Builders & Tradespeople

Watch out for asbestos

Non-residential buildings built before 31 December 2003 are required to have a written asbestos management plan, including an asbestos register that can be made available to tenants, workers, contractors and any other relevant people. However, even if there is no asbestos management plan, if a non-residential building was built before 31 December 2003, expect that asbestos products are likely to be located somewhere on the premises (for example, asbestos cement piping, behind tiles in wet areas, lagging on wall pipes, in fire doors, and in electrical switchboards, etc.). If all asbestos products have already been safely removed from the premises, this will be stated in the asbestos management plan.

Not everyone is qualified to work with asbestos.

If you work in the trades, services or maintenance sector, there's a good chance you'll come up against asbestos regularly. Under ACT law, anyone who works with asbestos must have successfully completed, through an approved course, training in handling asbestos. If you are not qualified to work with asbestos, engage someone who is.

• Facts about asbestos.
• Asbestos health risks.
• Places where asbestos is likely to be located in residential premises.
• Places where asbestos is likely to be located in non-residential premises.
• What builders and tradespeople are allowed to do.
• Asbestos training courses.
• Laws that apply to people working with asbestos.
• Links to union or employer bodies.
• Fact sheets for people working with asbestos.