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Exposure to asbestos increases the risk of a potentially deadly lung disease called asbestosis. If you work in an industry that includes the potential to interact with asbestos-containing materials or on a construction site, you will need to complete the 11084NAT Course in Asbestos Awareness training (previously 10675NAT) or removal training.
The awareness course provides an overview of the dangers of the material and how to identify it. With the removal courses, you learn the safety procedures for isolating the worksite and removing the material without exposing others to asbestos fibres. Here is a closer look at the details of these training programs.
Why Do You Need to Complete an Asbestos Awareness Course?
Quite simply it is mandated by legislation in the ACT along with the White Card for any worker entering a construction site. Asbestos remains a hidden threat in buildings and homes throughout Australia. While the Government banned the material decades ago, it still appears in walls, insulation, and other building materials.
According to Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011, PCBUs have an obligation to ensure that all workers who they believe may work with asbestos or asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) attend an approved course in asbestos awareness.
WorkSafe ACT requires workers to complete the 11084NAT Course in Asbestos Awareness (previously 10675NAT). If you anticipate the need to remove asbestos, additional training is required.
What Are the Learning Outcomes for Asbestos Training?
There are multiple asbestos training courses, each with its own set of learning outcomes. CPCCDE3014A is the unit for removing non-friable asbestos, which is the most common course for workers that may need to deal with asbestos, such as labourers in the construction industry.
Asbestos awareness training Canberra is a shorter course with different learning outcomes. With asbestos awareness training, you learn what steps to take when encountering ACMs. An accredited course should cover:
- Identifying ACMs
- Safe handling
- Control measures
Asbestos awareness in Canberra is mandatory if your work duties include a reasonable chance of encountering asbestos. This includes electricians*, construction workers, plumbers*, painters, carpenters, demolition workers, and floor finishers. Workers who enter ceiling cavities, such as pest spray operators, may also require awareness training. * New legislation introduced on July 1 2019 mandates another asbestos course for trades people called 10852NAT Course in Working Safely with Asbestos Containing Materials (this unit code was previously 10559NAT)
Removal courses are intended for those that may need to remove the ACMs after identifying the materials. According to the guidelines for the CPCCDE3014A unit of competency, the training course should cover the following topics:
- How to interpret an asbestos removal control plan
- Safety requirements for preparing for the removal process
- Personal protective equipment (PPE), equipment, and tools
- Identification of non-friable materials
- Proper use of safety signage and barricades
- Decontamination procedures
- Isolating the removal site
- Completing the removal procedures
- Cleaning up the worksite
- Documenting the procedures
Preparing for removal covers a large portion of the training program. You learn how to gather safety data sheets and other information to complete an onsite assessment. You also receive training for the use of PPE, including how to check equipment for serviceability.
Isolating the removal site includes several subsections. This includes establishing boundaries around the removal site and notifying any affected occupants or neighbours.
The removal procedure often requires asbestos to be contained, wrapped, or sealed. Proper labels are also necessary to reduce the risk of exposure.
After removing the material, you need to decontaminate the site. Your training should cover the use of tools and equipment to meet regulatory requirements for the decontamination process.
Cleaning up the worksite is also an essential part of the removal process. Equipment and tools require cleaning and decontamination. When these steps are completed, you must document everything according to company and legislative requirements.
How Long Does 11084NAT Course in Asbestos Awareness Training (previously 10675NAT) Take?
The awareness training course is a half-day (4 Hour) course. It offers a general overview of how to identify and report asbestos. As it contains fewer topics, it is a shorter course compared to the removal and supervisor courses.
Removal and supervisor courses are full-day programs. Training typically starts at 8 am and ends in the afternoon.
What Accreditation Will You Get?
After successful completion of the of all nationally recognise training, you receive a statement of attainment in 11084NAT Course in Asbestos Awareness (previously 10675NAT). The statement remains valid with no time limit.
Licences are obtained by PCBUs and assessors for asbestos removal projects.
Courses should only be completed face to face through registered training organisations. While some websites offer asbestos awareness training Canberra online, online courses may not meet national standards.
How Much Does 11084NAT Course in Asbestos Awareness Training (previously 10675NAT) Cost?
The cost varies depending on the specific course and the training organisation. At AlertForce, the CPCCDE3014A course costs $297 in all states and territories other than New South Wales. In NSW, the course costs $447 for two days of training.
Asbestos awareness training Canberra is a shorter course and costs less. Training in 11084NAT Course in Asbestos Awareness (previously 10675NAT) costs $227 per person and lasts a half-day. If multiple employees need to complete the course, you may qualify for a group training discount.
Sign up for asbestos training at AlertForce to meet your work requirements. Also ask about Training Authority Fund subsidies if you do most of your work in Canberra.
