Safe maintenance and service work techniques
Techniques
Tools
Personal protective equipment (PPE)
Asbestos vacuum cleaners
Decontamination
Clearance inspections
Waste removal and disposal
Wherever possible, dry ACM should not be worked on.
Techniques
Techniques to prevent or minimise the generation of airborne asbestos fibres include:
- the wetting of ACM using surfactants or wetting agents such as detergent water
- the use of thickened substances, pastes and gels, such as hair gel or shaving cream, to cover the surfaces of ACM that are to be worked on (these substances should be compatible with the conditions of use, including temperature, and not pose a health risk)
- the use of shadow vacuuming
- performing the task in a controlled environment e.g. a ventilated enclosure.
Ensure that the work has been assessed for any electrical hazards that may result from the use of water or other liquids. If an electrical hazard exists, primary consideration must be given to removing the ACM, rather than relying on dry work methods.
More information on safe maintenance and service work techniques can be found in section 11.5 of the asbestos management code (non-Queensland Government link).
Tools
- High-speed abrasive power and pneumatic tools such as angle grinders, sanders and saws and high-speed drills must never be used.
- Manually operated hand tools must be used wherever possible.
- If manually operated hand tools cannot provide sufficient physical force to perform the work, low-speed battery-powered tools which are able to be used in conjunction with wet methods for dust dust control must be used
- Battery powered tools must be fitted with a local exhaust ventilation hood whenever possible
- At the end of the work all tools must be:
- fully decontaminated - read section 11.9.2 of the asbestos management code (non-Queensland Government link)
- placed in sealed containers; or
- disposed of as asbestos waste.
More information on tools can be found in section 11.6 of the asbestos management code (non-Queensland Government link).
Personal protective equipment (PPE)
The risk assessment should determine the need for and the appropriate types and levels of PPE. This includes respiratory equipment.
All respiratory protection equipment must meet the requirements of AS/NZS 1716 Respiratory Protective Devices (non-Queensland Government link).More information on PPE is available from:
- workplace health and safety subject - personal protective equipment
- section 11.7 of the asbestos management code (non-Queensland Government link)
- section 9.7 and Appendix C of the asbestos removal code (non-Queensland Government link).
Asbestos vacuum cleaners
Asbestos vacuum cleaners must comply with AS 3544-1988 Industrial Vacuum Cleaners for particulates Hazardous to Health and AS 4260-1997 High Efficiency Particulate Air Filters (HEPA) - Classification, Construction and Performance.
- Household vacuum cleaners must never be used where asbestos is or may be present - even if it has a HEPA filter.
- PPE should be worn whenever an asbestos vacuum cleaner is opened to change the bag or filter, or to perform other maintenance.
- Asbestos vacuum cleaners should only be emptied by a competent person:
- with the correct PPE
- in a controlled environment
- in compliance with the manufacturer's instructions.
- Wherever possible, asbestos vacuum cleaners should not be hired as they can be difficult to fully decontaminate.
- Hiring may be more viable in some cases, e.g. when a one-off maintenance task is required.
- Asbestos vacuum cleaners should only be hired from organisations that provide vacuum cleaners specifically for work with asbestos.
More information on vacuum cleaners is available in section 11.8 of the asbestos management code (non-Queensland Government link).
Decontamination
The type of decontamination required depends on the type of asbestos (friable or bonded), the work method used and the site conditions.
There are two procedures for workplace decontamination:
- wet decontamination - using wet rags to wipe down contaminated areas
- dry decontamination - involves carefully rolling or folding up and sealing plastic sheeting and/or vacuuming the asbestos work area with an asbestos vacuum cleaner. This method should only be used where wet methods are not suitable or pose a risk because of electricity or slippage.
If extensive contamination has occurred, an asbestos removalist must be engaged to perform the decontamination. Clearance monitoring may be required.
All tools, equipment and reusable respirators used during the work must be dismantled (where appropriate) and decontaminated. This must be done using either wet or dry decontamination methods.
Personal decontamination must be undertaken every time a worker leaves the asbestos work area and again when the asbestos task is completed.
More information on decontamination procedures can be found in section asbestos management code (non-Queensland Government link) .Clearance inspections
A clearance inspection verifies than asbestos work area is safe to be returned to normal use after work involving the disturbance of asbestos-containing material has occurred. For more information about clearance inspections, refer to -
- Section 11.10 of the asbestos management code (non-Queensland Government link)
- Fact sheet - Clearance inspections for asbestos work areas
Waste removal and disposal
Asbestos waste must always be removed and disposed of by a competent person. This includes contaminated PPE and cleaning materials used in the work.
Asbestos waste can be collected and disposed of in:
- asbestos waste bags
- solid, sealable asbestos waste containers such as bins or drums, if storage is required.
Controlled wetting of asbestos waste must be used to reduce the possibility of dust emissions during the bagging or containment of the waste.
More information on waste disposal methods can be found in section 11.11 of the asbestos management code (non-Queensland Government link) .
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