Guidance for retailers for return and disposal of asbestos-containing sand products
Background
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) published a safety alert advising people to cease using coloured sand that may contain asbestos.
Sand products should be secured in a location away from people and a licensed asbestos removalist contacted for advice on safe removal or await further instructions from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) about the product recall.
The below safety advice is aimed at supporting retailers who may receive returned sand products from businesses or the public.
Asbestos management plan
- A written asbestos management plan (AMP) is required where asbestos containing material (ACM) is present. This includes sites where retailers are storing or receiving returned coloured sand products that are suspected to contain asbestos.
- If your site already has an AMP (from asbestos previously identified), the AMP must be updated to include the returned coloured sand products. If no AMP is available, then an AMP needs to be prepared.
- The AMP must include the following information:
- identification of the ACM (i.e., the returned asbestos coloured sand)
- decisions, and reasons for decisions, about the management of asbestos at your site (i.e., safe work procedures and control measures for receiving returned coloured sand products, handling of these returned products)
- procedures on handling of incidents or emergencies involving ACM (e.g., spill of coloured sand from a container, receipt of damaged container that may expose a worker to the coloured sand); and
- workers conducting work involving ACM (consultation with workers, responsibilities of workers, information and training provided to workers).
Safe work procedures and controls
The safe work procedures and controls outlined below can be used as a guide when receiving returned coloured sand products and for preparing or updating your AMP.
Under no circumstances is a worker or retailer to open any container or bag of coloured sand.
- Establish a contactless returns process and identify a safe location to accept returns.
- Example – customers returning coloured sand are to place the container in the receptacle at a designated drop off area.
- Example – an outside (open air) traffic-free location of a car park, loading dock or click and collect bays.
- Example – provide signage indicating the designated drop off area.
- Suitable receptacle for returns
- Example 1 – a semi-permanent lockable container suitably sized to accept returns, such as a skip or transport container.
- Example 2 – a mobile container such as bin with wheels or a trolley cage, enabling the product to be moved to a more permanent secure area.
- Secure storage location
- Example – If a semi-permanent lockable container cannot be made available at the return location, then a separate secure location such as a storeroom is to be provided. This location must also have signage warning workers that the location contains ACM.
- Consult and train your workers
- Workers are provided with clear instructions relating to the returns process, including any safe work processes developed.
- Workers are informed of the health risks associated with asbestos.
- Consider consultation with other stakeholders such as centre management, health and Safety Representative, and worker representatives.
- Emergency and incident procedures
- Cover the types of incidents that may occur, including (but not limited to):
- accidental spill at the outside return location or in store
- returned products that are lost or stolen.
- Procedures should cover:
- how to contain and isolate the area
- who to notify of the incident
- engaging specialist asbestos contractors to assess and remove the material before the area can be reoccupied.
- Cover the types of incidents that may occur, including (but not limited to):
Under no circumstances is a worker to remove or handle any spilled coloured sand