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Hazardous Materials

Fremantle Prison has been subject to various works and developments throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries when there was less understanding of, and fewer controls on, potentially hazardous materials. For example, there is the potential for its soils to contain heavy metals (especially near the former workshop areas), its walls and services to incorporate asbestos, and its paintwork to have high lead content. The place’s heritage values must be managed in a way that is responsive to these health and safety issues.

SPECIFIC POLICY 21: Fremantle Prison will not expose its staff and visitors to unacceptable risks to health and safety.


SPECIFIC POLICY 22: When identifying and managing hazardous materials Fremantle Prison will be guided by specialists in that field. It will comply with its statutory obligations.


SPECIFIC POLICY 23: Where a small quantity of hazardous material must be removed for health and safety reasons, and there is a need for a replacement, it is appropriate to adopt a flexible approach to the ‘like for like’ principle. It will be generally appropriate to replace hazardous materials with approved modern substitutes of a similar form. It will usually be necessary to make a record of the change.


SPECIFIC POLICY 24: Where an element of Fremantle Prison is substantially composed of hazardous material (e.g. a structure is constructed almost entirely of asbestos-based products), and where health and safety dictate that the hazardous material must be removed, the preferred response is to (a) record the element in photographs and measured drawings to an archival standard before its removal, and (b) interpret that element upon its removal. Replicating the form using new materials is generally undesirable.

SPECIFIC ACTION 20: Undertake an audit and identification of hazardous materials at Fremantle Prison, and ensure all staff are made aware of the location and nature of any identified materials. Undertake other appropriate measures, such as restricting access to affected areas, as required.


SPECIFIC ACTION 21: Engage a specialist to prepare a Remediation Action Plan that addresses the presence of hazardous materials at Fremantle Prison, and makes recommendations as required.


SPECIFIC ACTION 22: Formulate a heritage conservation response based on the conclusions and recommendations of the Remediation Action Plan.

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