The Importance of Asbestos Audits in the Building and Construction Industry

The recent news regarding the asbestos incident at Cremorne in Sydney, is yet another reminder of the importance of responsible and safe asbestos management.

It is imperative that prior to initiating a demolition project, a thorough asbestos audit is carried out on the site by a professional independent consultant. Failing to take this action puts construction workers at risk of asbestos exposure, which over a prolonged period, may increase the chance of lung cancer and mesothelioma, among other asbestos-related health conditions.

The Cremorne Asbestos Scare In the case of the building site at Cremorne, this oversight caused massive disruption to the area during peak hour, as emergency workers aimed to stabilise and contain the asbestos risk posed to site workers and the general public.  

Asbestos and the Building and Construction Industry

Asbestos exposure is such a big issue in the building and construction industry due to the physical properties of the material and how it reacts to construction activities.

Asbestos can take different forms, and some physical states of asbestos are more dangerous than others. For example, asbestos that is in a non-friable form is relatively stable, and therefore does not pose a risk to building inhabitants as long as it is not dislodged.

However, deconstruction activities such as knocking down building structures and disturbing insulation, as well as the resulting mixture of soil with building debris increase asbestos risk by potentially creating airborne friable asbestos particles. When these particles are inhaled by workers or the general public, their health is severely compromised.

How JTA Can Help You Manage Asbestos

To proactively respond to the hazards of asbestos, appropriate planning and risk management is essential. At JTA, over the last 35 years, we have overseen the identification of asbestos in a range of industries, in businesses large and small. Find out more about our asbestos audits or take advantage of our asbestos awareness training to equip your employees with the knowledge to protect themselves.  

Our specialist asbestos consultants service all Australian cities including Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Darwin and Hobart, as well as most rural areas and New Zealand.

If you are concerned about meeting your legal obligations when it comes to asbestos, contact JTA and speak to an asbestos expert today.

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