Published on 24 February 2026
On the morning of Friday 20 February 2026, Norfolk Island Regional Council (Council) staff identified an item suspected to be asbestos containing material (ACM) at the Waste Management Centre near the trommel (sifter).
The material that the potential ACM was found in was somewhat damp at the time, and therefore the potential for airborne contaminates was extremely low.
In line with our safety protocols and procedures on asbestos management, the area in the immediate vicinity was closed to the public until the preliminary investigation was complete and any hazards could be mitigated.
As soon as the item was identified, the staff at the Waste Management Centre implemented control measures. This included distributing P2 masks to all staff onsite, notifying management and Council’s Work Health and Safety (WHS) Consultant, closing selected areas of the centre to the public, and notifying the community through Council’s Facebook page and Norfolk Radio.
The area in and around the trommel was quarantined and not used by staff. As a precaution all materials in this area were double-bagged and relocated to the appropriate asbestos storage area as per industry standard requirements. This was undertaken by qualified personnel and the trommel and surrounding area cleaned.
Council’s WHS Consultant also conducted a refresher Toolbox Talk with all available indoor staff onsite on Council’s standard operating procedure for unwrapped asbestos received at the Waste Management Centre. Over the coming week, training and/or refreshers on the procedure will occur for staff that were not at the Waste Management Centre that day. These steps ensure the safety of staff, contractors and the community.
Norfolk Island Regional Council understands the importance of health and community matters around asbestos and are committed to protecting the health and safety of the community. Council’s priority is to manage situations safely and in accordance with regulatory requirements.