The Queensland workplace safety regulator has revealed the details of two incidents in August where they suspect that asbestos was released into the nearby environment through high-pressure water spray equipment.
The first incident occurred during a cleaning and painting job at a residential property. As part of the pre-painting cleaning tasks, a maintenance business used high-pressure water spray equipment on the property with an asbestos cement roof.
The result was asbestos-contaminated debris, and dust spread over the property, the garden, nearby homes, into the street and council drains, and a neighbour’s car.
A second incident occurred similarly when a painting contractor used a high-pressure water sprayer to clean a roof that also is suspected of containing asbestos material, which was then distributed throughout various parts of the property and two neighbouring residences.
In a statement, Workplace Health and Safety Queensland has reminded residents that there is legislation in place in the state that prohibits the use of particular tools and methods when working with asbestos-containing, or suspected asbestos-containing, material.
In the state, it is illegal to use high-pressure water spray equipment or pressure washers on asbestos. PCBUs have a duty to ensure workers and the general public aren’t exposed to the risk to health that airborne asbestos poses.