IN an earlier issue, we discussed asbestos and how best to understand it and mitigate its risks.

With the changes to Queensland Workplace Health & Safety Regulations now in effect, N&B outlines the new rules to help you ensure your property complies.

Under the new legislation, it is essential all workplaces built before 1990 identify, label and register all asbestos containing products before January 2008.

If a building is even presumed to have asbestos containing material and is to be sold, leased, renovated, dismantled or demolished before then, the owner must comply with the asbestos management code prior to that event taking place.

This involves the development and implementation of an Asbestos Management Plan (AMP).

The AMP's objective is to assist owners and operators of buildings to comply with the asbestos legislation and prevent exposure to airborne asbestos fibres, with the ultimate goal that workplaces are free of asbestos containing material (ACM).

To comply with the OHS legislation, the AMP should include these details:

• ACM Register of products and materials

• Records of maintenance including the name of the company, dates of service, scope of work and any clearance certificates

• An ability to inform anyone on the premises about the location, type, condition, risks and control measures associated with ACM on site

• Decision concerning the ACM on site, such as replace it or seal it

• Actionable timetables including priorities, dates of review and risk assessments

• Noted responsibilities of staff

• Training arrangements for employees and contractors.

• Review procedure for updating the AMP and ACM register including timetables

• Safe work method statements

The review should be divided into two key areas: the AMP and the ACM Register.

Review of the AMP should critically reassess all the asbestos management processes and their effectiveness.

This would include the performance of the measures to prevent exposure to airborne asbestos fibres, controlling maintenance staff and contractors, raising awareness among staff and maintaining the accuracy of the ACM register.

Critically, the review of the ACM register needs to occur every 12 months. This review should include reassessment and a visual inspection of identified ACM, such as previous photographic evidence compared with the current condition.