Education Department fined $10,000 after Geelong asbestos incident

10 December 2009

Failing to ensure a tradesman was aware of the presence of asbestos has cost the Education Department $10,000 as well as being ordered to pay costs of $3500.

An over-heating refrigerator in a food serving area at Geelong High School’s multipurpose hall led to the installation of an extractor fan to improve airflow, but the tradesman doing the work was not told asbestos was present.

The school gave permission to install the fan, but Geelong Magistrate Michael Coghlan was told last week the tradesman was not advised of a 1999 report which identified fibro-cement sheeting in the walls and ceiling of the multipurpose hall’s servery area.

Canteen workers were told the tradesman would cut a hole in the ceiling and moved away and covered food and that the subsequent exposure to asbestos in April 2008 would generally have been low.

Geelong High School’s Principal immediately engaged a company to clean up, monitor and test the affected area which was evacuated and closed. Parents were notified in writing of the incident. 

The school’s visitors book was amended to alert contractors to the presence of asbestos and provided written information that the asbestos register was available from the office.

The register, which had not been updated since 1999, was also updated after the incident.

The Director of WorkSafe’s Construction and Utilities Division, Chris Webb, said asbestos was a common building material which had to be treated with respect because of the potential for serious illnesses arising from exposure.

“The potential risks of working with asbestos are well known, as are the precautions that need to be taken.

“WorkSafe expects that appropriate precautions are taken and that people working with asbestos are given information where its presence has already been identified.

“Asbestos was a common building material from the 1950s to less than a decade ago.

‘That means there is a strong likelihood of it being in many homes and businesses for many years to come.

“Where it is kept in good condition there should be no problems, but where asbestos is damaged or decomposing great care must be taken to reduce exposure.”

Detailed information on the correct handling requirements for asbestos can be found in the OHS Regulation 2007.

WorkSafe has also produced a range of publications including, ‘Asbestos – A handbook for Workplaces’ and ‘Managing Asbestos in Workplaces – A guide for Real Estate Agents and Property Managers’, which can be found at www.worksafe.vic.gov.au or call WorkSafe’s advisory service on 1800 136 089.

 The charge:

Section 26 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 covers the duties of those who control workplaces to ensure the workplace is safe.