Following last year’s Workplace Health and Safety blitz Queensland on businesses operating from buildings constructed before 1990 and those likely containing asbestos, it seems that other states may follow their lead.
Generally, Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) inspectors do not conduct routine audits of every building constructed before 1990. Instead, inspections are usually risk-based and targeted. Businesses operating from older buildings that may contain asbestos are more likely to be inspected if:
- A complaint has been lodged by a worker, contractor, tenant, or member of the public.
- An asbestos-related incident or exposure has occurred.
- Renovation, demolition, or refurbishment work is being undertaken.
- The business operates in a high-risk industry such as construction, manufacturing, education, healthcare, local government, utilities, or property management.
- A regulator is conducting a targeted compliance campaign in a particular sector or region.
- Previous inspections identified asbestos management deficiencies.
In practice, many businesses may never receive a dedicated asbestos inspection, while others may be inspected several times over a few years depending on their risk profile.
What inspectors typically look for
For buildings constructed before 31 December 2003 (the date asbestos was effectively banned in Australia), inspectors commonly check whether the business has:
- Identified asbestos-containing materials (ACMs).
- An up-to-date asbestos register.
- An asbestos management plan (where asbestos is present).
- Procedures for contractors and maintenance workers.
- Appropriate asbestos labelling and communication.
- Training for workers who may disturb asbestos.
- Records of inspections and asbestos condition assessments.
How often should asbestos be reviewed?
While WHS inspectors may not visit regularly, the asbestos itself should be reviewed regularly. Most asbestos management plans recommend:
- Formal inspection of known ACMs at least every 12 months.
- Additional inspections after storms, damage, renovations, or maintenance activities.
- Updating the asbestos register whenever asbestos is removed, disturbed, or newly identified.
For commercial and public buildings
Owners and occupiers of older buildings often engage asbestos consultants to conduct:
- Annual asbestos audits.
- Re-inspections of asbestos registers.
- Management plan reviews.
- Compliance audits prior to major works.
It is worth noting that many businesses in buildings built before 1990 incorrectly assume that because they have an asbestos register, they are compliant. During regulator inspections, common deficiencies include:
- Registers that are more than 5 years old.
- No evidence of annual re-inspections.
- Contractors not being provided access to the register.
- Missing asbestos management plans.
- Asbestos identified in reports but not labelled onsite.
These issues are frequently the reason businesses receive improvement notices when inspectors do attend.
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