Recently, a client asked us about asbestos risk and the regulations around management of a commercial property.
There are known requirements in the Work Safe Victoria Code of Compliance which clearly and distinctly outlines the necessity for commercial property managers to maintain a fully up-to-date asbestos register, more formally known as a Division 5 Audit.
Many property owners have the misconception that this is not a necessity and if it ever becomes required they we “deal with it!”. Let SCAADA ask this. If there’s an emergency situation involving a fire officer or an SES officer and they are at your premise and you’re not. How do they now know what is safe to deal with, and what is not? Answer – the asbestos register! No longer an irrelevant document, is it?
Last year in Melbourne alone the MFB attended in excess of one commercial fire per day where the presence of asbestos was identified through the asbestos register on site potentially saying lives.
Asbestos risk is extremely manageable if the exact details of the occurrences are known. Knowledge and experience now provides subcontractors and emergency service staff with the ability to comfortably work in the presence of asbestos containing material, provided the regulations, appropriate PPE and common sense are all used.
What is an asbestos register exactly?
All asbestos containing material that has been identified in the workplace setting must be documented in the asbestos register. This includes date, location, type of material and current condition of the asbestos. If no asbestos has been identified, this will also need to be recorded.
Scaada’s Asbestos Registers comply with the National Occupational Health and Safety Commission Code of Practice for the Management and Control of Asbestos in Workplaces [NOHSC:2018(2005)].
If you have a commercial premise don’t wait until Work Safe visits your premise and issues you a penalty notice. Act today! Call SCAADA and request one of our experienced staff attend your site and conduct an assessment to identify the presence of asbestos containing material under your responsibility. The phone call and register will be significantly cheaper than the fine!
Learn more about asbestos registers here or contact us today on 1300 SCAADA
