Asbestos Registers - Our Quick & Easy Guide

Why are asbestos registers important?

Asbestos is a highly hazardous material which presents risks to health through inhalation when the asbestos fibres become airborne.

In December 2003, asbestos was banned in Australia and it was made illegal to import, store, supply, sell, install, use or re-use asbestos materials. Prior to this, Australia was the highest per capita user of asbestos products in the world. Therefore, if you are carrying out building work on premises built before 2004, you need to check whether you have Asbestos Containing Materials (ACM’s) or other hazardous substances within your structure. 

To comply with relevant state regulations and codes of practice, a Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU) has the responsibility to ensure that an asbestos or hazardous materials survey risk assessment/audit is carried out to identify and manage the risk of any ACM’s and other hazardous substances that may be present. 

Other potentially hazardous substances that should be considered by PCBUs include materials such as Lead (in paint and dust) and Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs). Other Ozone Depleting Substances (ODSs) and Synthetic Mineral Fibres (SMF) can also present risks to human health if not appropriately identified and managed.

Once asbestos or other hazardous substances are identified by competent surveyors and analysts, then PCBUs are required to implement effective management and control strategies for all asbestos containing materials. Although each state and territory of Australia has their own regulations and requirements, the model Code of Practice (COP) 'How to Manage and Control Asbestos in the Workplace' (Safe Work Australia 2016) clearly documents the steps required to eliminate or minimise the risks of exposures to airborne asbestos fibres.

The Code of Practice is accepted as standard industry practice, requiring PCBUs to:

• Develop, implement and maintain an asbestos management plan (AMP);

• Investigate for the presence or possible presence of asbestos; 

• Develop a register of identified or presumed asbestos containing materials (ACM), and to assess the condition of any ACMs;

• Develop measures to remove any ACMs or minimise risks associated with any ACMs that remain in the property;

• Ensure control measures are implemented as soon as possible; and

• Review the Asbestos Management Plan at least every 5 years.

If demolition or refurbishment work is planned for the property, a comprehensive review of the register should be undertaken to consider if it is fit for purpose and to check whether the previous survey and risk assessment work is sufficient to identify asbestos that might be disturbed during the demolition or refurbishment work. If it is insufficient, a more thorough and intrusive asbestos survey will need to be carried out to identify the Asbestos Containing Materials that might be disturbed during the refurbishment or demolition work.  The occupier should ensure, as far as is practical, that ACMs are removed prior to the refurbishment or demolition commencing.