OFFICE of Regulatory Services (ORS) WorkCover ACT says it is continuing to investigate a 9 April 2009 incident where asbestos was detected in air conditioning ducts during building works at a suburban shopping centre.
The air conditioning system and several businesses were shut down pending testing and decontamination.
According to ORS WorkCover ACT, it started by concentrating on identifying any health risks created and ensuring management of the incident maintains the safety of workers and the public.
The occupational health and safety authority issued a safety alert reminding persons in control of commercial and industrial premises of their obligations under the Dangerous Substances Act 2004.
If the premises were built before 31 December 2003, the law requires that the premises must be inspected by a licensed asbestos assessor to find out whether there is any asbestos product at the premises and to provide a written risk assessment of the risks associated with the asbestos products.
Owners need to have an asbestos management plan for the premises, and there must be warning signs and labels to show the location, type and condition of each asbestos product identified at the premises.
Industrial premises must be compliant with these requirements by 1 March 2010.
Asbestos removal must be by a licensed asbestos removalist and conducted in accordance with the Code of Practice for the Safe Removal of Asbestos 2nd Edition.
Asbestos management plans must include provision for the keeping of an asbestos register for the premises, and for people likely to be affected by an asbestos product at the premises to have access to information about the asbestos product’s location, type and condition, as well as the risks, control measures and safe work methods.