SafeWork SA has launched a renewed inspection campaign targeting asbestos compliance across South Australian workplaces. The move follows concerning results from a similar initiative last year, which uncovered significant breaches in asbestos safety protocols and resulted in more than 130 improvement and prohibition notices.
Widespread Asbestos Non-Compliance in Older Workplaces
In the previous audit, SafeWork SA targeted 95 workplaces constructed before 2004, alongside 61 sites undergoing demolition or refurbishment. Shockingly, 58% of the older workplaces were non-compliant with asbestos management regulations.
The most frequent breaches included:
- Lack of an asbestos register (31 notices)
- Failure to develop an asbestos management plan after asbestos was found (14 notices)
- Inadequate labelling or communication about the presence of asbestos (11 notices)
These findings highlight a systemic lack of awareness or failure to act on known asbestos risks in buildings.
Demolition and Refurbishment Failures
The concurrent audit of demolition and refurbishment sites raised further red flags. Inspectors reported:
- Failure to appoint an independent licensed asbestos assessor separate from the removalist (11 instances)
- Respirators not being properly fit-tested for asbestos removal workers (6 instances)
- Missing or outdated asbestos registers, or registers not reviewed before work commencing
These violations resulted in serious consequences, including:
- The suspension of a licensed asbestos removalist for starting demolition without a clearance inspection
- A proposed suspension for another removalist who conducted unsafe practices
- A $2,220 fine for failure to provide the asbestos removal control plan to the commissioning party before work began
Renewed Inspections: What’s Required
As of May 2023, SafeWork SA inspectors have revisited workplaces to ensure asbestos compliance is up to standard. Specifically, checking that:
- Persons with management or control of buildings built before 31 December 2003 have identified and labelled asbestos
- An up-to-date asbestos register is available.
- A written asbestos management plan is in place where asbestos has been identified.
- The asbestos register has been reviewed or updated prior to any demolition or refurbishment work.
This campaign aligns with the Work Health and Safety Regulations 2012 (SA), which set out mandatory workplace obligations to prevent exposure to legacy asbestos materials.
Why Asbestos Compliance Matters
Australia continues to face a serious asbestos-related health crisis, with an estimated 4,000 deaths each year linked to past exposure, more than double the nation’s annual road toll. Ensuring asbestos compliance is a legal responsibility and a moral imperative to protect workers, tradespeople, and building occupants.
The National Strategic Plan for Asbestos Awareness and Management 2019–2023, coordinated by the Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency (ASEA), aims to ensure that all commercial buildings legally required to maintain asbestos registers are doing so actively and accurately.
The South Australian Asbestos Action Plan, which outlines specific steps to improve asbestos identification, legacy management, and safe practices through education, auditing, and enforcement at the state level, supports this.
How Global Asbestos Audits Can Help
At Global Asbestos Audits, we help businesses and property owners meet their obligations with professional asbestos inspections, register preparation, and management plans. Whether planning renovations, managing an older facility, or preparing for SafeWork inspections, our team ensures you’re fully compliant with state and national asbestos regulations.
Don’t wait until you receive a compliance notice.
Contact Global Asbestos Audits today to schedule a professional assessment and ensure your asbestos documentation is accurate, current, and compliant.