Key Takeaways
- Asbestos has been discovered in 14 fire doors at Edith Cowan University’s new $853 million city campus in Perth
- The university has been granted an exemption from work health and safety regulations to allow the campus to open with the asbestos-containing material
- The asbestos is contained within a metal frame in the custom fire doors, posing a low risk of exposure to staff and students
- The doors will be replaced during semester breaks, with the Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety satisfied that Multiplex is managing the risks appropriately
- The discovery highlights the ongoing challenge of regulating asbestos in imported products, with the material also recently found in brake pads at Australian wind farms and in coloured sand
Introduction to the Asbestos Discovery
The discovery of asbestos in fire doors at Edith Cowan University’s new city campus in Perth has raised concerns about the safety of students and staff. The university’s flagship $853 million campus, jointly funded by the university and state and federal governments, is due to open for students in semester one next year. However, government minister Jackie Jarvis revealed in parliament that the building had received an exemption from work health and safety regulations to allow it to open with "asbestos-containing material" inside. The exemption was granted to facilitate the safe completion of the doors to meet fire engineering requirements and enable the completion of construction work and scheduled occupancy.
The Exemption and Safety Measures
The exemption specifies a range of conditions, including the use of class A asbestos removalists, supervision by a licensed asbestos assessor, air monitoring, and compliance with specified procedures. The asbestos is understood to be within a metal frame in the custom fire doors, meaning there is a low risk of exposure for staff and students. Asbestos is prohibited in Australia because it is highly carcinogenic, and inhalation of its fibres is associated with an increased risk of respiratory diseases like asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancers. Edith Cowan University declined to comment on the issue, deferring to builder Multiplex, which said it became aware of the risk of asbestos in the doors in September and started testing fire doors at the city campus.
The Response to the Asbestos Discovery
Once the 14 doors were identified, Multiplex immediately told WorkSafe and workers, and WorkSafe granted an exemption for minor works on the affected fire-rated doors to enable building completion. The company said that work to remove and replace the doors would occur in a timeframe that had been agreed with WorkSafe and Edith Cowan University. Industrial Relations Minister Simone McGurk told the ABC that the asbestos appeared to have been imported from overseas by a manufacturer in Queensland, and that the identification and action to prevent this importation was ongoing and being undertaken by federal authorities, including Australian Border Force.
Regulating Asbestos in Imported Products
The discovery of asbestos in fire doors at Edith Cowan University’s city campus highlights the ongoing challenge of regulating asbestos in imported products. Asbestos was recently discovered in brake pads at a number of Australian wind farms and in coloured sand, and regulating the material remains a challenge. Products are imported from countries like China, which may not have guidelines as stringent as those in Western Australia, and it is essential to work with federal authorities to ensure that materials brought in from overseas have undergone the same sorts of checks as domestically manufactured or sourced products. The Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety is satisfied that Multiplex is managing the risks appropriately, and the doors will be removed and replaced during semester breaks.
Conclusion and Future Actions
The discovery of asbestos in fire doors at Edith Cowan University’s city campus is a concern, but the university and authorities have taken steps to mitigate the risks. The exemption granted to the university allows the campus to open on schedule, while ensuring that the asbestos-containing material is handled and removed safely. The incident highlights the need for ongoing vigilance in regulating asbestos in imported products and the importance of cooperation between state and federal authorities to prevent the importation of asbestos-containing materials. As the campus prepares to welcome its first students, it is essential to prioritize the safety and well-being of staff and students, and to take all necessary steps to prevent exposure to asbestos.