Changes to Lead Risk Work - NSW

Amendments were made to the WHS Regulation on 1 July 2019. Some of these relate to blood lead levels, with a two-year transitional period to comply with the new requirements. Lead-related amendments involve:

• changes to the definition of lead risk work

• the frequency with which a PCBU must conduct biological monitoring of workers who carry out lead risk work

• reduction in blood lead levels for the immediate removal of workers from carrying out lead risk work

• thresholds at which a PCBU may allow a worker to return to lead risk work

• Notification to safework NSW seven days prior to commencement of lead risk work

NRL Finals Impacted by Asbestos Find

The identification of asbestos at Brookvale Oval, the home ground of NRL rugby league team the Manly Sea Eagles, has caused the NRL to consider moving Manly’s home final against the Cronulla Sharks to a neutral ground.

The asbestos was identified as part of testing for the standard excavation planning at the northern end of the ground. The local council and the Sea Eagles have been given 24 hours to assess the safety of the venue before tickets are released for the final.

Manly owner Scott Penn stated that the NRL were notified immediately of the asbestos find and is confident that the issue can be resolved before the Sea Eagles clash with the Sharks on Saturday night.

New Mr Fluffy Property Identified - Curtin, ACT

A “Mr Fluffy” loose-fill asbestos insulation impacted property has been identified in Curtin, ACT , making it the first such find for almost three years.

The property which was identified as containing the dangerous loose asbestos insulation in early July was added to the ACT government’s list of affected properties on 11 July 2019.

This property is the most recent in a handful of residential properties which were insulated with loose Amosite or Crocidolite asbestos, but which weren’t identified during an asbestos insulation testing program undertaken by the government in the late 1980s. The testing program was conducted with the purpose of identifying residential properties which were insulated with the dangerous mineral fibre. Properties which were identified as being affected were subsequently involved in a bulk asbestos removal program in the late 80s and early 90s and also another buy-back scheme involving the clean and demolition of said properties, which property owners could choose to participate in.

This find raises further concerns around the scope of the initial testing program and whether further properties may be unknowingly contaminated.

L&D offers focused testing of ceiling insulation for asbestos and also includes an assessment of a properties ceiling space as part of our full residential asbestos assessments.

Asbestos cancer deaths neared 700 in 2018

Data recently released from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has revealed that close to 700 Australians died from the asbestos related cancer, Mesothelioma in 2018 with an additional 662 new diagnoses of mesothelioma also confirmed during the same year.

Institute spokesman Justin Harvey said hundreds of people throughout Australia are diagnosed with the disease each year, despite the manufacture of asbestos containing materials (ACM) being banned in the nation since the mid 1980s and the export of asbestos being prohibited for over 15 years.

"Due to its aggressive nature, most cases of mesothelioma have a poor prognosis," Mr Harvey said.

The number of deaths last year from mesothelioma currently sits at 699, but the figure may rise as there may be further fatalities which the Australian Mesothelioma Registry, which has monitored cases of the aggressive and fatal form of cancer since 2010, has yet to be notified of.

A large amount of asbestos remains in Australian buildings, as it was used in construction due to its durability and resistance to fire and chemicals.

These statistics highlight the importance of ensuring that any disturbance of ACM is avoided to prevent release of asbestos fibre which can lead to asbestos fibre exposures associated with Mesothelioma and other asbestos related diseases .

WE HAVE MOVED!!

L&D has just moved office!

Our new office is situated just around the corner from our old office at 4/6 Dacre St, Mitchell. The office will be a work in progress for the next few months but our laboratory is up and running and ready to accept any samples you have for asbestos analysis!

Visit our contact page for office/laboratory opening times.