Asbestos - Non Friable - Removal SWMS

The Removing Non Friable Asbestos Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) is a comprehensive document outlining the safety steps for the removal of non-friable asbestos. 

Exposure to Friable Asbestos can lead to serious illness and fatality from mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer. An exposure standard exists for asbestos – being 0.1 fibres per mil of air (in a person’s breathing zone averaged over 8 hours).

Disturbing asbestos is a “High Risk Construction Activity” as per the Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011.

Prohibitions on Asbestos:

-       Unlicensed removal of under 10 m2 of ACM does not include friable asbestos

-       High pressure air or gases must not be used on or near ACM

-       High power tools must not be used (unless dust is able to be totally captured and exposure remains half of the exposure standard)

Definitions

      Asbestos Containing Material (ACM) means any material, object, product or debris that contains asbestos.

      Non-Friable Asbestos means asbestos-containing material which, when dry, does not become crumbled, pulverised or reduced to powder by hand pressure. Common examples: cement sheeting, ceiling tiles, vinyl tiles.

            Competent person means a person with the skills, knowledge and experience to be

            able to identify types of asbestos, where it is normally found and control measures that

            may be required.

This SWMS includes:

• PPE
• Safety Notes
• Planning
• Preparation
• Pre-Operational Inspection
• Operation – Set up
• Operation – Example
• Operation – On completion
• Maintenance
• Emergency Procedures
• Review
• References

This SWMS is ready to use and is not a blank template. Simply add your company details, ABN, and include any site specific details or risks and make it specific to the task at hand. It is then ready for printing and to be incorporated as part of your overall WHS System.

Product Details:

• Minimum 16 pages
• Written by ex WHS inspectors
• Referenced
• Risk ratings before and after control measures
• MS Word format NOT PDF
• Task specific and site specific details easy to add
• Includes easy to complete boxes for Company details and project details
• Employee sign off section

Related items:

• Manual Handling – Hazardous Manual Tasks
• Roofs – work on
• Heights – Safe work at

Product extract:

Enter contaminated area/removal site as follows:

Fit required personal protective equipment (PPE) and respiratory protective equipment (RPE) in designated ‘clean’ decontamination areas

Fit additional PPE, footwear and connect airline if required in designated ‘dirty’ area (this area is situated between the removal area and ‘clean’ decontamination area.

Follow asbestos removal control plan:

-       Use methods that reduce dust generation

-       Do not use high speed tools such as grinders

-       ACM should be wetted using a fine water spray as you work

-       Keep material intact where possible. Unnecessary breaking of ACM is not recommended.

-       Dispose of nails, screws etc. as per other contaminated waste.

-       Dispose of any other associated material such as dried adhesives, sealants and paint particles as per other contaminated waste

-       Only half fill waste bags- remove excess air and tie off.

-       Ensure waste drums are plastic lined