2010 AMMA Conference2010 AMMA ConferenceNavy Asbestos Containing Material Navy Asbestos Containing Material

(ACM)(ACM)CAPT Neil Westphalen RANCAPT Neil Westphalen RAN

MBBS (Adel), MPH, Dip AvMed, FRACGP, FAFOEMMBBS (Adel), MPH, Dip AvMed, FRACGP, FAFOEM29 October 201029 October 2010

BackgroundBackground

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Friable asbestos: Sea King Friable asbestos: Sea King engine hose sheathingengine hose sheathing

•• 01 Jan 04 01 Jan 04 –– Federal Government prohibited supply and use of Federal Government prohibited supply and use of all nonall non--exempt forms of asbestosexempt forms of asbestos

•• May 07 May 07 –– Audit found DMO Audit found DMO stillstill issuing nonissuing non--exempt ACM partsexempt ACM parts–– 12,000 items (340 stock codes) to Navy ships and contractors12,000 items (340 stock codes) to Navy ships and contractors

•• 28 Apr 08 28 Apr 08 –– MINDEF directed MINDEF directed all all ACM to be removed from ACM to be removed from Defence by 31 Dec 10Defence by 31 Dec 10

•• 09 Dec 08 09 Dec 08 –– Comcare began to investigate DNSDC MoorebankComcare began to investigate DNSDC Moorebank•• 07 Jan 09 07 Jan 09 –– SMH adverse media attentionSMH adverse media attention•• 19 Jan 09 19 Jan 09 –– When I came in...When I came in...

Clamp fitting beneath Clamp fitting beneath ANZAC gas turbineANZAC gas turbine

To describe NavyTo describe Navy’’s response to the presence of nons response to the presence of non--exempt ACM parts in the Defence stores systemexempt ACM parts in the Defence stores system

Scope of ResponseScope of ResponseNotNot limited to ACM parts limited to ACM parts –– covered covered allall forms of asbestos forms of asbestos

ashore and afloatashore and afloat

AimAim

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Initial ResponsesInitial Responses•• VCDF appointed lead Defence ACM authorityVCDF appointed lead Defence ACM authority

–– OHS Branch to manage overall ADF responseOHS Branch to manage overall ADF response–– DSG to manage inDSG to manage in--situ asbestossitu asbestos–– DMO to manage asbestos partsDMO to manage asbestos parts

•• DCN appointed lead Navy ACM authorityDCN appointed lead Navy ACM authority–– DGNCS to manage overall Navy responseDGNCS to manage overall Navy response–– Supported by other Navy agencies Supported by other Navy agencies

•• DGNCS nominated new DNOEH as ACM desk officer...DGNCS nominated new DNOEH as ACM desk officer...–– ....me....me

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Where to Start?Where to Start?•• Comcare inspectionsComcare inspections

–– Coordinating visits to Navy unitsCoordinating visits to Navy units•• DMO Asbestos Inventory Tiger Team (AITT)DMO Asbestos Inventory Tiger Team (AITT)

–– Deconflict with Comcare visitsDeconflict with Comcare visits•• Internal Navy audits for ACM partsInternal Navy audits for ACM parts

–– Receiving reports and develop process for disposalReceiving reports and develop process for disposal•• Health surveillanceHealth surveillance

–– Navy not responsibleNavy not responsible

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Clearly labeled and appropriately packaged?

Comcare InspectionsComcare Inspections•• Four ships, two Fleet Logistic Support Elements (FLSE)Four ships, two Fleet Logistic Support Elements (FLSE)•• Comcare served Improvement Notice (IN) 15 Mar 09Comcare served Improvement Notice (IN) 15 Mar 09

–– Training (actually personnel issue)Training (actually personnel issue)–– FLSEs (own goal)FLSEs (own goal)

•• Response initially due 30 Apr 09Response initially due 30 Apr 09–– General ACM awareness training to all RAN persGeneral ACM awareness training to all RAN pers–– Internal FLSE audits and NavyInternal FLSE audits and Navy--wide risk assessment wide risk assessment

•• Deadline then extended to 30 Jun 09 Deadline then extended to 30 Jun 09 •• Finally lifted 15 Oct 09Finally lifted 15 Oct 09

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Clearly labeled and appropriately packaged?

AITT InspectionsAITT Inspections•• Found ACM parts at Found ACM parts at everyevery ADF unit inspectedADF unit inspected•• Reported to VCDF 23 Mar 09Reported to VCDF 23 Mar 09•• VCDF approved 100% audit of ADF units from May 09VCDF approved 100% audit of ADF units from May 09

–– 15 (later eight) WO / O4 technical / logistic personnel from 15 (later eight) WO / O4 technical / logistic personnel from each Service to staff inspection teamseach Service to staff inspection teams

–– Estimate 200 Army units aloneEstimate 200 Army units alone–– One third of Navy fleet units at sea One third of Navy fleet units at sea –– For completion For completion Dec 09 Dec 09 (now (now Dec 10Dec 10))

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Internal Navy AuditsInternal Navy Audits

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Fleet Support Unit Fleet Support Unit ready use storeready use store

•• 12 Feb 12 Feb –– 11 Mar 0911 Mar 09•• 63 Fleet units and 14 shore establishments63 Fleet units and 14 shore establishments•• 400 items found totalling 5.7m400 items found totalling 5.7m33

–– Despite similar audit 12 months previouslyDespite similar audit 12 months previously–– Included ships built to ACMIncluded ships built to ACM--free standardfree standard–– Mostly gasket materialMostly gasket material–– ShipShip’’s asbestos registers mostly ins asbestos registers mostly in--datedate–– No shipNo ship’’s lagger billets on some ships with ACMs lagger billets on some ships with ACM

Purging the Stores SystemPurging the Stores System

A b t l i A b t l i

ores system managed by DMO res system managed by DMO 00 Navy stock codes found to contain ACM00 Navy stock codes found to contain ACMlf of these found to be obsoletef of these found to be obsoleteMM--free replacements found for the remainderfree replacements found for the remainderwever:wever:US defines <1% asbestos content as US defines <1% asbestos content as ‘‘asbestosasbestos--freefree’’EU defines <0.1% asbestos content as EU defines <0.1% asbestos content as ‘‘asbestosasbestos--freefree’’Parts sourced during port visits?Parts sourced during port visits?

hiphip’’s Logistic Information Management s Logistic Information Management System (SLIMS)System (SLIMS)

ed to manage stores aboard shipsed to manage stores aboard shipserfaces with other Defence stores systems?erfaces with other Defence stores systems?t designed as a HAZCHEM management systemt designed as a HAZCHEM management systemHAZCHEM items not clearing flagged as suchHAZCHEM items not clearing flagged as suchBeing addressedBeing addressed

DI(N) PERS 32DI(N) PERS 32--1 1 Asbestos Management in the RANAsbestos Management in the RAN

tant version at the time dated October 1995ant version at the time dated October 1995EngineeringEngineering--specificspecificaft interim aft interim RAN Asbestos Management PlanRAN Asbestos Management Plan disted disted r 09 (final version signed by CN 31 Mar 10)r 09 (final version signed by CN 31 Mar 10)EngineeringEngineeringSpecifies who is responsible for whatSpecifies who is responsible for whatncluding stores management and PPEncluding stores management and PPETraining and health surveillanceTraining and health surveillancencludes ACM management checklistsncludes ACM management checklists

Navy ACM TrainingNavy ACM Trainingr One: initial entryr One: initial entryr Two: job specificr Two: job specific

Engineering sailors Engineering sailors –– awareness onlyawareness onlyNaval stores sailors Naval stores sailors –– how to receive and hold secured how to receive and hold secured asbestos waste pending disposal ashore by ACM contractorasbestos waste pending disposal ashore by ACM contractorr Three: annual awareness (as for Tier One)r Three: annual awareness (as for Tier One)r Four: Shipr Four: Ship’’s lagger courses lagger course

All All asbestos work when contractor not availableasbestos work when contractor not availableE t E cept N i ti i t i (RAAF b t )Na a iation maintainers (RAAF asbestos co rse)

Other ACM Awareness MeasuresOther ACM Awareness Measuresicle in Seaworthycle in SeaworthyM awareness videoM awareness video

Will take over annual awareness ACM trainingWill take over annual awareness ACM trainingTo become part of annual OHS awareness courseTo become part of annual OHS awareness course

Health SurveillanceHealth Surveillancealth Bulletin 13/2005alth Bulletin 13/2005Health response to incidents onlyHealth response to incidents onlyUses questionnaire developed by HSAUses questionnaire developed by HSAalth Directive 296 included:alth Directive 296 included:Standardised respiratory symptoms questionnaire (used Standardised respiratory symptoms questionnaire (used worldwide)worldwide)ACM exposure questionnaires (before, during and after fullACM exposure questionnaires (before, during and after full--ime ACM work, plus ACM incidents)ime ACM work, plus ACM incidents)Physical examination proforma (only if clinically indicated)Physical examination proforma (only if clinically indicated)

ConclusionConclusionrts problem highly rts problem highly unlikely unlikely to have imperilled Navy to have imperilled Navy rsonnel healthsonnel healthst parts in good condition / in original packaging....st parts in good condition / in original packaging....in threat in threat not not new partsnew partsitical/media issue with occupational health overtonesitical/media issue with occupational health overtones

Thank YouThank You

Questions?Questions?