WorkSafe

If you are an employer or person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU), you must protect anyone that works with or could be exposed to asbestos. This includes managing the risks, keeping an asbestos register, and having an asbestos management plan.

Businesses who work with asbestos

If you are the person with management or control of the workplace, you must ensure that an asbestos register is prepared and kept at the workplace.

Under the work health and safety legislation, you must:

When asbestos is found in soil, it is usually because of:

• inadequate asbestos removal work or demolition
• degradation of a building or structure on site
• legacy or recent illegal dumping
• waste burial
• past use of contaminated fill or top soil.

Asbestos in soil poses a risk to the health of workers if the fibres become airborne and are then inhaled. The likelihood of exposure depends on the:

What is asbestos? 

Asbestos is a mineral found in nature that is made up of millions of fibres. Despite being banned in 2003, thousands of buildings and machinery parts still contain asbestos. Breathing in asbestos fibres can cause asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma. 

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral and can typically be found in rock, sediment, or soil. It has strong fibres that are heat-resistant and have good insulating properties. Because of these properties, asbestos was widely used in building products.

For dangerous goods emergencies or accidents requiring the attendance of emergency services, telephone 000.

Importance of reporting

Reporting dangerous goods incidents is important as it assists in the prevention of incidents through raising awareness of accident trends and publicising the learnings from investigations. Reporting can also help prevent the escalation of unsafe conditions if hazards and risks involved in the incident are recognised and addressed.

We are committed to making workplaces safer and healthier for everyone. Your feedback helps to effectively shape policies, projects and services that meet the needs to all workers in Western Australia. By taking part in the consultation, you can help us understand what is working, where improvements are needed and how we can better support safe work environments across the state. 

This section contains a list of health and safety project reports produced by WorkSafe and Dangerous Goods Safety. 

Everyone has a duty to take reasonable care for their health and safety at work and for others in the workplace.

What a PCBU must do

Under the Work and Health Safety Act 2020 (WHS Act), a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU), such as an employer, has a primary duty of care to workers if they:

The Work Health and Safety Excellence Awards' ceremony was held at Optus Stadium on 31 October 2024.

These awards recognise outstanding solutions and innovations to specific workplace health and safety problems in Western Australia.

A record 89 submissions were received with 41 companies or individuals recognised as finalists. Nine of these finalists were awarded with a winner’s trophy and three finalists received a certificate of merit.

The department would like to congratulate the winners, those that received certificates of merit, and all finalists.

Examination sessions will be conducted at the following location and times unless otherwise advised: