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How to Manage and Control Asbestos in the Workplace Code of Practice Fact Sheet
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safe, fair, productive working lives
The Code of Practice – How to Manage and Control Asbestos in the Workplace is available on the SafeWork SA website
at safework.sa.gov.au. This fact sheet provides a summary of that Code, and is primarily for small businesses that may need to know how to deal with asbestos in their workplace. Licenced asbestos removalists should refer to the Code.
Asbestos in the workplace
Despite being banned from use in South Australia for many years, asbestos remains an ongoing threat to public health.
Asbestos fibres were widely used in the past because of their unique chemical and physical properties. They could protect against fire, corrosion, cold, acids, alkalis, electricity, noise, energy loss, vibration, salt water, frost, dust and even vermin. Asbestos also had excellent friction and wear resistance, and so was used extensively in brake linings and clutch facings.
Refer to page 9 of the Code for key terms associated with the management of asbestos.
Managing risks
Managing the risks associated with exposure to asbestos and asbestos-containing material (ACM) involves the following simple risk management approach:
1. Identify asbestos at the workplace, label it and record it in
an asbestos register.
2. Assess the risk of exposure to airborne asbestos.
3. Eliminate or minimise the risks by implementing control
measures.
4. Review control measures to ensure they are effective.
Refer to pages 11–16 of the Code for more information.
1. Identifying asbestos at a workplace
The identification of asbestos in the workplace by a competent person is the first step in managing the risk of exposure to asbestos.
If the person with management or control of the workplace assumes that asbestos or ACM is present, or if they have reasonable grounds to believe that asbestos is not present, a competent person does not need to be engaged to make that decision.
If you’re unsure whether asbestos is present in any part of a structure or plant it is always best to assume it is present and treat it with appropriate caution.
Refer to pages 12–14 and page 45 of the Code for more information, including a procedure a competent person can follow when undertaking sampling.
Asbestos registers
Where asbestos has been identified or is likely to be identified (or where the building was constructed prior to 31 December 2003), an asbestos register must be prepared and kept at
the workplace. The asbestos register must be maintained to ensure the information in the register is up-to-date.
Refer to pages 20–22 of the Code for specific requirements, including exceptions, and pages 47–48 of the Code for a template and example of an asbestos register.
2. Assessing the risk of exposure
If asbestos is in good condition and left undisturbed, it is unlikely that airborne asbestos fibres will be released into the air and the risk to health is low. Therefore, it is usually safer to leave it labelled and undisturbed, and review its condition over time.
However, if the asbestos has deteriorated, has been disturbed, or if asbestos-contaminated dust is present, the likelihood that exposure may occur is increased.
Refer to pages 18–19 of the Code for more information, including a list which ranks different types of asbestos according to the likelihood that airborne asbestos can be released into the air if it has deteriorated or been disturbed.
A visual inspection of the material, its location and an understanding of the work practices at the workplace will assist this decision.
Asbestos-related work activities also need to be considered.
Asbestos-related work
Asbestos-related work activities are a type of work with asbestos which is permitted to occur in certain circumstances. It can include maintenance, plus unusual and infrequent activities (such as emergency activities).