The 2008 Work Safety Act, the Legislations Amendment of the 2009 Work Safety Act along with the 2004 Dangerous Substances Regulations defines laws workplace safety in Australia. A controller or an employer of a non residential environment should take reasonably practical steps to provide protection to the people who work there and also to the people who come and go. It states that a person who controls the working premises that was built before 31st December 2003 in Australian Capital Territory needs to have an Asbestos Management Plan. It should be set in place into the maintenance schedule to be implemented on the premises.

The Asbestos Management Plan needs to have at least the below criteria as part of the plan if not more -

• An asbestos register, which contains all the work required and done on the premises. It should be open to all employees.

• Information should be provided in the Plan on the locations, condition and type of the asbestos material used along with the risk posed.

• Information provided with warning signs and their location.

• Information on the safe work methods.

• Plans listed for the management of Asbestos and Asbestos Containing Material (ACM).

• Plans that declare as to how will ACM related issue will be dealt with.

• A timetable of risk management.

• Information on the atmosphere assessing systems which are put in place.

• Details of how the training of workers will be mapped.

• Methods in use for updating and reviewing the Plan along with the register

The Asbestos Management Plan along with the asbestos register should be reviewed every five years by the person who controls the non residential premises. This is done in a case where ACM may have been removed or disturbed or if the review or assessment of risk as per the 2004 Dangerous Substances Regulation determines to do so.

The Date by which people ought to comply with these standard are as follows -

• 1st September 2008 for commercial Multi-storey premises

• 1st September 2009 for commercial Single storey premises

• 1st March 2010 for Industrial premises

• 1st September 2010 for Residential or Community premises

Failure to comply can lead to a punishment of a maximum 2000 penalty units or/and 7 years of imprisonment.