Increased awareness and public concern over asbestos has highlighted the Occupational Health, Safety & Welfare requirement. Did you know that all building owners or other persons responsible must have an asbestos register completed for all buildings to comply to the regulations?

The Acts, Regulations and Codes of Practice do vary in each state and territory - however it is manadatory for all commerciual properties to have an up-to-date Asbestos Register on the premises. This is part of the package of responsibilities of an employer to have an Asbestos Policy which includes:

• Identify any installed asbestos materials.
  
• Assessing the condition of the asbestos to determine if it needs to be removed or can be left in place and controlled.
  
• Maintaining a register of the type, condition and location of the asbestos.
  
• Training the necessary people on Asbestos Awareness and if they are required to working with Asbestos - how to make safe, maintain or deal with an asbestos emergency.
  
• Monitor the condition of the asbestos at least annually.
  
• Make the register available to specified people, including -
  • an inspector/auditor.
  • a person authorised by the Commissioner or Director (e.g. SafeworkSA)
  • Any person who in the course of work may come into contact with any material as recorded in the Asbestos Register - which could be YOU.....
  • Any health and safety representative or committee member
• ongoing employee medical surveillance
  

Organsations appoint an Asbestos Register Controller as the person responsible for looking after Asbestos issues in your workplace. They induct, train and support you in asbestos matters. Do you know who the Asbestos Register Controller is in your workplace?
Do you know where the Asbestos Register is located in your organisation?

The mere presence of asbestos in a building does not mean that the health of building occupants is endangered.However, asbestos materials can become hazardous when, due to damage, disturbance, or deterioration over time, they release fibres into the air.

Under these conditions, when Asbestos Containing Material is damaged or disturbed – for example, by maintenance repairs conducted without proper controls – elevated airborne asbestos concentrations can create a potential hazard for workers and other building occupants.

If you would like to know more about asbestos in the work place please view our FREE online presentation by clicking this link Asbestos Awareness and Health Effects.

Asbestos may have been used in a building construction. In the building you are working on you are entitled to see the Asbestos Register. If you have not been inducted on Asbestos in your workplace - talk with your Asbestos Register Controller about training. Follow the link for training that is available on Asbestos Awareness.

Please click Other Related Topics to view them -

- What is Asbetsos?
- What is the risk to my health breathing in Asbetsos fibres?
- How do I recognise Asbestos?
- What is the difference between Friable and Non-friable Asbestos?
- How do I identify possible Asbestos containing products in my home?
- How do I Sample potential Asbestos products for testing?
- Working on Asbestos – DIY or Contractor?
- A technical definition of Asbestos?