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Preparation for maintenance or service work
Establishing barriers
Preparing the work area
It is essential to have the correct tools, personal protective equipment, decontamination materials, barricades and warning signs prior to work commencing, and to minimise the number of people in the work area.
Establishing barriers
- The asbestos work area should be clearly defined to ensure that non-essential people do not enter, and to warn people that asbestos work is being carried out.
- Potential entry points to the asbestos work area should be signposted or labelled in accordance with AS 1319 Safety signs for the occupational environment (non-Queensland Government link) . These labels should be weatherproof, constructed of lightweight material and be adequately secured.
More information on establishing barriers can be found in section 11.4.1 of the asbestos management code (non-Queensland Government link).
Preparing the work area
- Before commencing work, plastic sheeting may need to be placed on the floor and any other surfaces that may become contaminated with asbestos dust. At a minimum, heavy duty 200 µm thick plastic sheeting should be used.
- Wet wiping or vacuuming of the surface that is to be worked on may also be necessary before commencing work. This is to minimise the disturbance of asbestos fibres on the surface.
More information on preparing the work area can be found in section 11.4.2 of the asbestos management code (non-Queensland Government link).
Last updated April 21, 2006