CAPT Neil Westphalen provided an overview of the Royal Australian Navy's (RAN) response to the presence of non-exempt asbestos containing materials (ACM) in its stores system and aboard ships. The initial responses included appointing lead authorities to manage the ACM response across Defence and within the Navy. Comcare inspections found ACM aboard some ships and establishments, and a full audit was ordered of all ADF units. Internal Navy audits also found ACM aboard ships. Training and revised procedures were implemented to safely manage and dispose of ACM, and health surveillance was increased through standardized questionnaires. The presentation concluded that while an issue, the ACM was generally in good condition with low risk to personnel health.

1. 2010 AMMA Conference2010 AMMA Conference
Navy Asbestos Containing MaterialNavy Asbestos Containing Material
(ACM)(ACM)
CAPT Neil Westphalen RANCAPT Neil Westphalen RAN
MBBS (Adel), MPH, Dip AvMed, FRACGP, FAFOEMMBBS (Adel), MPH, Dip AvMed, FRACGP, FAFOEM
29 October 201029 October 2010

2. BackgroundBackground
Dr Neil WestphalenDr Neil Westphalen 22
Friable asbestos: Sea KingFriable asbestos: Sea King
engine hose sheathingengine hose sheathing
•• 01 Jan 0401 Jan 04 –– Federal Government prohibited supply and use ofFederal Government prohibited supply and use of
all nonall non--exempt forms of asbestosexempt forms of asbestos
•• May 07May 07 –– Audit found DMOAudit 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 0828 Apr 08 –– MINDEF directedMINDEF directed allall ACM to be removed fromACM to be removed from
Defence by 31 Dec 10Defence by 31 Dec 10
•• 09 Dec 0809 Dec 08 –– Comcare began to investigate DNSDC MoorebankComcare began to investigate DNSDC Moorebank
•• 07 Jan 0907 Jan 09 –– SMH adverse media attentionSMH adverse media attention
•• 19 Jan 0919 Jan 09 –– When I came in...When I came in...

3. Clamp fitting beneathClamp 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 Response
NotNot limited to ACM partslimited to ACM parts –– coveredcovered allall forms of asbestosforms of asbestos
ashore and afloatashore and afloat
AimAim
Dr Neil WestphalenDr Neil Westphalen 33

4. 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 agenciesSupported by other Navy agencies
•• DGNCS nominated new DNOEH as ACM desk officer...DGNCS nominated new DNOEH as ACM desk officer...
––....me....me
Dr Neil WestphalenDr Neil Westphalen 44

5. 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
Dr Neil WestphalenDr Neil Westphalen 55
Clearly labeled and
appropriately
packaged?

6. 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 assessmentwide risk assessment
•• Deadline then extended to 30 Jun 09Deadline then extended to 30 Jun 09
•• Finally lifted 15 Oct 09Finally lifted 15 Oct 09
Dr Neil WestphalenDr Neil Westphalen 66
Clearly labeled and
appropriately
packaged?

7. AITT InspectionsAITT Inspections
•• Found ACM parts atFound 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 from15 (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 seaOne third of Navy fleet units at sea
––For completionFor completion Dec 09Dec 09 (now(now Dec 10Dec 10))
Dr Neil WestphalenDr Neil Westphalen 77

8. Internal Navy AuditsInternal Navy Audits
Dr Neil WestphalenDr Neil Westphalen 88
Fleet Support UnitFleet Support Unit
ready use storeready use store
•• 12 Feb12 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

9. Purging the Stores SystemPurging the Stores System
ores system managed by DMOres system managed by DMO
00 Navy stock codes found to contain ACM00 Navy stock codes found to contain ACM
lf of these found to be obsoletef of these found to be obsolete
MM--free replacements found for the remainderfree replacements found for the remainder
wever:wever:
US defines <1% asbestos content asUS defines <1% asbestos content as ‘‘asbestosasbestos--freefree’’
EU defines <0.1% asbestos content asEU defines <0.1% asbestos content as ‘‘asbestosasbestos--freefree’’
Parts sourced during port visits?

10. hiphip’’s Logistic Information Managements Logistic Information Management
System (SLIMS)System (SLIMS)
ed to manage stores aboard shipsed to manage stores aboard ships
erfaces with other Defence stores systems?erfaces with other Defence stores systems?
t designed as a HAZCHEM management systemt designed as a HAZCHEM management system
HAZCHEM items not clearing flagged as suchHAZCHEM items not clearing flagged as such
Being addressedBeing addressed

11. DI(N) PERS 32DI(N) PERS 32--11
Asbestos Management in the RANAsbestos Management in the RAN
tant version at the time dated October 1995ant version at the time dated October 1995
EngineeringEngineering--specificspecific
aft interimaft interim RAN Asbestos Management PlanRAN Asbestos Management Plan disteddisted
r 09 (final version signed by CN 31 Mar 10)r 09 (final version signed by CN 31 Mar 10)
EngineeringEngineering
Specifies who is responsible for whatSpecifies who is responsible for what
ncluding stores management and PPEncluding stores management and PPE
Training and health surveillanceTraining and health surveillance

12. Navy ACM TrainingNavy ACM Training
r One: initial entryr One: initial entry
r Two: job specificr Two: job specific
Engineering sailorsEngineering sailors –– awareness onlyawareness only
Naval stores sailorsNaval stores sailors –– how to receive and hold securedhow to receive and hold secured
asbestos waste pending disposal ashore by ACM contractorasbestos waste pending disposal ashore by ACM contractor
r 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
AllAll asbestos work when contractor not availableasbestos work when contractor not available

13. Other ACM Awareness MeasuresOther ACM Awareness Measures
icle in Seaworthycle in Seaworthy
M awareness videoM awareness video
Will take over annual awareness ACM trainingWill take over annual awareness ACM training
To become part of annual OHS awareness courseTo become part of annual OHS awareness course

14. Health SurveillanceHealth Surveillance
alth Bulletin 13/2005alth Bulletin 13/2005
Health response to incidents onlyHealth response to incidents only
Uses questionnaire developed by HSAUses questionnaire developed by HSA
alth Directive 296 included:alth Directive 296 included:
Standardised respiratory symptoms questionnaire (usedStandardised 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)

15. ConclusionConclusion
rts problem highlyrts problem highly unlikelyunlikely to have imperilled Navyto have imperilled Navy
rsonnel healthsonnel health
st parts in good condition / in original packaging....st parts in good condition / in original packaging....
in threatin threat notnot new partsnew parts
itical/media issue with occupational health overtonesitical/media issue with occupational health overtones

16. Thank YouThank You
Questions?Questions?