Background
EnviroScience Solutions was engaged to carry out consultancy and occupational hygiene works on the $187.2 million Parkes Bypass project in the Central West of New South Wales.
The team was appointed in 2022 after previously unmapped Naturally Occurring Asbestos (NOA) was detected on the site mid-project. Adding to the complexity of the job, before the identification of the NOA, material from the affected areas was used as general fill material in other locations across the new bypass site.
The 10.5-kilometre bypass – funded by both the NSW and Australian Governments – on the Newell Highway on the western outskirts of Parkes was designed to reduce travel time, improve freight productivity and efficiency, pedestrian access through Parkes and traffic flow.
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Solution
The EnviroScience team conducted an NOA Assessment and prepared a Remediation Action Plan (RAP) for the site following the discovery of the hazardous material. The RAP was reviewed by a Certified Environmental Practitioner, TfNSW, NSW EPA and a Site Auditor.
To protect surrounding community members, EnviroScience carried out 24-hour environmental air monitoring around the perimeter of the site. It also undertook comprehensive Environmental and Para Occupational Asbestos Air Monitoring and held Respirator Fit Testing and Asbestos Awareness Training on site for workers.
Other work conducted by the team included waste classifications and stockpile assessments, vibration and dust monitoring as well as water and sediment sampling.
Outcome
In this project EnviroScience demonstrated how immediate, precautionary measures can effectively protect a workforce from hazardous materials on a work site, such as NOA, and allow a project to resume without further risk to workers or members of the public. EnviroScience also played an important role in enhancing the education of the Parkes Bypass workforce against future risks on site through targeted monitoring processes, the testing of safety equipment and staff awareness training.
