If you own or manage a commercial building in Australia, it is your responsibility to guarantee the safety of occupants. Asbestos is a common risk in most commercial buildings. For this reason, property managers and owners are required to conduct an asbestos audit to establish the presence and location of this dangerous material. Below is an extensive guide on the asbestos audit process.
What is an Asbestos Audit?
An asbestos audit is a physical inspection of your commercial building to determine the presence of asbestos. Usually, modern buildings do not contain the material since it is banned in Australia. However, if the building was built before the asbestos ban, it could contain asbestos roofs, floors, walls, insulation or fire doors. As per the law, you are required to hire a licenced auditor to conduct the audit. Therefore, conduct research to identify an accredited professional or contact the local council for a list of licenced asbestos auditors.
What Happens During an Asbestos Audit?
The auditor examines the building's history, and construction plans to establish where they are likely to find asbestos. For instance, if the property was built when asbestos was legal, it could have asbestos fire doors since they are a requirement in commercial buildings. The auditor then conducts an in-depth analysis to identify asbestos-containing materials on the property. In some cases, they need to run lab tests to establish the presence of asbestos in some materials. For instance, it would be challenging to tell if paint and patching compounds contain asbestos. The auditor then prepares a report detailing the location and type of asbestos on the property. Ideally, the report should include photographic evidence to ensure you can quickly locate the asbestos-containing materials. This report is known as an asbestos register.
What Happens After the Asbestos Audit?
Once you receive the asbestos register, you should create an asbestos management plan in collaboration with the auditor. Typically, the plan details how you intend to keep the premises safe despite the presence of asbestos-containing materials. Immediate action plans would involve informing the occupants about the existence of asbestos on the property. It goes a long in ensuring their safety since they avoid contact or disturbing the asbestos-containing materials. You could also opt to initiate an abatement plan. It is especially so if the property has non-friable asbestos that has degraded over time. If you intend to conduct building renovation or demolition work, you could opt to remove all the asbestos on the property. As a best practice, the asbestos abatement company you hire must have the required accreditation and insurance. If you do not remove all the asbestos on the property, consider regular audits to establish the condition of the asbestos on the property.
Reach out to a company like Health Safety Environment Australia to learn more.
