Asbestos AUDITS & REGISTERS 

 

Asbestos registers for workplaces

 

A person with management or control of a workplace must ensure asbestos at the workplace is identified, the location of asbestos is clearly indicated and recorded in a register and have a written asbestos management plan if asbestos has been identified at the workplace (or is likely to be there at times).

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An asbestos register is not required if the building was constructed after 31 December 1989 and no asbestos has been identified at the workplace and asbestos is not likely to be present.

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The asbestos register must be maintained so the information in the register is up-to-date and be readily accessible to businesses or contractors carrying out demolition, removal, refurbishment, maintenance or service work at the workplace.

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Identifying asbestos or ACM at the workplace

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A person with management or control of a workplace must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that all asbestos or asbestos-containing materials (ACM) at the workplace is identified by a competent person who has acquired through training, qualification or experience the knowledge and skills to carry out this task. Where a sample of suspected ACM is taken, this does not have to be carried out by a licensed asbestos removalist.

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The requirement to ensure asbestos or ACM at the workplace is identified by a competent person does not apply:

• to naturally occurring asbestos(e.g. asbestos encountered during mining or quarrying)

• if the duty holder assumes asbestos or ACM is present

• if the duty holder has reasonable grounds to believe that asbestos or ACM is not present.

 

If asbestos or ACM is assumed to be present at a workplace, it is taken to be identified at the workplace.

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Persons who may be considered to be competent in the identification of asbestos and ACM include:

• occupational hygienists who have experience with asbestos and ACM

• licensed asbestos assessors

• asbestos removal supervisors

• individuals who have a statement of attainment in the VET course for asbestos assessors

• a person working for an organisation accredited by the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) under ISO 17020 for surveying asbestos.

 

If there is not a competent person within the organisation an external competent person should be engaged.

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Reasonable grounds that asbestos or ACM is not present at the workplace

 

A person with management or control may have reasonable grounds to believe that asbestos or ACM is not present at a workplace.

 

Factors to consider include:

• the age of the workplace building or plant

• the material or products used in constructing the building or plant given that asbestos was used in a wide range of products (e.g. asbestos-cement sheeting for interior/exterior walls, ceilings and roofs, gaskets, asbestos backed vinyl or vinyl tiles; sealants and mastics).

 

Examples of reasonable grounds include:

• a workplace building constructed after 31 December 1989

• no plant or equipment at the workplace was made or installed before 2004

• all asbestos or ACM has been removed from the workplace.

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