Asbestos Management
The items below in relation to asbestos management have changed as a result of the new harmonised laws. A person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) with management or control of a workplace must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that all asbestos or asbestos containing material (ACM) is identified by a competent person.
The presence and location of asbestos should be indicated if reasonably practicable by a label.
Registers are required for workplace buildings built up to 31 December 2003 – compared to current cutoff date of 1 January 1990.
Asbestos management plans and training are required for naturally occurring asbestos.
PCBUs must provide health monitoring for certain workers involved in removal work or other asbestos-related work.
There is a requirement to notify the regulator of:
- licensed asbestos removal work
- demolition of a pre-31 December 2003 structure or plant in an emergency
- asbestos fibre levels exceeding 0.02 fibres/ml during Class A asbestos removal work.
A new licence category for individual ‘asbestos assessors’ required for Class A asbestos removal work – air monitoring, clearance inspections and clearance certificates.
An independent competent person is required for clearance inspections and clearance certificates for Class B removal work.
Both Class A and Class B licence holders must be a PCBU.
There are new obligations when the demolition or refurbishment of a structure or plant built or installed before 31 December 2003 is undertaken:
- a PCBU with management/control must, so far as reasonably practicable, ensure ACM is removed before demolition
- a PCBU must before refurbishment of structure or plant where asbestos is likely to be disturbed, identify and, so far as reasonably practicable, remove the asbestos before refurbishment
- there are requirements for when an ’emergency’ requires something to be demolished (e.g. structure is structurally unsound). There is a procedure to reduce risk of exposure to asbestos and notify the regulator prior to demolition.
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