WHWB (Workplace Health Without Borders) – Australia
ISO 9001, 14001, 45001 Certified
Asbestos Fibre Air Monitoring
Asbestos offers comprehensive asbestos fibre air monitoring and clearance inspection services to ensure that regulatory requirements are met along with client, project and health & safety standards.
Learn more about our service offering below:
Asbestos Fibre Air Monitoring
RED OHMS Asbestos offers comprehensive asbestos fibre air monitoring and clearance inspection services to ensure that regulatory requirements are met along with client, project and health and safety standards.
Asbestos fibre air monitoring is undertaken by our trained consultants and OHMS Hazmat can provide NATA accredited certification upon request.
Sampling of airborne fibres enables confirmation that appropriate management procedures have been implemented and also assists in the risk assessment of exposure to Asbestos.
Our consultants hold or are working towards the internationally recognised BOHS proficiency module P403 ‘Asbestos Fibre Counting’.
OHMS Hazmat can tailor the asbestos fibre air monitoring requirements in accordance with the job scope, type of asbestos containing material, condition of asbestos containing material and locations in conjunction with meeting the legislative parameters.
Undertaking air monitoring is important in verifying the management of any potential risks to clients, stakeholders and the public where remediation is occurring, or contamination has been identified.
Air Monitoring Plans
Written air monitoring plans should be developed by a competent person for all friable asbestos removal.
OHMS Hazmat can assist by determining all air monitoring requirements for a project such as the locations, rate and frequency of sampling.
In addition to the required control monitoring, clearance monitoring will also be assessed to ensure sufficient pumps and suitable locations within the work area are monitored.
It should be noted that an air monitoring program is not always necessary for non-friable asbestos removal however it is considered best practice and good occupational hygiene.
Considerations for the various types of monitoring should be reviewed and implemented accordingly, as follows:
- Background monitoring – involves testing the location of upcoming asbestos removal work prior to disturbance. This is typically conducted to establish a baseline of ambient fibre levels and to determine if other fibres may be present in the air.
- Exposure monitoring – tests the air in a person’s breathing zone to determine a person’s likely exposure to respirable asbestos fibres. Exposure monitoring is designed to reliably identify a person’s exposure, which also allows for a review to ensure the correct respiratory protection equipment (RPE) is being utilised.
- Control monitoring – is when the air is tested to measure the level of respirable airborne asbestos fibres in the vicinity of an asbestos exclusion zone during asbestos removal or remediation. It allows for the testing of the effectiveness of implemented control measures while works are conducted such as the integrity of enclosures and dust suppression techniques.
- Clearance monitoring – tests the air to measure the level of airborne asbestos fibres in an area following asbestos removal works.
When the level of airborne asbestos fibres is measured as being below 0.01 fibres/ml the asbestos work area is considered as cleared and can return to normal occupation.
Asbestos Clearance Inspections
Before an asbestos work area can be reoccupied a visual inspection needs to be conducted by a competent person who is independent from the person responsible for the works.
A visual inspection entails a review of all areas within the boundary of the asbestos work exclusion zone to ensure no trace of visible dust and debris remains present. Upon satisfactory inspection a clearance certificate can be issued. The clearance certificate should be held with the abatement documentation.
Our consultants hold or are working towards the internationally recognised BOHS proficiency module P404 ‘Air Sampling of Asbestos and MMF and Requirements for a Certificate of Reoccupation Following Clearance of Asbestos’
Contact the team today.
