National Strategic Plan for Asbestos

Management and Awareness

 Deaths due to mesothelioma: number by sex, 1997 to 2011
700

600

500

400
Males

Females
300
Total persons

200

100

0
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Safe Work Australia, Asbestos Related Disease Indicators, September 2014

 Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency
• Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency Act 2013 passed
with bipartisan support - Agency commenced operation
on 1 July 2013
• Focus on issues beyond work health and safety to
encompass environmental and public health issues
• Implementation and delivery of National strategic Plan
for Asbestos Management and Awareness
• The Agency and Minister will be informed by the
Asbestos Safety and Eradication Council
• National Asbestos Exposure Register launched 3 June
2013, managed by agency. Over 2,000 registrations so
far
 Functions of Agency

• Coordinate, monitor and report on the

implementation of the National Strategic Plan for
Asbestos Management and Awareness
• Provide advice to the Minister about asbestos safety
and management

• Liaise with commonwealth, state, territory and local

and other governments, agencies or bodies
• Commission, monitor and promote research about
asbestos safety.
 Revised National Strategic Plan
• Revision of National Strategic Plan through 2014
• Developed in consultation with all levels of
government and stakeholders
• Principles to guide the plan include:
– Precaution
– Evidence-based decision making
– Transparency
– Public participation
– Collaboration
• All states and territories have endorsed the plan
 National Strategic Plan – 6 strategies
Awareness Best Practice Identification Removal Research International Leadership

• Increased • Evidence-based • Evidence-based • Priority actions to • Coordination of • Effective

community best practice to model for grading support removal of key research coordination of
awareness of risks minimise risks in-situ asbestos ACM in poor supporting international issues
& health impacts • Model training for • Improved condition evidence informed relating to
• Improved • Evidence-based policy and practice asbestos and ARDs
workers likely to stabilisation for
accessibility to be exposed and ACMs in poor practical options • Commission • Australia
information increased condition for removing ACMs research recognised an
• Cultural and competencies • Improved ID and in poor condition identifying international voice
• Support for • Asbestos removal practical and of global campaign
behavioural management of
innovative against asbestos
change in communities to info regarding infrastructure can
approaches to hazards
commercial and manage risk during asbestos meet the future
prevent or • Best practice
residential natural disasters contaminated land needs and
minimise risks
environments. and emergencies • Estimate total demands of ageing processes on
from exposure to
• Improved ACM ACMs awareness,
presence of ACMs asbestos.
• Review of barriers management and
transport, storage in built
eradication shared
and disposal. environment to safe removal of
internationally.
• Improved ID of ACMs and
evaluation of
risks, particularly in
challenges faced by
DIY renovators
government,
• Coordinated commercial and
response when residential sectors.
ACMs in imported
products are
identified.
 Next steps for National Strategic Plan

realistic achievements
2014 - 2018

NSP 2014-2018

aspirational goals beyond 2018

 Agency projects
• Revising national strategic plan – completed, endorsed by all states and
territories
• Strengthening asbestos-related training materials in the utilities sector
• Provision of services to develop National asbestos awareness program for
health professionals and general community
• Asbestos identification tool – pilot project
• ID of current and future capacity for asbestos waste disposal
• Development of asbestos awareness app and communications campaign
• Projections for the future burden of mesothelioma in Australia
• Buyer behaviour/influences towards the use of asbestos content reports in the
residential property sector
 Agency projects
• Asbestos in remote indigenous communities
• Additional research into asbestos identification and grading tools used in
Australia
• Evidence based report on the risks of asbestos exposure in the Australian
community
• Review issues and successful initiatives to combat dumping af asbestos-
containing materials
• 2015 International conference on Asbestos Awareness and Management –
November 2015
• Testing of actual asbestos fibres released during removal work
• Review of existing asbestos communications campaigns
 Agency projects
• Study of existing asbestos regulations and their impact on business and
productivity
• Asbestos identification in the home
• Explore how best practice of asbestos management is demonstrated
through case studies
• Strategic review of the practice and use of asbestos registers in Australia
• Supporting Bernie Banton Foundation ‘Stan’s Van’ mobile awareness unit
• Remote community legacy asbestos mapping project
• Supporting Asbestos Diseases Society of South Australia – trades training
program