Perth’s Edith Cowan University (ECU) has been preparing to open its new inner-city campus in February. This is even after they recently discovered asbestos in the fire doors. Asbestos is one of the most carcinogenic substances known and has been banned in Australia because of the danger it presents to health. The university has received an exemption from health and safety regulations to allow for its opening, raising concerns among health officials and safety advocates.
Authorities have confirmed that 14 fire-rated doors at the new campus contain asbestos that appears to have been imported from a manufacturer in Queensland. The discovery of this hazardous material has sparked an important national discussion on the regulation of asbestos in Australia. Similar discoveries in other industries, from wind farms to colored sand, underline how far we still have to go.
Exemption from Regulations
Criticism now focuses on the decision to open the campus even though the asbestos was known to be present. Government minister Jackie Jarvis disclosed in parliament that Edith Cowan University was granted an exemption from work health and safety regulations to enable it to welcome students, even with “asbestos-containing material” still inside.
This exemption is quite a shot across the bow for risk management. It poses a lot of questions of the safety of students’ identity. Multiplex’s approach to risk management was endorsed by the Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety. Multiplex is the building’s commercial construction company.
“WorkSafe granted an exemption for minor works on the affected fire-rated doors to enable building completion,” – Multiplex spokesperson
Ongoing Management of Asbestos Risks
Multiplex has responded swiftly once they found the asbestos, notifying WorkSafe and workers as soon as they were made aware. The company later announced plans to recall and replace the problematic doors with a new generation of safer doors. They plan to time this work during semester breaks to reduce disruption.
“Door replacement was not practicable in the medium-term,” – Multiplex spokesperson
This proactive approach not only protects occupant safety, but it addresses the urgent need to finish construction and allow for occupancy. Industrial relations minister Simone McGurk conceded that keeping asbestos in check was still “a work in progress.”
“The identification and action to prevent this importation is ongoing and is being undertaken by federal authorities including Australian Border Force,” – Simone McGurk
Future Steps and Regulation Challenges
As the April 4 opening date approaches, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has announced plans for their removal. We’ll do the actual door replacement work during scheduled semester breaks. In doing so, we’re putting safety first and ensuring that academic pursuits continue without interruption.
“The doors will be removed and replaced during semester breaks,” – Simone McGurk
dangerous materials on the international market McGurk highlighted, especially from countries with lower regulatory and oversight standards. She noted that goods from other countries, like China, often see a much higher success rate of passing Australian checks. Other countries might not have similar policies.
