2022
This National Asbestos Awareness Week we’re asking you to "Be asbestos ready".
Danger from asbestos is far from over.
Australia has one of the highest rates of asbestos related-disease in the world and it is still present in one in three Australian homes, as well as in public and commercial buildings.
New on-the-spot asbestos fines
From 14 October 2022, SafeWork NSW inspectors can issue on-the-spot fines to workers who don’t follow asbestos-safe work procedures.
Changes to the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2017 allow SafeWork NSW to issue on-the-spot fines for asbestos-related offences. Offences may include (this is not an all-inclusive list):
- using high-pressure water or compressed air on asbestos roofs
- breaking asbestos-containing materials (ACM)
- using power tools or other prohibited equipment on ACM
- dry-sweeping ACM
- not engaging an asbestos professional to conduct clearance inspections
- not having adequate signage and barricades at asbestos removal sites
- issuing clearance certificates without attending the site
- issuing clearance certificates when ACM has not been adequately removed.
Be abestos ready
Asbestos is in 1 in 3 Australian homes
To stay safe at work, follow these simple steps:
Think ahead
If the home or building you are working on was built before 1990, then it is likely to contain asbestos. It was used in over 3,000 building products.
If you’re not sure whether asbestos might be present at a site, don’t do anything until you’ve had it checked by a licensed asbestos professional. You can check a licence is valid on Verify.licence.
If you’re working on a commercial building that was built before December 2003, ask to see a copy of the asbestos register before doing any work.
Never use high pressure water, a garden hose with a trigger attachment or compressed air on asbestos roofing or other products containing asbestos, such as fences, eaves, gutters and downpipes.
Friable asbestos can be found inside the ceiling cavity in the form of loose-fill asbestos insulation.
Plan ahead
Asbestos is dangerous when disturbed, so you shouldn’t remove asbestos yourself.
Get a licensed asbestos professional
SafeWork NSW always recommends using a licensed asbestos removalist to remove any amount of asbestos.
You must use a licensed asbestos removalist to remove any amount of friable asbestos or to remove more than 10 sqm of non-friable asbestos.
If you are going to remove or work with less than 10 sqm of non-friable asbestos yourself, then you should always do so in line with the SafeWork NSW Code of Practice: How to safely remove asbestos (PDF, 2770.66 KB).
You should also watch our series of asbestos videos which demonstrate all the steps you need to keep you safe when working with asbestos.