Why do I need to have an inspection every year?

Under the OHS&W Regulations 1995 it is required that at least annually, inspections must be carried out by a competent person. A competent person is a person suitably qualified and can identify various types of asbestos, determine how stable it is and recognise whether it presents a risk to the people working within the area. Safework SA actively perform random audits to ensure companies comply by issuing notices and fines accordingly.

Site Survey and Inspection	Example of Signage

What are the benefits of an annual inspection?

• minimise significantly the exposure to legal liabilities from tenants, contractors and/or employees.
• avoid the risk of being fined by SafeWork SA.
• minimise the possibility for claims on workers’ compensation due to asbestos exposure.
• reduce the likelihood of waivered insurance claims due to non-compliance.
• avoid failing internal or independent audits due to non-compliance.
• avoid the possibility of unfavourable media exposure and publicity.
• avoid possible union problems including stop work actions.
• and most importantly, minimise the potential health risks to any tenant, employee or contractor for any possible exposure to asbestos fibres in the workplace.
  

What does an Annual Inspection involve?

• checking any asbestos containing materials for any deterioration in condition, vandalism, disturbance.
• assessment of work performed on material or in the vicinity of.
• ensure that access maintenance records are kept.
• ensure that a hazard management plan is in place.
• assess contamination to other materials.
• placement of adequate restrictive access signs or caution signs.
• assess health risk to occupants / maintenance personnel / contractors or employees.
• friability, to ensure unstable/friable material is removed only by a licensed removalist as per regulations.
• ensure access is restricted to hazardous areas.

Annual Update Recommendations

From this inspection, an assessment is made and a report is written as an update to the Asbestos Register. In this update, owners are informed on any problems that will require action. Recommendations / solutions must be implemented to minimise any future health risk. Through this process, your compliance to the regulations is maintained.