Reminder on new asbestos licences in WA

From 1 June, business operators removing more than 10 m² of bonded asbestos in Western Australia - including asbestos cement material - in a workplace will need to have completed an approved training course and hold an asbestos licence.

WorkSafe WA Commissioner Nina Lyhne said that the changes to WA’s OHS laws would ensure that only workers with the proper skills and knowledge can remove asbestos: “There is still a large amount of asbestos in WA and we need to make sure that its removal is carried out only by workers who have the proper skills and knowledge to perform the task safely.

“A National Code of Practice for the Safe Removal of Asbestos has been in existence for many years, so there has always been a requirement for working safely with asbestos. These changes aim to improve compliance with the Code.

“Asbestos cement products do not pose a risk to health if they’re left undisturbed in buildings. However, there is a serious risk of exposure to asbestos fibres during the disturbance or removal of asbestos-containing materials unless basic safety precautions are followed.

“Concerns have long existed about the potential for serious health effects from exposure to asbestos where these safety precautions are not followed. These concerns resulted in the Commission for Occupational Safety and Health recommending stronger controls on the removal of asbestos cement sheeting.

“A large amount of consultation has taken place with industry representatives, unions, organisations and members of the community, all being taken into consideration when deciding to implement the changes. These changes are part of the state government’s commitment to the future safety and health of all Western Australians.”

WorkSafe will display a list of asbestos licence holders on its website, so anyone who needs asbestos removed will be able to identify properly licensed operators.