18/03/2022

On Wednesday 16 March 2022, a South Australian asbestos removalist and demolition contractor had their class A licence immediately suspended.

The contractor created health and safety risks by potentially exposing people to friable asbestos. The business failed to identify asbestos backed vinyl floor sheeting in a residential premise before removing it and without adequate controls in place.

The business failed to comply with section 19 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2012 (SA) to take reasonable care of their workers’ health and safety and to ensure that they do not adversely affect the health and safety of others.

Old asbestos backed vinyl sheet floor covering is where the ‘backing’ (the side attached to the floor) contains friable (easily broken) asbestos material. The vinyl sheeting itself does not contain asbestos, however, manufacturers sometimes incorporated a felt-like 'backing' for cushioning purposes of which contained asbestos (typically 80–100 per cent).

Asbestos backed vinyl sheet floor covering must be removed by a class A asbestos removal licence holder.

SafeWork SA Executive Director Martyn Campbell reminds businesses that SafeWork SA are currently undertaking a state wide proactive compliance campaign on asbestos management and asbestos removal practices.

“This repeated disregard for following asbestos regulations by a licenced asbestos removalist clearly shows a serious lack of judgement and cannot go without consequences.”

“Asbestos licence holders must have a good understanding of the asbestos legislation and code of practices. An expectation exists amongst the community, including the business community, that the engagement of a licence holder will give them some certainty that compliance with the legislation is being met”.

“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”, said Mr Campbell.

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.

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