Co ordination ,communication and questioning

In a recent blasting and painting job that I was safety advising to a question was raised as to the content of a particular product that was being blasted around and at time onto.It was a type of insulation asbestos looking,material.This was an old piece of plant and it was quite reasonable to assume that the product that was being blasted around and cleaned up could be an asbestos based product.If this was the case there should never have been any access let alone blasting for any reason.The fact was though that the product was a less toxic(so we were reassured)rockwool.This did not mean that our blasting and cleaning up of such product was ok.In my opinion known smf should be treated with the same caution as any asbestos product as it has a breathable fibre and similar structure and known irritant Clean up with air and sweeping should not be on in disposing of waste as all it will do is circulate and distribute the contaminant further.In addition what was overlooked was appropriate PPE for such work and to consider the smf(and positively identify it as such before the work took place)and the implications of doing work in or around such fibres that could become airborne.f="http://www.workcover.com/NR/rdonlyres/B9C64B2E-A464-4194-906B-C0790D265698/0/resCOPMinFibre.pdf">

This of cause requires a bit of co ordination between contractors,client and staff at all levels with a valid and verifiable inspection procedure with protocols or practices to handle a fibre other than asbestos in clean up and waste(via sandblasting in this case).This is all to late in this particular case.A little more observation in the JHA,better risk assessment and more questioning observant/vigilant staff and supervision/safety advisors should have prevented and raised such a hazard awareness.

Underneath all this though is why it happened that such was ignored....it gets down to apathy and a type of macho getting the job done quick(not worrying about the long term health effects of such sloppy work practice or lack of questioning.)and pressure to complete the task and'achieve something!?

In this case in point I wasn't happy that the job carried on just on the basis of a say so that it was not asbestos (post the event mind you).Secondly workers should have pressed concerns upon me and the crew more forcefully.Being a night shift I think fatigue played a part in the thinking process of us all considering the job and the JHA that ended up being produced which did not cite fibres as a hazard to be considered.

this highlights the importance of communication,reflection and a certain asseeriveness in questioning and implementing appropriate safety procedures and protocols.If only someone had refused to do the job as is...it may have had the effect of hieghtening our awareness.