Managing asbestos in workplaces - Compliance - WorkSafe Victoria

Contents
Preface 2
Introduction 3
Purpose 3
Scope 3
Application 4
Consultation 4
General requirements of the Occupational
Health and Safety Regulations 2007 6
Duty to control exposure to airborne asbestos fibres 6
Regulatory prohibitions 8
Prohibitions under the Occupational Health and
Safety Act 2004 (regulations 4.3.7 to 4.3.9) 8
Prohibitions under the Dangerous Goods Act 1985
(regulations 4.3.10 to 4.3.16) 10
Exclusions from the dangerous goods prohibitions 10
Supply, storage, transport, sale and use of fixed
or installed asbestos 10
Brake shoes lined with asbestos 11
Other exclusions from the prohibitions 11
Responsibilities of importers and suppliers of
goods and materials 11
Asbestos in workplaces 13
Duty to identify asbestos 13
Competence of people identifying asbestos 15
How to identify asbestos 16
Assuming asbestos to be present 17
Inaccessible areas likely to contain asbestos 17
Information to be recorded when asbestos
has been identified 19
Taking asbestos samples 21
Analysis of asbestos samples 21
Asbestos register 22
Duty to record results of identification in an asbestos register 22
Information that must be recorded in an asbestos register 22
Access to the asbestos register 23
Reviewing the asbestos register 24
Keeping a copy of the asbestos register 25
Indicating the presence of asbestos 26
Controlling risks to health associated
with the presence of asbestos 27
Deciding if there is a risk to health that needs controlling 27
Controlling risk using the hierarchy of control measures 28
Proper installation and maintenance of control measures 33
Information, instruction and training 33
Demolition and refurbishment 34
Definition of the terms ‘demolition’ and ‘refurbishment’ 34
Review of the asbestos register prior
to demolition or refurbishment 36
What to do if the asbestos register
indicates that asbestos is present 37
Duties that apply if no asbestos register
exists for the workplace 37
Demolition and refurbishment at domestic premises 38
Conducting asbestos removal prior
to demolition or refurbishment 39
Workplace emergency where asbestos is present 39
Asbestos management plan 41
Asbestos-related activities 43
Identifying regulated asbestos-related activities 43
Information and training must be provided 43
Employer’s duty to control risks to health associated
with asbestos-related activities 44
Employer’s duty to review and revise risk control measures 48
Work area to be separated and signs
and barricades to be used 48
Cleaning the work area 48
Using and emptying asbestos vacuum cleaners 49
Medical examinations for employees
who conduct asbestos-related activities 50
Decontamination at the end of an activity 50
Employer’s duty to contain and dispose of asbestos waste 51