News

GETEX ASSISTS MAJOR AUSTRALIAN RETAILER
TO MEET OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY REGULATION REQUIREMENTS
DURING REMOVAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

Occupational Health & Safety Regulation 2001

In New South Wales, the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation was introduced in 2001. It set out specific duties (Chapter 4, Part 4.3 Division 5 and Chapter 8, Part 8.7) for controllers of premises in relation to managing atmospheric contaminants.

In particular,

• Under Clause 51 (1) : “An employer must ensure that no person at a place of work is exposed to an airborne concentration of an atmospheric contaminant that exceeds or breaches a standard referred to in or determined under subclause (2)”.

Getex recently completed monitoring of a large scale hazardous materials removal project underway out of hours in a highly sensitive setting (a commercial retail store). Project activities were carefully managed in close consultation with the client and the specialist contractor, the AERIFY Group, and implemented to ensure that no disturbance to normal operations on site occurred and that customers were not placed in danger or inconvenienced. Of utmost concern at all times during the project was helping the retailer to protect public health, ensuring the safety of employees, contractors and visitors.

All removal works were undertaken by the AERIFY Group in accordance with the relevant Australian NOHSC (now ASCC) Codes of Practice and all waste was removed from the workplace by a competent person and transported and disposed of in accordance with all relevant State legislation. A “Control” air monitoring program was put in place by GETEX and all air monitoring results obtained throughout the project were below the applicable Australian guidelines.

The project was managed by Getex Director Jason North in conjunction with GETEX lead Consultants Owen Sainty and Shane Waterson.

	Photograph 1: The total area of floor removal was 3,200m², however the store had to maintain its operational capability, as a consequence the project was dissected into six areas all of a different size. Each area as released by the client to the contractor (Aerify Group) was isolated from the adjacent "selling" floor by constructing a timber and plywood floor to ceiling hoarding which was then lined on the inside with 200µm plastic sheeting.
	Photograph 2: This photograph depicts the external "selling" side of a hoarding. The solid enclosure was overlaid with black plastic by The Aerify Group specialist personnel ready for the internal remediation process to commence. The integrity of the enclosure was inspected on a regular basis by GETEX personnel. This process was repeated for each area where removal of hazardous materials was to occur.
	Photograph 3: This photograph depicts the near completion of the first stage in removal of the hazardous materials (following removal of non hazardous tiles and carpet materials). These hazardous materials have been removed and are to be placed into double lined plastic bags for transport at the end of the project stage.
	Photograph 4: This photograph depicts the professional hazardous materials removalists applying the tile adhesive removal process, which involved the use of a non-toxic and organic based solvent. This agent was allowed to penetrate the adhesive and then removed via hand held scrapers, immediately placing removed residues into 200µm plastic bags which were then sealed to await transportation and disposal.
	Photograph 5: This photograph depicts two contrasting sections. On the left, the photograph shows a second layer of hazardous material during a stage of its removal, as many as three (3) treatments were required to satisfactorily remove the tile adhesive and provide an approved substrate surface. On the right, a completed area without the black adhesive, is shown.
	Photograph 6: This photograph depicts professional hazardous materials removalists undertaking the final clean using industrial vacuums fitted with a HEPA filter. All residue material was treated as hazardous waste and disposed of appropriately.
	Photograph 7: Photograph taken upon completion of hazardous materials works by the AERIFY Group within this section. Getex Consultants reported satisfactory clearance inspection & monitoring results for this area, thus allowing it to be released for normal building works to proceed.
	Photograph 8: Following the removal of the hazardous materials, the flooring contractors prepare the floor to receive the new surface.