossafety.gov.au
Revised National Strategic Plan

6. National Strategic Plan – 6 strategies
Awareness
•Increased
community
awareness of risks
& health impacts
•Improved
accessibility to
information
•Cultural and
behavioural
change in
commercial and
residential
environments.
Best Practice
•Evidence-based
best practice to
minimise risks
•Model training for
workers likely to
be exposed and
increased
competencies
•Support for
communities to
manage risk during
natural disasters
and emergencies
•Improved ACM
transport, storage
and disposal.
Identification
•Evidence-based
model for grading
in-situ asbestos
•Improved
stabilisation for
ACMs in poor
condition
•Improved ID and
management of
info regarding
asbestos
contaminated land
•Estimate total
presence of ACMs
in built
environment
•Improved ID of
risks, particularly in
DIY renovators
•Coordinated
response when
ACMs in imported
products are
identified.
Removal
•Priority actions to
support removal of
ACM in poor
condition
•Evidence-based
practical options
for removing ACMs
in poor condition
•Asbestos removal
infrastructure can
meet the future
needs and
demands of ageing
ACMs
•Review of barriers
to safe removal of
ACMs and
evaluation of
challenges faced by
government,
commercial and
residential sectors.
Research
•Coordination of
key research
supporting
evidence informed
policy and practice
•Commission
research
identifying
practical and
innovative
approaches to
prevent or
minimise risks
from exposure to
asbestos.
International Leadership
•Effective
coordination of
international issues
relating to
asbestos and ARDs
•Australia
recognised an
international voice
of global campaign
against asbestos
hazards
•Best practice
processes on
awareness,
management and
eradication shared
internationally.
www.asbestossafety.gov.au

7. Next steps for National Strategic Plan
NSP 2014-2018
realistic achievements
2014 - 2018
aspirational goals beyond 2018
www.asbestossafety.gov.au

8. Agency projects
www.asbestossafety.gov.au
• Revising national strategic plan – completed, endorsed by all states and
territories
• Strengthening asbestos-related training materials in the utilities sector
• Provision of services to develop National asbestos awareness program for
health professionals and general community
• Asbestos identification tool – pilot project
• ID of current and future capacity for asbestos waste disposal
• Development of asbestos awareness app and communications campaign
• Projections for the future burden of mesothelioma in Australia
• Buyer behaviour/influences towards the use of asbestos content reports in the
residential property sector

9. www.asbestossafety.gov.au
• Asbestos in remote indigenous communities
• Additional research into asbestos identification and grading tools used in
Australia
• Evidence based report on the risks of asbestos exposure in the Australian
community
• Review issues and successful initiatives to combat dumping af asbestos-
containing materials
• 2015 International conference on Asbestos Awareness and Management –
November 2015
• Testing of actual asbestos fibres released during removal work
• Review of existing asbestos communications campaigns
Agency projects

10. www.asbestossafety.gov.au
• Study of existing asbestos regulations and their impact on business and
productivity
• Asbestos identification in the home
• Explore how best practice of asbestos management is demonstrated
through case studies
• Strategic review of the practice and use of asbestos registers in Australia
• Supporting Bernie Banton Foundation ‘Stan’s Van’ mobile awareness unit
• Remote community legacy asbestos mapping project
• Supporting Asbestos Diseases Society of South Australia – trades training
program
Agency projects

11. www.asbestossafety.gov.au
 Level 8, 255 Elizabeth Street, SYDNEY NSW 2000
Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency
 enquiries@asbestossafety.gov.au
@AsbestosSafety @Peter_Tighe
 1300 363 079