Asbestos safety course now free for anyone in Australia

The home environment is the most common way that most residents might come into contact with the material, and it’s also the place where home owners have a responsibility to understand how to properly deal with asbestos.

Popularly used in building products in Australia beginning in the 1940s up until 1987, the naturally occurring mineral was included in materials such as flat and corrugated sheets, cement pipes, roofing, guttering and flexible building boards before it became widely known that breathing in the loose fibres could lead to lung disease.

The two-and-a-half-hour Asbestos Awareness and Safety microskill program was developed by SafeWork NSW, Building Commission NSW and TAFE NSW, and is intended to raise public education levels about the risks and responsible handling of the material.

It will be free to anyone in Australia for three months, through 12 June 2024, with the possibility of being extended depending on public demand.

“Everyone should know how to identify, and if necessary, handle asbestos in their home, workplace or in a public place because of the serious health issues this substance can cause,” commented NSW Minister for Work Health and Safety, Sophie Cotsis.

Head of SafeWork NSW, Trent Curtin, emphasised the need for Australians to be educated on the risks of asbestos, given its once widespread use.

“Asbestos is still found in one in three homes in Australia, meaning that everyone should know how to properly identify and safely handle products containing asbestos,” Curtin said.

“Making the ‘Asbestos Awareness and Safety’ microskill course free and readily available ensures everyone who comes across potentially hazardous asbestos are equipped with the knowledge to manage the situation.”

The short course covers:

- Understanding the risk and serious long-term impacts of asbestos exposure.

- Recognising the roles, responsibilities and legislation for asbestos-related work.

- Determining if asbestos-containing material may be present.

- Identifying asbestos-containing materials and hazardous activities that lead to asbestos exposure.

- Identifying suitable control measures for asbestos and asbestos-containing materials.

- How to safely handle asbestos and asbestos-containing materials.

- Inspecting worksites and communicating asbestos risks and controls with an informed perspective.

The government noted that further training is needed to carry out licensed asbestos removal work.