Asbestos inspection program in SA

An inspection program targeting asbestos will take place in Western Australia throughout March.

The program will see inspectors who visit a workplace for any reason also check on whether any asbestos present has been identified and its risk to health assessed.

WorkSafe WA commissioner, Nine Lyhne said that WA's occupational safety and health laws require that workplaces have specific processes in place if asbestos is present.

"The regulations require that employers or persons having control of a workplace identify the location of asbestos and assess any risks it poses," she said.

"Part of that identification process requires that an on-site asbestos register be established, and that is one of the things WorkSafe inspectors will be checking throughout the next month."

Inspectors will use a checklist to ensure a consistent approach across all workplaces and will then advise the employer if they are not complying with the legal requirements.

This list will include:

• Whether the location and type of all asbestos has been identified.
• Whether the risks for all asbestos in the workplace have been assessed.
• Whether an asbestos register is readily available to all staff, contractors and any other person who may be exposed in the workplace.
• Whether the asbestos register contains all the correct information.

Workplaces that do not comply with the regulations will be issued with improvement notices.

A copy of the Code of Practice for the Management and Control of Asbestos in Workplaces is available at the WorkSafe website.