Safe Work Australia recently opened a public consultation to seek feedback on the nature and extent of the issues surrounding the definition and requirements of competent persons for asbestos-related tasks.

Workplace(link is external) exposure to asbestos continues to be a significant health and safety risk, despite a nationwide prohibition on the manufacture, supply, use and import of all forms of asbestos and asbestos-containing materials coming into force in 2003.

Under the model Work Health and Safety Regulations(link is external), only a “competent person” with relevant training, qualifications or experience can carry out certain asbestos-related tasks in the workplace.

All stakeholders are invited to submit, including:

• Industry experts on asbestos management
• persons conducting a business or undertaking such as asbestos removalists, asbestos assessors, construction and demolition businesses
• workers
• Health and safety representatives and practitioners
• persons with management or control of workplaces where asbestos has been identified.

Public consultation is open until 1 October 2023 on Safe Work Australia’s consultation website(link is external)