10/05/2023

A South Australian asbestos removalist and demolition contractor has had their class B licence immediately suspended for failing to identify and remove asbestos before commencing demolition.

SafeWork SA is now proposing the contractor’s asbestos removal licence be cancelled and his company be disqualified from reapplying for 12 months.

The contractor has until 12 June to provide a submission to SafeWork SA on why their licence should not be cancelled.

SafeWork SA was notified by a concerned member of the public on 25 April 2023 that demolition of a residential premises had commenced with an excavator and that the premise may still contain asbestos.

Demolition was stopped by SafeWork SA and inspectors obtained samples of non-friable materials from the existing structure and demolition debris. The samples were analysed by a NATA laboratory, which confirmed all contained asbestos.

The licence suspension remains in place until a decision is made on the proposed cancellation. It coincides with the launch of a state-wide campaign targeting buildings requiring an asbestos register this month.

A similar campaign last year resulted in 130 improvement and prohibition notices being issued.

The contractor’s failure to identify and remove asbestos prior to demolition resulted in non-friable asbestos cement products being subjected to mechanical action (crushing) which can liberate respirable asbestos fibres and leave behind settled friable dust containing asbestos creating a risk of exposure to airborne asbestos fibres to any person when the asbestos material was disturbed during the demolition.

The asbestos licensing scheme covers work activities involving significant hazard, risk or public concern. Asbestos is classified as a category 1 carcinogen.

Australia has one of the highest rates of asbestos-related diseases in the world, with approximately 4,000 deaths each year from exposure to asbestos.

Working with asbestos requires a high degree of regulatory control and the purpose of licensing is to achieve this.

SafeWork SA Executive Director Glenn Farrell said the contractor suspended this month failed to ensure activities authorised by their licence were carried out safely and competently.

‘SafeWork SA’s role is to ensure that the community can be confident in South Australia’s asbestos licensing regime by taking action to cancel or suspend an asbestos removal licence where there is evidence a removalist has not demonstrated safe and competent asbestos removal practices,’ he said.

‘This contractor’s failure as a licensed asbestos removalist required such a sanction and should be seen as a warning to any other business who fall short of ensuring the health and safety of their workers and members of the public is not put at risk.’

SafeWork SA reminds all duty holders involved in the demolition or refurbishment of a structure or plant, installed or fixed before 31 December 2003, of their obligations to comply with asbestos regulations.

The South Australian Asbestos Action Plan 2019-2023 details the strategic actions the South Australian Government will undertake in order to implement the National Strategic Plan for Asbestos Awareness and Management.

Information about asbestos can be found on the SA Government asbestos website.

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