WorkSafe has been called to update its advice and a public housing tenant has moved her son away from home after synthetic mineral fibres were found in the property's loose-fill insulation.
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Privately funded testing by Watson resident Safronia Benasic, which confirmed the potentially hazardous fibres were in her ceiling, has revealed a lack of knowledge from the ACT government about what lies above the heads of thousands of public housing tenants.
Two licensed asbestos assessors visited in recent weeks. The first, paid for by the government, found loose-fill insulation in Ms Benasic's ceiling did not contain asbestos; the second, Jonathan Simnett, confirmed this, but went further to outline the fibres were SMF and recommended the landowner consider its removal "as soon as practical".
"I have a duty, an obligation to tell the client, as it's a hazard to their health," Mr Simnett said.
The Sydney-based assessor said he always recommended the removal of SMF – known formally as man-made vitreous fibres – and had, as "a precaution", recommended the ceiling vents in the property, including Ms Benasic's son's room, be closed so there was no chance of fibres entering.
Ms Benasic, 34, said she had suffered a serious flu for several weeks before raising the insulation issue with Housing ACT, and has requested Housing transfer her away from her home of more than 25 years.
While no forms of SMF have been classified as a confirmed human carcinogen (cause of cancer), they can be found on Safe Work Australia's hazardous substances list due to concern about possible carcinogenic effects.
Certain forms of the fibres are classed by Safe Work Australia as "probably human carcinogen", however a spokeswoman for the policy organisation said it was "highly unlikely" these types would be found in ceiling insulation. It is not known what forms of SMF were in Ms Benasic's ceiling.
A spokesman for the Community Services Directorate said Housing ACT was not required to record SMF in public housing properties and had therefore not provided tenants with information on it.
Work Safety Commissioner Mark McCabe said WorkSafe was in discussions with ACT Housing about its response to the matter.
"I have also asked WorkSafe to update its advice on the appropriate management of SMF in the workplace," he said.
"Once that is done WorkSafe will take steps to ensure that information is provided to relevant trades and other industry groups and that appropriate steps are taken to monitor compliance."
Ms Benasic said four workmen had been in the ceiling fully or partially this year without protective facial gear. The Safe Work Australia spokeswoman said long-sleeved clothing, eye protection and an appropriate respiratory protection was recommended for all people handling any forms of SMF.
Upper respiratory tract irritation and skin and eye irritation may occur where materials containing SMFs are disturbed, the Australian Institute for Occupational Hygienists says.
Ms Benasic said she was left worried by a clump of fibres found on her stove top last month, believed to be from the fan above, but no tests have indicated any SMFs had entered the living areas of the home.
The directorate spokesman said there was no program to remove SMF from the ACT's 11,000-plus public housing homes, however a condition assessment of public properties every five years included identifying insulation. Remediation works were done for any visible or disturbed hazardous substance/s.
"As property owners we are guided by appropriate expert advice such as qualified assessors and WorkSafe ACT in managing risks associated with hazardous material," the spokesman said.
Several galleries at the National Gallery of Australia were closed in 2003 after the discovery of a synthetic mineral fibre, namely glass wool, in the ducting.
What are synthetic mineral fibres?
Formally known as man-made vitreous fibres, they are formed from a molten mass of rock, slag, clay or glass or synthetic ceramic mixes. Take various forms but the largest use is of glass wool or rock wool fibres for both bonded and loose-fill insulation.
Is not asbestos but has become an important replacement for asbestos in a variety of products, including ceiling insulation.
In loose-fill form it can appear spongy or foamy.
A ceramic form of the fibres is classified by Safe Work Australia as a carcinogen category 2, for substances which should be regarded as if they are carcinogenic to people. Glass wool and rock wool fibres are carcinogen category 3, substances "suspected of having carcinogenic potential".
However, the International Agency for Research on Cancer has said glass wool, continuous glass filament, rock wool and slag wool were "not classifiable as to their carcinogenicity to humans".
Newer generation SMFs, made since the early 1990s, are safer as they dissolve and/or remain for less time in the lung.
Source: Safe Work Australia, Australian Institute for Occupational Hygienists
