Asbestos compliance audits for Queensland businesses

Inspectors from Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) will begin auditing businesses operating from buildings built prior to 1990 as part of planned asbestos compliance activities.

The audit’s purpose is to ensure industry is meeting its asbestos compliance requirements in line with legislation.

The compliance blitz will begin on 1 August 2024 and continue until the end of October 2024.

The audits will focus on the requirement for businesses to have asbestos registers and management plans in buildings that are likely to contain asbestos.

Businesses operating in premises built before 1990, must have an asbestos register and management plan in place to ensure asbestos is identified, and to manage the risks associated with carrying out repair, removal or other building works on asbestos containing materials.

Inspectors will address non-compliance with enforcement action, including issuing statutory notices and on-the-spot fines.

The statewide audit is part of the National Strategic Plan for Asbestos Awareness and Management 2019-2023 (NSP) and the Statewide Strategic Plan for the Safe Management of Asbestos in Queensland 2022-2025. These aim to eliminate asbestos-related diseases in Australia by preventing exposure to asbestos fibres.

Last year’s audit, between September and November 2023, involved the assessment of 139 businesses and resulted in the issue of 103 improvement notices and 10 infringement notices.

The outcomes of the audit will be reported during Asbestos Awareness Week in late November 2024.