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:
- train all workers who might work with asbestos
- arrange safe asbestos removal
- keep an asbestos register
- have an asbestos management plan
- have a licence to remove asbestos.
Managing and working with asbestos requires strict controls, in accordance with the codes of practice on How to manage and control asbestos in the workplace and How to safely remove asbestos. These codes contain information on how to identify asbestos, create an asbestos register, manage asbestos risks and how to remove asbestos safely.
Use labels for asbestos at the workplace
Marking where asbestos is (and where it could be) helps workers stay safe. If possible, you should use a label. For example, put a label in the electrical meter box showing:
- the building has asbestos
- where you keep the asbestos register.
If labeling is not possible, you may:
- signpost the area with warning signs that comply with Australian Standard AS 1319 Safety signs for the occupational environment. Signs should also be placed at all the main entrances to the work areas where asbestos is identified.
- implement a permit-to-work system workers are made aware of the asbestos before they start working at the site.
- make site plans available to all workers to indicate where asbestos is in the workplace.
Health monitoring
There are specific health monitoring requirements for workers who work with asbestos. You must monitor the health of a worker if they are at risk of asbestos exposure and carrying out:
- licensed asbestos removal work
- other on-going asbestos removal work or asbestos-related work.
PCBUs must provide and pay for health monitoring for workers who work with asbestos or could be exposed to asbestos-related work. Health monitoring should be conducted by a registered medical practitioner and should include:
- initial health checks before starting asbestos-related work
- regular monitoring during work, typically every two years
- final examinations upon termination of asbestos-related work.
For more information, see the Health monitoring duties for persons conducting a business or undertaking: Guide
Asbestos removal licence
You need a licence to remove asbestos. There are three types of asbestos licences:
- Class A removalist: Can remove all types of asbestos.
- Class B removalist: Can only remove non-friable asbestos.
- Licensed asbestos assessor: Can perform air monitoring, clearance inspections, and issue clearance certificates for all asbestos removal work and must be used for friable asbestos removal work conducted by a Class A removalist.
Learn about asbestos licences.
Ensure your asbestos removalist is licensed. Find a licensed service provider.