A South Australian asbestos removalist and demolition contractor has had their licence (Class A) suspended immediately following an investigation by SafeWork SA.
SafeWork SA explained that the contractor was responsible for health and safety risks after they potentially exposed people to friable asbestos. The contractor failed to identify asbestos in vinyl floor sheeting within a residential premise.
The contractor then removed the material without the appropriate asbestos safety controls in place, making the incident a failure to comply with section 19 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2012 (SA), which required PCBUs “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.”
Executive Director of SafeWork SA, Martyn Campbell, explained that the organisation is currently undertaking a broad compliance campaign across the state, with a focus on asbestos management and 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,” he said of the contractor’s safety violations.
“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”.