Asbestos Management Plans
Asbestos Laws – Changed Again
Since you last had buildings inspected there have been legislative changes yet again.
New Requirement
- All work places built prior to 1990 must be inspected
- Previously inspected buildings must be inspected, now all materials must be reported (previously only friable asbestos was reported)
- A report will be provided which includes a register of where asbestos is located.
- Building where asbestos has been discovered must be re-inspected each year and registers reissued.
- Where asbestos is detected an asbestos management plan must be put in place by the building owner. This plan identifies who will be responsible for the management of asbestos.
The attached pages describe the contents of the plan.
The management plan is usually quoted on separately from the audit. We do this because the building may not contain asbestos which means no plan will be required.
Extract from The Code of Practice for the Management and Control of Asbestos in Workplaces “NOHSC” – (Page. 29)
8.2 Contents
The asbestos management plan should be broad-ranging, and should include the following information components:
• the workplace’s register of ACM, (see section 9.3 of Part 9)
• details of any maintenance or service work on the ACM, including:
• the company who is performing, or performed, the work; • the date/s the maintenance or service work was undertaken;
• the scope of work undertaken; and
• any clearance certificates.
• mechanisms for providing all relevant people with information about the location, type and condition of the ACM, the risks they pose and the control measures adopted to eliminate or minimise these risks;
• decisions about management options (i.e. to maintain the ACM or replace them with non-asbestos alternatives), including the reasons for these decisions;
• a timetable for action, including priorities and date(s) for reviewing the risk assessment(s) and specific circumstances and activities that may impact timings (i.e. plant shut-down periods);
• monitoring arrangements;
• the responsibilities of all persons involved and the sections of the plan they are responsible for;
• training arrangements for workers and contractors;
• a procedure for reviewing and updating the management plan and the register of ACM, including a timetable; and
• safe work methods.
The asbestos management plan should be clear and unambiguous.
It should set out the aims of the plan, what is going to be done, when it's going to be done and how it is going to be done.
There should be clear lines of responsibility, with each person involved understanding their roles and responsibilities.
Relevant Australian Government, State or Territory OHS legislation should be checked for further information on individual obligations relevant to the management plan.
8.3 Reviews of the asbestos management plan
The asbestos management plan should be reviewed whenever the register of ACM is reviewed.
These reviews should critically reassess all asbestos management processes and their effectiveness in:
• preventing exposure to airborne asbestos fibres;
• controlling maintenance workers and contractors;
• highlighting the need for action to maintain or remove ACM;
• raising awareness among all workers; and
• maintaining the accuracy of the register of ACM
