As of April 2018, PCBUs (persons conducting a business or undertaking) have a legal obligation to ensure there is an asbestos management plan prepared for their workplace. It is also the duty of the PCBU that this management plan is made available to any worker, visitor, or other person who may come into contact with asbestos in the workplace. Heavy fines are imposed should it be found that these requirements are not met.
ACMs which can easily be reduced to powder by hand are known as friable asbestos, and is the form of asbestos that presents the greatest risk to PCBUs or homeowners. As the fibres are dangerous once they become airborne, friable asbestos needs immediate attention to ensure no residents or employees breathe them in.
Some ACMs in your building may not be presenting a danger if they are both left undisturbed and in good condition. However, it is important to know the location and condition of all asbestos within your building, to minimise the risk of damage during renovation or demolition. Identifying asbestos in a building will also allow you to monitor its condition over time – and provide a record to any potential buyers or new tenants. Under the Health and Safety at Work (Asbestos) Regulations 2016, building owners are now required by law to have an asbestos management plan in place for their building or workplace to show where asbestos is likely to be found.