05/10/2022

Asbestos removal notifications increased by 8 per cent to more than 6300 in 2021, according to latest SafeWork SA data.

The 2021 Asbestos Snapshot also found that residential properties accounted for about 65 per cent of South Australian removals with Adelaide, Modbury, Woodville, Whyalla and Salisbury being the localities with the highest number of removal notifications.

There are a number of ways SafeWork SA enforces compliance with asbestos regulations, including prohibition and improvement notices, licence suspension and cancellations, expiations and even prosecution.

The latest data release coincides with the launch of the South Australian Asbestos Action Plan (SA AAP).

The SA AAP aligns with the National Strategic Plan for Asbestos Awareness and Management 2019-2023 and aims to increase awareness, prioritise the safe removal of asbestos from Government buildings and facilitate the easier and cheaper disposal of asbestos waste.

SafeWork SA Executive Director and Chair of the SA AAP Strategic Group, Martyn Campbell said the national plan ensures an Australia-wide strategy on asbestos awareness, management and removal and outlines a phased approach to eliminating asbestos-related diseases in Australia.

‘The SA AAP hinges on a whole-of-government approach to tackling the issue, which means that regulators, government departments, local government, industry, workers, organisations and the community at large will all need to work together effectively to make South Australia a safer place,’ he said

‘The SA AAP is intended to protect the long-term future health of South Australia.’

The South Australian Government this year committed to provide funding to the Asbestos Victims Association of SA (AVA) and Asbestos Diseases Society of SA (ADSSA) for advocacy and education programs.

Further information on asbestos can be found on the South Australian Government asbestos website which provides practical information about asbestos, how to identify it, and how to have it safely removed.

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