If you identify asbestos under your management or control in your workplace:
- Check its condition. For example: if the asbestos is in good condition and left undisturbed, it is usually safer to leave it fixed or installed and review its condition over time.
- If the asbestos has deteriorated, for example asbestos-contaminated dust is present or it is likely that airborne asbestos fibres may be released into the air, then you must control the risk, for example by removing the asbestos.
Consider the steps below to manage the asbestos in your workplace.
Next Step: Remove and dispose
Your building owner or manager has a duty to provide you with a copy of their asbestos register. This will help you work out whether any of your work is likely to disturb or damage the asbestos.
If you identify asbestos in any plant or equipment over which you have management or control, you need to create your own asbestos register to record the presence of this asbestos. This means that your workplace is likely to have two asbestos registers:
1. A register created by your building manager or owner, that records asbestos in the building or structure.
2. A register created by you that records asbestos under your management or control (including plant and equipment).
Asbestos registers must be revised if there is a change to the condition of asbestos, including if it is removed, enclosed or sealed. Your register must also be reviewed and if necessary revised every five years to keep it current.
The asbestos register must be readily accessible to your employees. Employers also have a duty to provide a copy of the asbestos register to:
- health and safety representatives for any affected designated work group
- asbestos licence-holders engaged to do asbestos removal work
- anyone who takes over management or control of the workplace
- employers who carry out asbestos-related activities and request a copy.
You must notify your building manager or owner if any of your work will create a risk associated with the asbestos in the workplace.
For example, if you are using a forklift to move and store pallets loaded with stock alongside an asbestos cement wall, there may be a risk of damage to the wall and potential release of asbestos fibres in the air. Informing the person who has management or control of the workplace (for example, the landlord of the building) of the potential risk may result in the implementation of a risk control measure, such as replacing the wall with non-asbestos materials or erecting bollards in front of the wall to prevent collisions.
Once asbestos has been identified its presence and location must be clearly indicated. Adhering a label containing the word 'asbestos' directly on asbestos material is the most effective method of identifying asbestos and should be considered first.
Where this direct labelling is not possible, labels should be situated as close as possible to the asbestos material.
Where a label cannot be placed directly on or adjacent to identified asbestos, a label nearby or at entrance points to buildings or rooms should be considered.
Ensure that labelling is consistent with asbestos locations on your asbestos register.
Regardless of which method you use, all employees, including contractors, need to be aware of the system of labelling. Where direct labelling is not used, particular attention needs to be given to identifying the presence and location of asbestos to contractors such as plumbers, electricians and carpentersbefore they commence work.
More information on labelling can be found in labelling asbestos in workplaces(opens in a new window) and the Managing asbestos in workplaces compliance code(opens in a new window)
Before they start, any contractors who are engaged to perform work that involves the risk of exposure to asbestos must be given a copy of the asbestos register. The register must include the location of the asbestos.
A permit-to-work system should be implemented to ensure contractors are aware of asbestos before starting work.
Victorian law specifies three stages in the hierarchy of control that must be used to control risks from asbestos.
1. Eliminate the risk so far as reasonably practicable by removing the asbestos.
2. If a risk remains, reduce the risk so far as reasonably practicable by enclosing the asbestos.
3. If a risk remains, further reduce the risk so far as reasonably practicable by sealing the asbestos.
More information can be found about effective ways to control risk in
A step by step guide to managing asbestos in workplaces(opens in a new window)PDF 1.73 MBand the Managing asbestos in workplaces compliance code(opens in a new window).
If you have used control measures to manage the risks associated with asbestos, you must provide your employees with sufficient information, instruction and training so they can perform their work in a way that is safe and without risk to their health. The information and training must include:
- the hazards associated with asbestos in a workplace
- the control measures used
- the reasons for the control measures
- how the risk control measures are to be used and maintained (for example personal protective equipment)
- the method of indicating the presence and location of asbestos including any labelling system
- details of medical examinations (if necessary)
- the right of employees to have access to the asbestos register.
As an employer, you have duties for specific asbestos-related activities (aside from removal work) carried out in your workplace. These activities include:
- hand drilling and cutting asbestos containing material
- enclosing or sealing asbestos
- transporting asbestos for disposal
- maintenance and dust extraction equipment contaminated with asbestos
- laundering clothing contaminated with asbestos
- research involving asbestos
- sampling or analysing suspected asbestos
- working on a site licensed by EPA Victoria to accept asbestos waste.
If any of the tasks above need to be undertaken in your workplace, see the detailed information about working with asbestos and the Managing asbestos in workplaces compliance code(opens in a new window).
Victoria''s health and safety laws require employers to, so far as is reasonably practicable, consult with employees and health and safety representatives (if any) on health or safety matters that directly affect, or are likely to directly affect them. Consultation must include sharing information, giving employees the opportunity to express their views, and taking those views into account.
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