Other Hazmat Services

Asbestos in imports and natural disasters, lead, PCBs & SMF

Asbestos is the most prominent but by no means the only hazardous material that demands specialist management in Australia's built and industrial environment.

Lead – in paint, dust and soil – presents significant health risks in industrial workplaces, heritage buildings and any facility where lead-based coatings have been applied and may be disturbed. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), prohibited from import since 1975 but still present in legacy electrical equipment across the country, carry chronic toxicity risks and strict disposal obligations. Synthetic mineral fibres (SMF), widely used for insulation in industrial and commercial buildings, require identification and management – particularly for refractory ceramic fibres (RCF), which remain classified as possibly carcinogenic. And the risk of asbestos in imported goods – from building products to vehicle parts – requires vigilant testing and supply chain management in an era when asbestos continues to be found at Australia’s borders.

OHMS Hazmat offers a comprehensive suite of hazardous materials services that addresses all of these agents – and the particular challenges posed by natural disasters, which can simultaneously disturb multiple hazardous materials across large and often inaccessible areas. Our consultants are trained and experienced across the full range of hazardous building materials and our services are designed to address both the regulatory obligations and the genuine health risks that these substances present.

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Capabilities

Sampling and testing of imported goods suspected of containing asbestos, conducted by competent occupational hygiene professionals in accordance with Australian Border Force (ABF) requirements and NATA accreditation standards. All bulk samples are analysed at NATA-accredited laboratories using recognised polarised light microscopy (PLM) methods with confirming techniques (TEM, SEM, or XRD) where required. OHMS Hazmat can assist importers with pre-shipment sampling in the country of origin, at-border sampling under ABF supervision and the preparation of testing documentation required for ABF clearance.

Specialist assessment and management of asbestos hazards arising from natural disaster events including cyclones, bushfires, floods and structural collapses. Fire and storm damage can shatter, dislodge and fragment ACMs, creating asbestos-contaminated debris across large areas. OHMS Hazmat provides rapid risk assessment, delineation of contaminated zones, management plan development, air monitoring and coordination of emergency removal to protect emergency responders, recovery workers and affected communities.

Practical, engaging asbestos awareness training for workers who may encounter ACMs in their work – including maintenance personnel, tradespeople, site supervisors and emergency responders. Training covers what asbestos is and where it is found, how to recognise and avoid disturbing ACMs, what to do if asbestos is discovered and the regulatory framework for asbestos management. Delivered face-to-face or online and tailored to the specific industry and work environment of participants.

Identification and testing of lead-based paint in buildings and industrial infrastructure using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysers and laboratory-confirmed bulk sampling. Essential prior to any maintenance, refurbishment, or demolition activity that could disturb lead-containing coatings. Conducted in accordance with AS4361.1 (industrial applications) and AS4361.2 (residential and commercial buildings). Results inform risk assessment and specification of appropriate control measures.

Personal and static air monitoring for airborne lead dust in industrial environments where lead-based paint removal, welding, grinding, or other activities may generate respirable lead. Samples analysed at NATA-accredited laboratories and reported against the national workplace exposure standard for lead. Supports compliance with the NOHSC National Standard for Control of Inorganic Lead at Work and WHS Regulations.

Identification and assessment of synthetic mineral fibres (SMF) – including glasswool, rockwool, ceramic fibres and refractory ceramic fibres (RCF) – present in building insulation, high-temperature industrial applications and HVAC systems. Assessment of friability and fibre release potential, risk characterisation and recommendations for management or removal. RCF requires particular attention as a Category 2B (possibly carcinogenic) substance. OHMS Hazmat adds identified SMF to your hazardous materials register and provides management guidance consistent with the National Code of Practice for the Safe Use of Synthetic Mineral Fibres (NOHSC:2006).

Visual inspection and assessment of legacy electrical equipment (transformers, fluorescent light ballasts, capacitors, switchgear) for the presence of polychlorinated biphenyls. Where PCBs are identified or suspected, OHMS Hazmat provides risk assessment, management recommendations and guidance on disposal obligations under the National Environment Protection (Used Packaging Materials) Measure and relevant state waste regulations. PCBs are persistent organic pollutants with chronic toxicity effects including liver damage, thyroid disruption and possible reproductive and developmental effects.

The Growing Challenge of Asbestos in Imported Goods

Despite Australia’s total asbestos ban, asbestos continues to be detected in imported goods at the border.

The Australian Border Force has recorded detections in a wide range of product categories – including building products, vehicle parts, machinery components and electrical equipment – primarily from manufacturing countries where asbestos remains in use. The risk is particularly acute for goods containing mineral raw materials, friction materials, seals and gaskets and insulation products.

For importers, the obligation is clear: goods entering Australia must not contain asbestos, regardless of any lawful threshold in the country of origin. Testing reports from non-NATA-accredited laboratories, declarations without laboratory support, or reports more than twelve months old will not be accepted by the ABF. OHMS Hazmat assists importers with supply chain risk management, pre-shipment sampling programmes and the preparation of ABF-compliant testing documentation – reducing the risk of costly border holds and providing evidence of due diligence.

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FAQs

Synthetic mineral fibres (SMF) are man-made – manufactured by blowing or spinning molten mineral or glass into fibrous form – whereas asbestos is naturally occurring. Both can release fibres that are hazardous if inhaled, but the health risks and regulatory frameworks differ. Asbestos is a proven human carcinogen subject to strict prohibition; glasswool and rockwool SMFs are not classified as carcinogenic to humans but can cause respiratory irritation. Refractory ceramic fibres (RCF) occupy an intermediate position – classified as possibly carcinogenic (IARC Group 2B). Because SMF and asbestos can be visually similar and because lower-quality imported SMF products may not perform to specification, identification and management of SMF in hazardous materials registers is important for any workplace with significant insulation from materials of uncertain provenance.

Yes. PCBs were widely used in electrical transformers, fluorescent light ballasts and capacitors manufactured before 1975, when importation was prohibited. Equipment from this era – and even some equipment manufactured until the late 1980s – may contain PCBs. Owners of PCB-containing equipment have obligations relating to safe management, labelling and eventual disposal through approved facilities. The risk to workers arises primarily from skin contact during maintenance and from vapour inhalation when equipment operates at elevated temperatures. OHMS Hazmat conducts visual assessments and assists clients in identifying and managing PCB-containing equipment across their asset portfolio.

Treat the affected area as potentially contaminated until assessed. Do not disturb debris that may contain ACMs; do not use high-pressure water or compressed air to clean up debris; limit access to the affected area; and notify your local authority and WorkSafe WA if the site is a workplace. OHMS Hazmat can attend the site rapidly to conduct a risk assessment, delineate contaminated areas, advise on interim controls and coordinate licensed removal and clearance. Our consultants have experience managing post-disaster asbestos contamination and understand the unique challenges of safe access, community communication and regulatory coordination that these events present.