ACT Work Safety commissioner Mark McCabe said no further Mr Fluffy houses would be placed in lockdown because families may be too scared by the threat of being forced out of their home while asbestos assessments are made.
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Ultimately, it would be up to individual homeowners to decide whether to go or stay if their property was found to be contaminated, although Mr McCabe said in all cases to date, homeowners had heeded warnings to leave temporarily while short-term remediation work was undertaken.
Meanwhile, the ACT is doing a national and international recruitment drive to bring in more asbestos experts to deal with a backlog of homes needing to be assessed for contamination.
Four ACT homes have been subject to WorkSafe prohibition notices – in effect being locked down – in recent months after Mr Fluffy amosite asbestos was found to have leached into living quarters, posing a health threat to residents.
One of these homes was demolished last week, while the other three notices have since been lifted. A further six homes have received notices in respect of building work that was under way, requiring WorkSafe to approve that it is being completed safety.
About 20 families are living in temporary accommodation because of the extent of contamination in their homes.
Mr McCabe said the establishment of the ACT Asbestos Response Taskforce had changed the way affected homes were dealt with and WorkSafe needed to play a co-ordinating role and support families in crisis.
“I am aware that some homeowners are afraid to contact WorkSafe ACT regarding having an asbestos assessment conducted on their house, out of fear that WorkSafe may then put a prohibition notice on their house, or insist that they leave their premises,” he said.
He said WorkSafe had reviewed its approach to the identification of asbestos fibres in living areas of homes and refined and streamlined its processes as the crisis had unfolded.
“We have all learnt a lot over the past few months as to how best to respond to these cases,” Mr McCabe said. “Our approach now is to help homeowners get assessments done and to work with them to help them understand the resulting reports as well as what, if anything, might need to be done in terms of remedial action for the short to mid-term,” he said.
Meanwhile, a backlog of urgent calls for asbestos assessments should be eased next week as 10 NSW assessors come to Canberra to help with the crisis.
The head of the taskforce, Andrew Kefford, said the new assessors possessed ACT licences and the taskforce was recruiting as far afield as Britain for further staff.
Mr Kefford said some homeowners had to wait several weeks to receive an assessment, although the taskforce was "triaging" new homes based on details of the house’s condition and the homeowner’s observations.
“If we believe there is a serious chance of contamination, we can get someone around urgently, but we are also looking at ways to expand the workforce to deal with the number of calls we are receiving,” he said.
Mr Kefford said while the taskforce worked closely with WorkSafe, the decision to impose prohibition notices would remain a matter for Mr McCabe as WorkSafe was an independent statutory body.
Mr McCabe said: “At this stage I don’t envisage WorkSafe issuing any further notices compelling homeowners to leave their houses.
“We will, however, certainly explain why we think they should take that step, if that is what is recommended by a licensed assessor. We will also help them to understand what is contained in assessment reports, so that they can make informed decisions.”
“We want to help these homeowners through what is clearly a difficult period,” he said.
The Fluffy Owners and Residents' Action Group welcomed WorkSafe's willingness to adapt during the growing asbestos crisis, but urged residents to heed WorkSafe's crucial role to uphold safety over disruption.
