Following two recent incidents in Queensland, the state’s Workplace Health and Safety authority have issued a renewed warning regarding the use of high-pressure water cleaners on asbestos roofs.
In worst-case scenarios, the practice has the potential to cause risk to life via asbestos exposure, while those who undertake the dangerous practice face significant fines and will be responsible for significant clean-up bills.
Brad Geinitz, Workplace Health and Safety Queensland’s Chief Advisor – Occupational Health and Hygiene, explained that the recent incidents that took place on the Gold Coast and Brisbane show that the asbestos safety messaging must be reinforced.
“Under Queensland laws, you can’t use certain tools and work methods when you’re dealing with asbestos-containing materials as they can generate dangerous airborne fibres,” Mr Geinitz said.
“It’s illegal to use high-pressure water spray equipment on these materials, including asbestos cement roofs, fences and walls.
“High-pressure cleaners destroy the binding matrix of asbestos building products, releasing cement debris and asbestos fibres into the air, which then results in widespread contamination putting people’s health at risk.
“Business owners have a duty to ensure workers and others are not exposed to the risk of airborne asbestos.”
While the organisation has not commented on the most recent incidences of the practice, several years ago, a house painter used a high-pressure water sprayer on a roof and endangered his workers and the public. The act, labelled as a ‘disgrace’ by a magistrate, resulted in $3,000 in fines and a $48,000 clean-up bill.
“This kind of cowboy behaviour is illegal, dangerous and utterly ridiculous,” Mr Geinitz said. He said the case should serve as a warning to businesses, noting that the fines are “a huge whack for a small business and can potentially send them broke.”