Asbestos

The Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 sets out a framework for the management of asbestos materials in workplaces including:

• Training of workers at risk of encountering asbestos;
• Notification to WorkSafe ACT of asbestos removals;
• Health monitoring for workers;
• Naturally occurring asbestos;
• Stricter requirements for the removal of asbestos; and,
• National licensing and competency standards for licensed asbestos removalists and assessors.

The ACT has some specific requirements in relation to the management of asbestos to those in other states or territories including:

• Requiring all asbestos removal work to be carried out by a licensed asbestos removalist (removing the exception in the national model regulations for non-friable asbestos removal not exceeding 10 square meters);
• Creating an exception to the prohibition on work involving asbestos when the work is only 'minor or routine maintenance work, or other minor work';
• Replacing references to 'competent person' with 'licensed asbestos assessor' to clarify that all asbestos assessment, clearance inspections, and air monitoring must be provided by a licensed asbestos assessor; and,
• Requiring that a person with management or control of a workplace must assume asbestos is present if an approved warning sign is present (this will be the case if the premises are known to have contained loose-fill asbestos).

The government has also made the decision to regulate the removal of asbestos in non-workplaces through new additions to the Dangerous Substances (General) Regulation 2004. A person must not remove asbestos or asbestos-containing material from any premises (including residential premises) unless the person is an appropriately licensed asbestos removalist. The only exception to this is work which is incidental to minor or routine maintenance work or other minor work at the premises. The Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 uses the following definitions for asbestos:

• Airborne asbestos - Any fibers of asbestos small enough to be made airborne.
• Asbestos-containing material (ACM) - Any material or thing that contains asbestos as part of its design.
• Asbestos contaminated dust or debris (ACD) - Dust or debris that has settled within a workplace and is (or assumed to be) contaminated with asbestos.
• Friable asbestos - Any asbestos material in a powder form or can be crumbled, pulverized or reduced to a powder by hand pressure when dry for example pipe lagging, limpet and fire door cores.
• In situ asbestos - Asbestos or ACM fixed or installed in a structure, equipment or plant but does not include naturally occurring asbestos.
• Naturally occurring asbestos (NOA) - The natural geological occurrence of asbestos minerals found in association with geological deposits including rock, sediment or soil.
• Non-friable asbestos - Material containing asbestos that is not friable asbestos, including material containing asbestos fibers reinforced with a bonding compound such as asbestos cement (fibro), brakes and vinyl floor tiles.
• Respirable asbestos - an asbestos fiber that:
  • Is less than 3 microns (µm) wide;
  • Is more than 5 microns (µm) long; and,
  • Has a length to width ratio of more than 3:1.