The Importance of Asbestos Awareness Training: Protecting Workers and Ensuring Compliance
Asbestos remains a serious health risk in many workplaces, from construction sites to restaurants and facilities management. While asbestos use has been banned in Australia since 2003, it is still present in many older buildings and materials, posing a risk to workers who may unknowingly disturb it. Under the Work Health and Safety (WHS) Regulation 2017, asbestos awareness training is a legal requirement for workers who may encounter asbestos in their duties.
For HR professionals, WHS consultants, operations managers, and business owners, ensuring workers receive asbestos awareness training is essential for regulatory compliance, workplace safety, and risk management.
Who Needs Asbestos Awareness Training?
Asbestos awareness training is required for workers who may come into contact with asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) during their work. This includes:
Construction workers – including demolition, renovation, and maintenance crews.
Facility managers and maintenance staff – those responsible for building upkeep.
Plumbers, electricians, and HVAC technicians – who may drill or cut into walls and ceilings.
Restaurant owners and hospitality workers – operating in older buildings where asbestos may be present in ceilings, walls, or flooring.
Retail and office managers – ensuring a safe working environment for employees.
Legal Requirements Under WHS Regulation 2017
The WHS Regulation 2017 mandates that:
Workers who may be exposed to asbestos must receive asbestos awareness training.
Employers must ensure workers understand the risks and procedures for managing asbestos safely.
Training must be provided before workers begin tasks that could disturb asbestos.
Records of asbestos training must be maintained for compliance audits.
Failure to comply with these regulations can result in heavy fines, legal action, and increased health risks to workers.
What Happens When Asbestos Training is Overlooked?
Without asbestos awareness training, workers may unknowingly disturb asbestos, leading to serious consequences. Consider these scenarios:
Construction Site Incident: A contractor drills into a wall without realising it contains asbestos, exposing multiple workers to airborne fibres.
Restaurant Renovation Disaster: A hospitality business undertakes a minor refurbishment, only to discover too late that asbestos-containing materials have been disturbed, leading to costly remediation and business shutdowns.
Facilities Maintenance Oversight: A maintenance worker removes old ceiling tiles, unaware that they contain asbestos, contaminating the air and putting staff at risk.
How Confluence Environmental Can Help
At Confluence Environmental, we provide tailored asbestos awareness training to ensure workers understand the risks and comply with WHS regulations. Our training includes:
Understanding Asbestos Risks – Identifying asbestos-containing materials and recognising exposure hazards.
Safe Work Practices – Procedures for avoiding asbestos disturbance and handling incidents safely.
Regulatory Compliance – Meeting WHS requirements and maintaining training records.
Protect your workforce and ensure compliance with asbestos awareness training from Confluence Environmental. Contact us today to schedule a training session for your team and reduce the risk of asbestos-related incidents in your workplace.