Asbestos On Ships: Purpose

Marine Notice 12/2016
Supercedes 2/2016
Asbestos on ships
In situ asbestos on ships must be
Purpose appropriately identified and managed to
The purpose of this marine notice is to draw ensure that the risks posed by asbestos are
the attention of ship owners and operators to assessed, controlled and mitigated as
the ongoing prohibition of asbestos on ships, described in Part 2 of the Occupational Health
noting that Australian law requires operators and Safety (Maritime Industry) (National
to take all reasonable steps to protect the Standards) Regulations 2003. Additional
health and safety of employees and guidance on the management of asbestos is
contractors while at work. provided in Part 8 of the Guidance on
prohibition on the use of asbestos in
Ships to which the Occupational workplaces in the Seacare jurisdiction and
Health and Safety (Maritime Industry) Safe Work Australia’s Code of Practice – How
Act 1993 applies to Manage and Control Asbestos in the
Workplace.
The Occupational Health and Safety
(Maritime Industry) Act 1993 and the Despite the above, the best outcome is the
subordinate Occupational Health and Safety complete removal of asbestos and asbestos
(Maritime Industry) (National Standards) containing materials from ships. Any work on
Regulations 2003 (Regulation 2.08 and the removal or disposal of asbestos should be
Schedule 2) require operators to ensure that carried out in accordance with the State or
hazardous substances such as asbestos are Territory legislation. Ship owners and
not used at a workplace under their control. operators should contact the relevant State or
Territory Workplace Health and Safety (WHS)
An exception has been made under the regulator to ensure that removal work is
Regulations (2.08 and Schedule 2) for ‘in situ’ carried out as per the applicable legislation
asbestos. This is asbestos that has been fixed and relevant Code of Practice.
or installed in a ship (or any other structure
that forms a maritime workplace) or a plant (or Australian ships
any other thing that is used in a maritime
workplace) before 31 December 2003 in such From 31 December 2003 the installation of
a way that it will not constitute a risk unless asbestos on Australian ships has been
the asbestos is disturbed. prohibited. The same prohibition has been
effective internationally from 1 January 2011,
in accordance with SOLAS Chapter II-1 Reg.
3-5.2.
Internet address for all current Marine Notices: www.amsa.gov.au Page 1 of 2

It is recommended that ship owners ensure Ship owners and operators should contact the
that any asbestos or asbestos containing Department of Immigration and Border
materials on Australian ships is identified by Protection to ensure that appropriate
a competent person in accordance with: inspection and certification measures are in
place prior to a ship entering Australia.
• AS/NZS ISO/IEC 17020 Conformity
assessment - Requirements for the Further guidance relating to asbestos
operation of various types of bodies can be accessed from:
performing inspection; or the
Department of Immigration and Border
• Code of Practice – How to Manage and Protection
Control Asbestos in the Workplace.
Prohibited and restricted imports - Asbestos
The presence of documentation confirming
that no asbestos is present is considered best https://www.border.gov.au/Busi/Impo/Proh/A
practice, as is the inclusion of a certificate or sbestos
report verifying that the samples have been National Association of Testing
analysed by a body holding National Authorities, Australia (NATA)
Association of Testing Authorities, Australia
(NATA) accreditation for the relevant test Industry User Guide 7 – Working with NATA
method or other equivalent accreditation to Accredited Asbestos Facilities
internationally recognised standards to http://www.nata.com.au/nata/about-
conduct independent asbestos inspections nata/information-for-industry
and testing on ships.
Seacare Authority
NATA has published an Industry User Guide
titled Working with NATA Accredited Guidance on prohibition on the use of
Asbestos Facilities, to assist the industry to asbestos in workplaces in the Seacare
determine if a body has the accreditation to jurisdiction
carry out specific inspections or tests. http://www.seacare.gov.au/forms_and_public
Ship survey data indicates that most asbestos ations/published_information/our_services/O
detection occurs in the following areas: ccupational_Health_and_Safety/occupationa
l_health_and_safety/guid_on_prohib_on_use
• insulation and sealing materials in _of_asbestos_in_work_in_seacare_jusris
machinery spaces;
Safe Work Australia
• sealing materials used in construction
Code of Practice – How to Manage and
(e.g. gaskets and doorway/window
Control Asbestos in the Workplace
sealants);
http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/sw
• electric and electronic components (e.g. a/about/publications/pages/manage-control-
cables and fuses); and asbestos-cop
• insulation materials used in construction Code of Practice – How to Safely Remove
(e.g. deck coverings deckheads and Asbestos
bulkheads).
http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/sw
Asbestos containing components may also a/about/publications/pages/safely-remove-
find their way into a ship during operational asbestos-cop
maintenance. This highlights the need for
vigilance and periodic re-inspection following
maintenance and refit works.
Gary Prosser
Other legislation Deputy Chief Executive Officer
June 2016
For ships entering or intending to enter
Australian waters, including foreign registered
Australian Maritime Safety Authority
ships, any import of asbestos or asbestos
GPO Box 2181
containing materials is prohibited under the
CANBERRA ACT 2601
Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations
File No. D16/163523
1956 (s.4C).
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Asbestos On Ships: Purpose

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Asbestos On Ships: Purpose

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Marine Notice 12/2016

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