Removing asbestos in workplaces - Compliance ... - WorkSafe Victoria

Additional requirements for licensedasbestos removal304. The laundering facility needs be constructed of smooth surfaces that are ableto be lined with polythene sheeting. Procedures need to be established forcleaning up spills. Flooding of neighbouring areas needs to be prevented.Laundering must be carried out in a manner that eliminates, so far as isreasonably practicable, the release of airborne asbestos fibres. This maybe achieved by placing the laundering room under negative pressure.305. Conventional washing machines may be used provided they are not used forother clothing. The clothing to be laundered should not be allowed to dry outbefore it is washed. Bags of asbestos-contaminated clothing need be openedin the washing machine while being further saturated with water to minimiseairborne dust. As a minimum, P1 respiratory protection needs to be worn whileunloading clothes into the washing machine.306. The containers/bags need to be disposed of as asbestos waste. Waste waterneeds to be filtered and the filtering medium disposed of as asbestos waste.307. Random air monitoring needs to be carried out to confirm employees are notbeing exposed to asbestos.308. Contaminated protective clothing must not be laundered in homes. Referto ‘Division 8 – Activities involving asbestos’ in Part 4.3 of the Regulationsfor specific requirements for the laundering of clothing contaminatedwith asbestos.Planning for removal work from hot surfaces309. If possible, the removal of asbestos from hot metal or machinery needs to bescheduled and planned around shutdowns with sufficient time allowed for themetal/machinery to cool.310. Machinery needs to be cool before removal is attempted. The removal of friableACM from hot metal presents one of the worst conditions for removal becauseairborne asbestos fibres can readily spread on convection currents in the airand the potential for burns is high. In addition, the use of fine water spraysmay not be possible as steam may be created that would make the removaltask more difficult. Hot metal removal can only be performed in emergencysituations. There may be other circumstances under which such removal workmay take place. However, a person competent in heat stress issues needs tobe consulted when making this decision.311. The person who has management and control of the workplace needs to makeevery attempt to arrange for the removal work to be done during periods whensurfaces are not hot.312. In the limited circumstances where the dry removal of ACM from hot surfaces isthe only option (eg emergency situations), particular care needs to be taken inthe selection of dust extraction equipment to cope with the convection currentsinvolved. The selection of appropriate PPE also becomes much more important.313. Heat stress must be considered when preparing the asbestos removal controlplan, particularly in the selection of PPE and the design of the work program(eg sufficient rest breaks and the provision of cool drinking water).54 Compliance code / Removing asbestos in workplaces WorkSafe Victoria