In many cases, facility managers do not pay as much attention to asbestos management as they should, particularly when asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) are not causing immediate problems.
There are several reasons for this:
- Asbestos is often “out of sight, out of mind.” If asbestos materials appear to be in good condition, they can be overlooked during day-to-day building operations.
- Competing priorities. Facility managers are responsible for many compliance, maintenance, safety, and budget issues, which can push asbestos management down the priority list.
- Aging building stock. Many Australian buildings constructed before 2004 contain asbestos, creating a large ongoing management burden.
- Reliance on old records. Some organisations continue to use outdated asbestos registers that may not reflect renovations, damage, or changes to building conditions.
- Contractor risk. Maintenance contractors can unknowingly disturb asbestos if registers are not readily accessible or current.
- Lack of regular inspections. Asbestos registers and management plans are often reviewed less frequently than recommended.
- Staff turnover. Knowledge of asbestos risks and management procedures can be lost when key personnel leave.
The consequences can be significant:
- Exposure of workers, contractors, visitors, and the public.
- Regulatory penalties and prosecution under Australian WHS legislation.
- Expensive remediation projects.
- Project delays when previously unidentified asbestos is discovered during maintenance or renovations.
- Reputational damage to the organisation.
For facility managers, best practice includes:
- Maintaining an up-to-date asbestos register.
- Conducting regular re-inspections of known ACMs.
- Making asbestos information easily accessible to workers and contractors.
- Using digital asbestos management systems rather than paper-based registers.
- Tracking remediation actions and asbestos conditions over time.
- Ensuring contractors acknowledge asbestos risks before commencing work.
This is one reason why many organisations are moving to dedicated asbestos management platforms such as Lupin Systems’s AuditPRO, which can provide instant access to asbestos registers, mobile site inspections, QR code identification, contractor access, and automated reporting.
A strong message for facility managers is:
“Asbestos isn’t a problem until someone disturbs it. Effective asbestos management is not about finding asbestos—it’s about ensuring everyone knows where it is before work begins.”
This resonates particularly well with facility managers responsible for hospitals, universities, councils, schools, commercial property portfolios, and industrial facilities across Australia.