Webinar: Asbestos in Construction – Closing the Gaps

Moderated by Malcolm Fabiny

Presented by Zayne Baggot, Cassandra Fernandez, Joe Stanek & Jo Morris

What’s covered?

It is not uncommon for a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) to encounter asbestos during normal day-to-day work that has, or has not, been previously identified. This is more evident during the demolition or refurbishment of a building, structures, or plant.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring carcinogenic mineral that was manufactured into over 3,000 products and widely used in the construction industry in Australia until 2003. Over time, these products can deteriorate due to natural aging, weathering, day to day operations, and other environmental factors.

Asbestos has continually been removed from buildings and plant as sites have been developed, refurbished or demolished to the standard of the day and the constraints of the building operations at the time. Without total demolition, you cannot be guaranteed that the asbestos has been entirely removed.

State Regulations (WHS and OHS) require that asbestos is identified on-site, a register prepared, labelled, managed, and removed by a licensed removalist prior to any work likely to damage the asbestos-containing materials (ACM) and prior to demolition or refurbishment. As the number of licensed asbestos assessors and competent persons across all jurisdictions of Australia increases, some state regulators are paying close attention to the standards of their work. Some of these individuals have had their competency challenged, resulting in prosecutions and/or the requirement for retraining.

This moderated panel discussion covers the difference between management and demolition surveys, competent persons, if it is reasonably foreseeable that asbestos might be present at your workplace, and if there are steps to avoid unexpected finds/exposure.

The presentation also outlines some of the legislative governance and the panel will share from their diverse experiences as active practitioners and from a leader in the advocacy of asbestos awareness and education.

Watch The Video

About Presenter

About Malcom Fabiny (Principal Consultant /Practice Manager – Muddy Boots Asbestos training)

Malcolm has worked for Greencap since 1988, and now holds the position of Principal Consultant / Practice Manager – Muddy Boots Asbestos Training

It was during the infancy of the asbestos removal industry Malcolm began working prior to the development of current industry codes of practices and modern regulations. He has managed several large property portfolio asbestos audit programs and complex asbestos-related demolition and refurbishment projects. Malcolm’s experience includes the development of safe work procedures, health and safety risk assessments, project-based site supervision, asbestos removal scopes of work, site safety audits and asbestos management plans.

Malcolm continues to practice hands-on with Asbestos and Hazardous Materials Audits, air monitoring and clearance inspections. One of Malcolm’s skill is to draw on his wealth of experience to assist in identifying client needs, customise reports, and preparing and delivering relevant customer-focused training.

About Zayne Baggot (Principal Consultant / Team Manager, HAZMAT)

Zayne has over 20 years of experience in the asbestos and hazardous materials industry, providing consulting advice and expertise to both public and private sectors. Zayne holds international and Australian professional qualifications relating to asbestos risk management and environmental contamination services, and currently works within Greencap’s HAZMAT practice as a Principal Consultant.

As a Principal Consultant, Zayne has supervised large scale asbestos removal works, including the monitoring of asbestos airborne fibres, analysis of laboratory samples, the delivery of clearance inspections and the issue of clearance reports. He assists clients with the development of policies, procedures and technical scopes of works related to asbestos management and removal processes.

Zayne has is responsible for internal on-site auditing of staff for competency sign-off and continual re-assessment, and was an independent assessor conducting site audits of asbestos removal contractors for ARCA, the Asbestos Removal Contractors Association in the UK.

About Cassandra Fernandez (Senior Consultant, HAZMAT)

Cassandra has a decade of experience within the hazardous materials industry and, as a senior consultant with Greencap, has a strong practical experience in asbestos and hazardous materials surveys and material risk assessments in a large variety of fields.

Cassandra is an approved signatory through the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA), Australia under International Standards Organisation (ISO) certification for asbestos fibre counting, volumetric measurement and the identification of asbestos in bulk samples.

Cassandra has undertaken some of NSW significant asbestos and hazardous surveys, inspections and asbestos hygiene experience on various sites including power station being decommissioned, hospitals, government infrastructure, heritage-listed sites, large rail development projects, and residential and commercial properties.

About Joe Stanek (Consultant, HAZMAT)

Joe is a Consultant based in Greencap’s Queensland office operating in the area of HAZMAT and has several years of experience in the provision of consulting services to clients in various public and private sector industries.

Joe has key experience in the Asbestos, Cooling Tower and Property Risk systems, and through working for Greencap, has developed multi-disciplinary skills across property risk management and compliance, asbestos audits, hygiene work and cooling water system risk management.

About Jo Morris (Operations Manager, Reflections)

Jo Morris is the Operations Manager and Company Secretary for Reflections, and the driving force behind the Foundation. Her passion for the cause was shared with her father, Reflections founder Barry Knowles, and she is proud to carry on his legacy. Reflections is a not-for-profit committed to reducing the impact of asbestos on the community.

“Working in the building industry, I see all too often the mishandling and lack of understanding around the risks of asbestos within our community. It is a privilege to have opportunity through Reflections to increase awareness and, potentially, save others from having to experience the devastation asbestos-related disease causes.”

Key Links

• Asbestos Exposure Checklist & Importation Guide