NSW launches asbestos awareness and safety course

SafeWork NSW, in collaboration with the Office of the Building Commissioner, NSW Environment Protection Authority and Local Government NSW, has launched an online Asbestos Awareness and Safety Course to educate tradies and other workers about how to best protect themselves when handling products containing asbestos.

The course supports a key priority for the NSW Asbestos Coordination Committee (NACC) which aims to improve the management, monitoring and response to asbestos issues in NSW through collaboration and programs. A number of NSW state agencies and other organisations collaborate through the NACC.

This comprehensive and interactive course was developed to help keep workers who work with or around asbestos-containing products, safe from exposure to asbestos fibres. The online short course covers the identification of asbestos-containing products, safe handling, control measures, the health impacts of asbestos exposure and more. Employers who encourage their workers to complete the course also meet their legal obligations to provide asbestos awareness training to workers who are likely to encounter asbestos on the job.

Trent Curtin, Head of SafeWork NSW, said asbestos is still found in one in three Australian homes and urged all tradies to be aware of how to properly identify and safely handle products containing asbestos. Each year, around 4000 Australians die of asbestos-related diseases. Curtin said the course will give workers a comprehensive understanding of how they can stay safe around asbestos and will ensure employers are providing their workers with appropriate training.

“We are urging all employers to have their workers complete this course if they are likely to encounter asbestos on the job, such as plumbers, electricians, bathroom and kitchen renovators, building trades, painters, home handypersons and more,” Curtin said.

To register for the course online, visit the Construct NSW Digital Learning Platform.

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