AGD: Asbestos Treatment Program in Goodsell Building

Central Council

Report adopted

BACKGROUND: The Director General, AGD advised the General Secretary on 31 January 2005 that the owner of the Goodsell Building advised the AGD of precautionary works proposed to be taken to treat asbestos contained in the Goodsell Building. The Association was invited to attend a meeting to be briefed on the programme.

A meeting with the AGD was held in 2 February 2005 with Joan O'Dwyer, Chair AGD DC; Greg Saunders, PSA OH&S Industrial Officer; Garry Harris, IO AGD; Cheryl Wright, Mandi Ellem and Keith Atherton, AGD Goodsell Building delegate, representing the Association.

Association representatives were advised that the programme would entail "reencapsulation" of asbestos identified in the HAZMAT report of August 2004. The AGD representatives also advised that information had been posted on the AGD Infolink site.

Greg Saunders requested that appropriate air conditioning vents be sealed off on each floor where the work was being carried out. The Air Conditioning for the building is to be closed down each evening at 7pm subject to properly certified clearances, reactivated the next morning at approximately 6.30am. Should the clearances not be posted at the entrance to the Goodsell Building and in the lift foyers, staff will assemble at the established evacuation points away from the building.

The lift entrances and stairwells will be sealed off on the floors where the work is underway.

The programme of work will be reencapsulation and it is not intended that the asbestos will be disturbed and/or removed.

The AGD has also requested that all asbestos locations be properly labelled and that no work be undertaken in its building without Asset Management Services' approval.

A meeting for Goodsell Building members and staff was held on Thursday 10 February 2005 and 15 members attended. Greg Saunders and Garry Harris attended the meeting and Brad Wootten of the AGD AMS also attended on behalf of management.

The following concerns were canvassed: -

• licensed contractors

• encapsulation of the asbestos; history; timeframes; process;

• preventative maintenance

• weekend work instead of overnight work

• monitoring

• labelling of areas where asbestos has been identified

• information regarding testing and clearance certificates

The AGD advised the meeting that the AGD had accepted the Association's request to have the air conditioning vents sealed whilst the work is underway.

The Association has formally requested that a copy of the Hazardous Material Audit and Register, dated August 2004 be provided to Greg Saunders, PSA OH&S Officer.