Page 3181 - Week 07 - Thursday, 30 June 2011
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Mr Speaker, it is planned to initiate an awareness campaign commencing in the coming weeks. Much of the preparatory work, including the re-vamping of the website to make ready for this campaign has occurred. The Work Safety Policy team within the Office of Industrial Relations and the Work Safety Commissioner have been collaborating on this initiative for several months, and I commend their efforts.
The key messages of the awareness campaign will be centred on clarifying misconceptions the community may have in dealing with asbestos.
The intention is to alleviate doubt and make the community aware of what it is they should do to prevent exposure, to themselves, other family members or the general public. Often those most at risk of exposure are unaware that this is the case. I think it is fair to say, that nobody wants the bathroom renovation to become deadly.
The initial phase of the awareness campaign will specifically target the construction industry and the many associated trades which are at highest risk of exposure.
Mr Speaker, as we are all aware, the construction industry is dominated by small employers, work is often undertaken on a project by project basis and through a high degree of sub contracting. Much of the workforce at site level is hired on a casual basis. Any weakness in the management of health and safety can therefore be exacerbated by the delegation of responsibilities through long supply chains and the need for cost and efficiency savings. The health risks of the job change with each site, and occupational health knowledge can be limited. There is also evidence that workers substantially underestimate their own levels of exposure to asbestos.
Mr Speaker, there is no doubt that a range of trades are at risk from asbestos exposure. Plumbers, carpenters, electricians, construction workers, construction managers, builders, painters and scaffolders are all in the 20 occupations which have the highest projected mortality rates from asbestos exposure.
We have made significant improvements through the cooperation between government, industry and unions in delivering training packages, with the Master Builders Association, the Housing Institute of Australia and Construction Industry Training and Employment Association all actively delivering asbestos awareness training, and I congratulate them on the importance they place on improving the awareness of the dangers of asbestos exposure.
Notwithstanding the improvements we have made, more will be done. Mr Speaker, I am proposing that the first item of business for the Asbestos Regulators Forum to consider; is whether it is feasible that Asbestos Awareness training become a mandatory induction course for the construction occupations and associated trades. If feasible, this induction course could be based on the same model as the highly successful construction induction course, which has had 10,000 participants successfully complete training and receive their white card. A similar outcome should ensure that a vast majority of participants in the construction industry will have the basic awareness of how to identify asbestos and how to treat it accordingly.
Because asbestos has proven to be pervasive in nature, it is essential that the Government ensure that the approach to asbestos remains contemporary and that the Government can respond to changing circumstances. Mr Speaker if required this
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