NOHSC declares prohibition on use of chrysotile asbestos
On 17 October 2001, NOHSC declared a prohibition on the use of chrysotile asbestos in Australia.
The prohibition will take effect simultaneously under regulations in each Australian OHS jurisdiction by no later than 31 December 2003. This action had been supported by the Workplace Relations Ministers' Council at its meeting on 21 September 2001.1 As required under the NOHSC Act, public comment was sought earlier this year on the prohibition proposal and all submissions were considered before the prohibition was declared.
What is chrysotile asbestos and what are its uses?
Chrysotile is a mineral that is a known human carcinogen. As with other forms of asbestos, exposure to chrysotile can cause asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma2 in humans and animals. The objective of the prohibition is to reduce future deaths and illness.
Raw chrysotile is imported for the manufacture of friction materials (such as brake pads, brake linings and brake blocks), gaskets and non-sag adhesive putties for the building industry. These products are sold to local and overseas markets. Similar products using chrysotile are also imported.
What is the scope of the prohibition?
All uses of chrysotile asbestos, including the replacement of chrysotile products when replacement is necessary, are prohibited except for (a) bona fide research or analysis, (b) for removal or disposal, (c) where it is encountered during non-asbestos mining, or (d) where there is another specified exception3. The prohibition does not apply to the removal of chrysotile products in situ when the prohibition takes effect.
Why is the prohibition to be phased in?
This is to allow manufacturers, sellers and users of chrysotile products to make necessary adjustments, including the development and marketing of new products and increasing the supply of non-asbestos products to meet greater demand.
Implementation arrangements are being developed that will be settled in the second half of 2002. They will include a nationally consistent approach to granting any exemptions.
What is being done about other forms of asbestos?
NOHSC is incorporating existing prohibitions on crocidolite (blue) and amosite (brown) asbestos into the instrument prohibiting the use of chrysotile asbestos.4 This is the first step in facilitating a consistent approach to a prohibition on the use of all forms of asbestos. There are three other forms of asbestos: actinolite, anthophyllite and tremolite. Although not currently banned, they have no known present uses in Australia. NOHSC is, nonetheless, considering their prohibition and will issue a discussion document in November 2001 seeking public comment.
How will the prohibition be formalised?
There will be a notice in a forthcoming Commonwealth Gazette. At that time, information materials on the prohibition will be published on the NOHSC web site.
Is chrysotile asbestos banned elsewhere?
The European Union (EU) has banned most uses of chrysotile, with the exceptions subject to review by 1 January 2005. The Australian approach is similar.
More information
Further information about chrysotile and its prohibition appears in the public discussion documents on the NOHSC website at Public Comment Sought on Proposed Prohibition on the Use of Chrysotile AsbestosPublic Comment Sought on Proposed Prohibition on the Use of Chrysotile Asbestos.
26 October 2001
1 The prohibition is also consistent with recommendations by the National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme (NICNAS) in 1999 that the use of chrysotile in Australia, including for exports, be phased out over time.
2 NOHSC has been monitoring mesothelioma for some years - see http://www.nohsc.gov.au/statistics/mesothelioma_01.htm
3 A limited range of exemptions may be considered, for example, where alternative products do not exist or where their use would create greater risks that the corresponding chrysotile product.
4 The prohibition of chrysotile asbestos is to be given effect by its inclusion in Schedule 2 of the National Model Regulations for the Control of Hazardous Substances. Uses of substances included in this schedule are prohibited unless a relevant public authority provides an exemption. Prohibition of crocidolite (blue) and amosite (brown) asbestos is already recommended by their inclusion under the Prohibited Carcinogens Schedule of the National Model Regulations for the Control of Scheduled Carcinogenic Substances. This schedule was a precursor to Schedule 2 of the National Model Regulations.
Page last updated: 15/07/2008