❓ A parliamentary question regarding the removal of a fence from a Department of Housing property in Wiluna, specifically addressing concerns about potential asbestos contamination and the handling of the material. The Department's response indicates that while asbestos was not confirmed, precautions were taken, and a licensed company later removed remaining fragments.
AnsweredQoN 4622Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to photos of broken fence material within and on the boundary of Lot 940 Trenton Street, Wiluna taken on 20 August 2011 on my website at
http://robinchapple.com/qdata
document 2011-08-26 Wiluna Housing and Asbestos.pdf, and ask -
(1) Was a fence removed from the boundary of Lot 940 Trenton Street on Saturday, 6 August 2011?
(2) Was it later found that the fence was made out of asbestos?
(3) If yes to (2), on what date?
(4) As a result of this discovery what action was taken, on what date, to manage, contain and remove the asbestos?
(5) Was the company or person that first removed the fence licensed to handle asbestos?
(6) If no to (5), why not?
(7) If no to (5), what action will the Minister take?
(8) As a result of the discovery that the fence was asbestos, was the subsequent company or person that managed, contained and removed the asbestos licensed to do so?
(9) If no to (8), why not?
(10) If no to (7), what action will the Minister take?
(11) On what date did the subsequent company or person remove the asbestos and where was it disposed of?
(12) Will the department investigate the nature of the fence material scattered through and adjacent to Lot 940 Trenton Street?
(13) If the material is found to be asbestos will the Minister initiate an immediate clean-up of the scattered material?
http://robinchapple.com/qdata
document 2011-08-26 Wiluna Housing and Asbestos.pdf, and ask -
(1) Was a fence removed from the boundary of Lot 940 Trenton Street on Saturday, 6 August 2011?
(2) Was it later found that the fence was made out of asbestos?
(3) If yes to (2), on what date?
(4) As a result of this discovery what action was taken, on what date, to manage, contain and remove the asbestos?
(5) Was the company or person that first removed the fence licensed to handle asbestos?
(6) If no to (5), why not?
(7) If no to (5), what action will the Minister take?
(8) As a result of the discovery that the fence was asbestos, was the subsequent company or person that managed, contained and removed the asbestos licensed to do so?
(9) If no to (8), why not?
(10) If no to (7), what action will the Minister take?
(11) On what date did the subsequent company or person remove the asbestos and where was it disposed of?
(12) Will the department investigate the nature of the fence material scattered through and adjacent to Lot 940 Trenton Street?
(13) If the material is found to be asbestos will the Minister initiate an immediate clean-up of the scattered material?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
19 October 2011
Responded by
Minister for Finance representing the Minister for Housing
Response time
41 days
The
Department of Housing
advises:
(1) Yes
(2) The fence was removed primarily due to its poor condition. No testing was undertaken on the removed fence to establish whether or not it contained asbestos. Testing was subsequently conducted on fragments of material removed from the site and they were found not to contain asbestos.
(3) Not applicable
(4) See (2) above - no asbestos had been identified. The fence was dismantled in whole sheets on 6 August 2011. The material was treated as if it may contain asbestos. It was wrapped in plastic and disposed of in accordance with the relevant hazardous materials regulations.
(5) No
(6) The contractor had not completed the relevant Worksafe course to gain either a restricted or unrestricted asbestos removal licence.
(7) The Department of Housing will take action to remind the contractor of its legal and contractual obligations regarding materials handling.
(8) See (2) above. It has not been established that the fence contained asbestos, however, as soon as the matter was brought to the attention of the Department, an appropriately licensed company was contracted to remove the fragments of material and rake the area.
(9) Not applicable
(10) Not applicable
(11) 19 August 2011. The material was taken to the Wiluna Shire Depot and disposed of by the local authority.
(12) See (2) and (8) above.
(13) No asbestos was detected. It is important to note that construction of the house at Lot 940 Trenton, including the fences, commenced in 1988 and was completed in April 1989. James Hardie had removed asbestos from all of its building materials by 1985.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
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Department of Housing
advises:
(1) Yes
(2) The fence was removed primarily due to its poor condition. No testing was undertaken on the removed fence to establish whether or not it contained asbestos. Testing was subsequently conducted on fragments of material removed from the site and they were found not to contain asbestos.
(3) Not applicable
(4) See (2) above - no asbestos had been identified. The fence was dismantled in whole sheets on 6 August 2011. The material was treated as if it may contain asbestos. It was wrapped in plastic and disposed of in accordance with the relevant hazardous materials regulations.
(5) No
(6) The contractor had not completed the relevant Worksafe course to gain either a restricted or unrestricted asbestos removal licence.
(7) The Department of Housing will take action to remind the contractor of its legal and contractual obligations regarding materials handling.
(8) See (2) above. It has not been established that the fence contained asbestos, however, as soon as the matter was brought to the attention of the Department, an appropriately licensed company was contracted to remove the fragments of material and rake the area.
(9) Not applicable
(10) Not applicable
(11) 19 August 2011. The material was taken to the Wiluna Shire Depot and disposed of by the local authority.
(12) See (2) and (8) above.
(13) No asbestos was detected. It is important to note that construction of the house at Lot 940 Trenton, including the fences, commenced in 1988 and was completed in April 1989. James Hardie had removed asbestos from all of its building materials by 1985.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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