Asbestos is a collective name for a group of natural minerals found in various rock formations that separate into strong, very thin fibres, exposure to which increases the chances of serious respiratory illnesses, including lung cancer.
Asbestos is generally divided into two groups, serpentine and amphibole. Serpentine contains only chrysotile asbestos, which is suggested to represent nearly 95% of all asbestos used in commercial products. The second group, known as amphiboles, contains amosite, crocidolite, actinolite, anthophyllite, and tremolite. The amphibole group is considered a more significant hazard than the serpentine group due to its physical nature.
Asbestos was a popular building material between 1900 and 1980, with uses such as water resistant materials, fireproofing insulation, thermal insulation, abrasion resistance, and sound insulation.
The nature of asbestos, and perceptions by workers and the general public, make its presence on any property a contentious matter from both a health and safety and industrial relations perspective.
The harmonised Work Health Safety Legislation, 2011, including the various Australian jurisdictions, imposes a number of obligations on building and property owners in regards to asbestos materials. These requirements include: the identification of all asbestos containing materials (ACM); assessment of the risk posed by ACM; the establishment of an asbestos management plan and demonstration of ongoing management to ensure that the ACM do not pose an unacceptable risk; and labelling of ACM, where appropriate.
Our team of experienced accredited Asbestos Assessors provides the full gamut of asbestos services needed to satisfy regulatory requirements and manage existing and perceived/potential asbestos risk.
Our services include asbestos audit/surveys audits, preparation of asbestos registers, project management and supervision of removal projects, airborne fibre monitoring before and during removal, and pre occupancy clearance support. Our extensive list of clients ranges from those with single structures to sensitive multi-site portfolios requiring such as educational organisations, local councils, and state government authorities.