Webinar: Asbestos in Construction – Closing the Gaps by Greencap

Host Login

Asbestos in Construction – Closing the Gaps

About

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 ageing, 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.

Join us for this moderated panel discussion covering 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 will also outline 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.

Presenters

Malcolm 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.

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.

Jo Morris

Director & Co-Founder - Reflections

Director and Co-Founder, Jo Morris is the driving force behind the Foundation Reflections, a not for profit reducing the impact of asbestos on the community. Jo’s passion for the cause was shared with her father, Reflections founder Barry Knowles, and she is proud to carry on his legacy.

“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.”

Ben Morgan

Team Manager – Hazardous Materials

In early 2017, Ben joined Greencap in the property risk practice where he has undertaken all forms of asbestos and HAZMAT survey projects for a large range of site types. Ben demonstrates a high level skillset for identifying hazardous materials and producing high quality reports. Ben is skilled in the management of medium to large-scale Hazmat projects, is experienced in asbestos fibre air-monitoring during both non-friable and friable asbestos removal works, asbestos fibre air monitoring analysis, management of friable removal containment inspections, asbestos clearances, and the development of friable asbestos removal scopes of work. Ben manages large asbestos hygiene projects involving fire damage, demolition, scheduled sampling regimes and removals, management surveying, and is a trusted advisor for tier 1 construction, and various government sectors including education, aged care, residential property, and electrical energy.
In 2020 Ben became Team Manager - HazMat, and has enjoyed continuous delivery of projects both on site and from afar, whilst developing a young, enthusiastic team of consultants.

Claire Howard

Principal Consultant – Hazardous Materials

Claire is a Principal Consultant with over 17 years’ experience in hazardous materials, occupational hygiene and property risk consultancy. Claire commenced employment with Greencap in 2015 within the Property Risk team and since joining Greencap Claire has participated in a wide range of hazardous materials and property risk management projects assisting the construction industry, Safework SA, Department of Defence, and numerous other organisations.