asbestos hazards in building work involving old buildings · © 2010 government of singapore a...

© 2010 Government of Singapore

A Great Workforce A Great WorkplaceA Great Workforce A Great Workplace

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Asbestos Hazards in Building Work

Involving Old Buildings

Soo Sze Mun

OSH Specialist Department

30 Sep 2016



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Scope

1. Asbestos and its Health Effects

2. Development of Asbestos Control in Singapore

3. Use of Asbestos

4. WSH (Asbestos) Regulations

5. Exposure to Asbestos

6. Prevention and Management of Asbestos

7. Conclusion

Presentation Scope




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Asbestos and Health Effects

What is Asbestos?

• Naturally occurring fibrous minerals

• Excellent insulation material

• Corrosion and chemical resistant

Chrysotile (White)

Crocidolite (Blue) Amosite (Brown)

3 main types of asbestos




4© 2016 Government of Singapore

Asbestos and Health Effects

• Asbestos is a confirmed human carcinogen

• Exposure to asbestos can cause mesothelioma, asbestosis

and lung cancer

• Long latency period (typically 20- 40 yrs)



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Asbestos and its Health Effects

WHO estimates…..

• About 125 million people in the world

are exposed to asbestos at the

workplace

• Some 107,000 deaths are caused by

asbestos related diseases globally

• Figure is expected to increase further

due to extensive use of asbestos 30

years ago





Asbestos and its Health Effects

(work-related)



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1950 1980 1990 2000 2014

Use of asbestos

building

materials

banned in 1988

Licensing of all raw

asbestos and ACM

(excluding

chrysotile) imports

in 1989

Banning of

asbestos brake

pads and clutch

linings in 1995

Inclusion of

chrysotile

containing ACM

for licensing

control in 2008

Decreasing use

of ACM

Decreasing use

of ACM

Wide usage of asbestos as

building materials, fireproofing

and heat insulators

Enactment of

Factories (Asbestos)

Regulations in 1980

Enactment of

WSH (Asbestos)

Regulations in

2014

Development of Asbestos Control in Singapore





Use of Asbestos

Roof, walkway shelter and shed

Corrugated

asbestos

roof sheets



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Use of Asbestos

Car Porch

Backyard extension

Corrugated

asbestos

roof sheets

Asbestos

Ceiling Board




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Use of Asbestos

Gutters

Roof Eaves

Cemented

asbestos

Asbestos

Ceiling Board

Corrugated

asbestos

roof sheets




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Use of Asbestos

Wall claddings (factories)

Asbestos

Wall

Cladding




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Use of Asbestos

CeilingsAsbestos

Ceiling Board

Asbestos

Ceiling Tiles





Use of Asbestos

Flooring

Vinyl asbestos tile (VAT)

Sheet vinyl flooring




Asbestos

chute lining

Use of Asbestos

Refuse Chute

Ventilation Panels



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Use of Asbestos

Bitumen mastic / adhesives

Asbestos-containing compounds

Sealant (Caulking)





Use of Asbestos

Pipe insulation

Spray-on

asbestos

Asbestos pipe

laggings



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Use of Asbestos

Cemented Pipes

Pipe Insulation & Laggings

• Drain pipes

• Water pipes

• Exhaust flue

Asbestos

cemented pipes




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Use of Asbestos

Gaskets Brake Linings

Asbestos lift brake pad




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Use of Asbestos

Electrical Circuit Board Cable Penetration




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Use of Asbestos (Industrial)

Ovens / Furnace Fume Hood Cabinets

Asbestos-containing

Linings / sealsAsbestos

tabletop




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Effective from 30 May 2014

To enhance protection of workers against asbestos exposure

Effective from 30 May 2014

WSH (Asbestos) Regulations 2014





1. Asbestos Survey to be carried out by a competent person to ascertain the presence of asbestos

2. Licensing of contractors carrying out asbestos removal work

3. Written plan of work to ensure asbestos removal work is carried out safely

4. Removal of ACMs before demolition of building

5. Technical requirements on asbestos work

6. Training for persons carrying out work involving asbestos

Key requirements:Key requirements:

Source: http://www.mom.gov.sg/legislation/occupational-safety-health/Pages/default.aspx

WSH (Asbestos) Regulations 2014

Designated work area

Negative pressure units

Proper decontamination facilities




Exposure to Asbestos

1. Work that involves handling, treatment, cutting, disposal or

disturbing of ACMs

Facilities Maintenance (Old buildings)

a) Asbestos roof sheets

• Repairing damaged roof

• Cleaning or painting of roof

b) Asbestos ceiling boards

• Installation or dismantling of electrical wirings

and cables

• Installation or changing of light fixtures, ceiling

fans, CCTV camera, etc

• Painting of ceiling boards



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c) Refuse chute (asbestos chute linings)

• Washing and repair of chute linings

• Replacement of refuse chute hoppers

Asbestos frame around hopper Entire chute lining contains asbestos




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Refuse Chute Lining Containing Asbestos

Asbestos Frame




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Drawing of refuse chute and aluminum hopper

Dimension of asbestos frame

indicated in the drawing




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d) Lift maintenance

Asbestos lift

brake pads

e) HVAC maintenance

• Repairing pipe insulations

• Changing of gaskets

Asbestos insulation






f) Electrical maintenance

• Maintenance of electrical circuit board

• Repairing or changing of cables

Cable penetrations

containing asbestos



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2. Renovation and upgrading work

• Replacement of refuse chute hoppers

• Replacement of asbestos ceiling boards,

roof sheets, wall panels, etc

3. Demolition of buildings

containing asbestos





Prevention and Management of Asbestos

• Contractor engaged for the project to conduct risk assessment (RA) to identify

all foreseeable hazards including asbestos.

o Check building plan/drawing for age of building and any presence of asbestos

containing material (ACM)

Before commencement of work:



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Building plan

with indication

of asbestos

ceiling board

Building Plan with drawing of roof and insulation material




32© 2016 Government of Singapore© 2016 Government of Singapore

Patrolling old/vacant buildings

- Risk assessment including asbestos hazard

- Potential exposure to asbestos around old

buildings

- Broken pieces on the ground near building


Pest control Management

- Access area above ceiling boards to

clear pest

- Fogging around old house



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• Restricting access to asbestos work area

• Persons carrying out the work have to be trained

• PPE - Respiratory protection for workers

• Measures to minimise release or spread of asbestos (e.g. wet method, containment,

avoid disturbing ACMs as much as possible)

• Contingency plan when ACM is disturbed/broken during the course of work

If work involves asbestos:

Engaged MOM’s Approved Asbestos-Removal Contractor (AARC)

to carry out asbestos-removal work.

If ACMs need to be removed,






• Record keeping• Update asbestos register & management plan

1. Asbestos register

• Awareness training

• Inform contractors/personnel on ACMs2. Information / training

• Restricted zones with controlled entry

• Permit-to-work system3. Isolate/restrict access

• Periodic inspection (e.g. every 6 mth or annually)

• Monitoring exposure level

4. Monitoring programme

• System for reporting damage / deterioration

• Procedure in place for accidental breakage5. Reporting Procedure

Asbestos Management Programme



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Check age of building

Before

1991?

Engage Asbestos

Surveyor

ACM in good

condition?

Engage AARC

Manage and

monitor

condition

No action

required*

NO ( unlikely to contain asbestos )YES ( likely to contain asbestos )

YES NO

Remove/repair Leave in-place

Engage asbestos waste

disposal contractor

ACM still in-place

ACM present No ACM

No action

required

* For buildings built after 1 Jan 1991,

if there are materials of unknown

origin suspected to contain asbestos,

you may engage an asbestos

surveyor to check if it contains

asbestos.

Managing Asbestos in Building




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• Do not dust, sweep or vacuum debris that may contain asbestos.

• Do not saw, sand, scrape or drill holes in ACM.

• Do not use high powered water jet to wash the ACM surface.

• Do not step onto ACM, especially asbestos roof sheets.

Managing asbestos in Buildings





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Accidental breakages of existing ACMs in building

� Isolate the area and prevent anyone

from going near

� Do not sweep or clear off ACM debris

� Trained personnel to don PPE and cover

up ACM debris with PE sheets.

� Engage approved asbestos-removal

contractor to carry out decontamination

of area where broken ACM were found

� Seal exposed areas to prevent release of

fibres into the environment





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Resources / References

1. WSH (Asbestos) Regulations(http://www.mom.gov.sg/legislation/workplace-safetyand-health)

2. List of MOM Approved Asbestos Removal Contractor(http://www.mom.gov.sg/workplace-safety-and-health/wsh-service-providers/find-

approved-service-providers/find-asbestos-removal-contractor#/)

For more information, you may refer to the Asbestos webpage on

WSH Council website athttps://www.wshc.sg/

� WSH Guidelines on Management and Removal of Asbestos

� List of service providers for asbestos survey

� Video on Working Safely with Asbestos

� Factsheet on Asbestos: the hidden hazard at workplaces




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Conclusion

1. Asbestos-related diseases have killed a large number of people worldwide

2. It is important to identify asbestos hazard and take precautionary measures to prevent or minimise exposure to asbestos.

3. Joint effort by regulators and stakeholders is needed to manage and prevent exposure to asbestos




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Thank you


asbestos hazards in building work involving old buildings · © 2010 government of singapore a...

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