SafeWork NSW has directed Blue Mountains City Council to develop a council-wide asbestos management plan, just as asbestos is being cleaned up at council-owned community facilities in recent weeks.
It follows the temporary closure of the Warrimoo Citizens Hall and a BMX club storeroom at Lawson oval last month while “asbestos containing material” was removed.
The information was revealed after council staff and other concerned citizens, who asked to remain anonymous, contacted the Gazette.
A spokesman for SafeWork NSW, which investigates work, health and safety incidents in NSW, confirmed the management plan had been put in place and a Blue Mountains Council spokeswoman said they were getting “ongoing advice and assistance from SafeWork NSW”.
“Following an inspection by SafeWork NSW, council has been tasked with creating an asbestos management plan. We have engaged an independent third-party specialist to assist us and we are working closely with SafeWork NSW in this process,” the spokeswoman said.
The council spokeswoman admitted “council officers did temporarily close Warrimoo Citizens Hall on 26 June, while asbestos containing material was removed by a licenced contractor and routine maintenance work conducted. This hall was reopened following the receipt of a clearance inspection by a licenced assessor on 30 June”.
“Asbestos containing material was removed from the BMX Club store room [at Lawson oval] and the room was reopened following the receipt of a clearance inspection by a licenced assessor on 30 June”.
The spokeswoman said council was “always working to improve the overall management of asbestos in council-owned facilities and in the workplace”.
“The health and wellbeing of our community and our workers is paramount and we take the matter of asbestos seriously. As a result, council has implemented a number of asbestos related wellbeing and awareness initiatives as part of our wellness program for staff”.
“Council has a corporate asbestos register – which is a single point of reference for information about potential asbestos containing material in our buildings built before December 2003,” she added.
The SafeWork NSW spokesman said an asbestos register and management plan is not required for a workplace if the building that was constructed after December 31, 2003, or no asbestos has been identified in the workplace.
The register must record any asbestos that has been identified or is assumed to be present at the workplace, record the date when the asbestos was identified, record the location, type and condition of the asbestos and be maintained to ensure up-to-date information.
The management plan must be reviewed at least every five years or when requested by a health and safety representative or when asbestos is removed, disturbed, sealed or enclosed, or when changes to a control measure are made or when the plan is no longer adequate.
“Council deals with reports of asbestos on a regular basis, both dumped asbestos and within council buildings,” the council spokeswoman added.
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