How to Safely Sample Asbestos
A competent person, such as a Confluence Environmental Licensed Asbestos Assessor should be engaged to carry out sampling. Where this is not possible Confluence Environment recommend the following steps, in accordance with SafeWork Australia Code of Practice: How to Manage and Control Asbestos in the Workplace take the following steps to carry out sampling
Step 1 — Preparation
Make sure no one else is in the vicinity when sampling is done.
Shut down any heating or cooling systems to minimise the spread of any released fibres.
Turn off any fans if you’re inside. If outside, then sample on a non-windy day.
Do not disturb the material any more than is needed to take a small sample.
Collect the equipment you will need for sampling, including:
pliers, resealable plastic bags, disposable coveralls, waterproof sealant, plastic drop sheet, water spray bottle, labelled heavy duty plastic (200 μm polyethylene) asbestos waste disposal bags
P2 respirator, rubber gloves.
Step 2 — Taking the sample
Wear disposable gloves.
Put on respiratory protective equipment (RPE).
Wear a pair of disposable coveralls.
Lay down a plastic drop sheet to catch any loose material that may fall off while sampling.
Wet the material using a fine mist of water containing a few drops of detergent before taking the sample. The water/detergent mist will reduce the release of asbestos fibres.
Carefully cut a thumbnail piece from the entire depth of the material using the pliers.
For fibre cement sheeting, take the sample from a corner edge or along an existing hole or crack.
Place the small piece into the resealable plastic bag.
Double bag the sample, include the date and location and an asbestos caution warning.
Tightly seal the container after the sample is in it.
Use a damp paper towel or rag to clean up any material on the outside of the container or around the area sampled.
Patch the sampled area with the smallest possible piece of duct tape to prevent fibre release.
Send the sample to a NATA-accredited laboratory or one that is either approved or operated by the relevant regulator.
Step 3 — Cleaning up
Seal the plastic bag and then place it in another labelled heavy duty plastic asbestos waste disposal bag (i.e. double bag).
Wash hands.
Keep RPE on until clean-up is completed.
Follow a decontamination procedure (personal washing) and wash RPE upon completion of the task.
Store non-disposable RPE in a sealed and labelled container or dispose of the RPE as asbestos waste.
Dispose of asbestos materials according to state or territory and local procedures.