Our work focuses on buildings owned by the Victorian Government, from the small and occasionally accessed – for example, sheds – to the large and frequently visited – for example, offices, schools, TAFEs, libraries, museums, galleries, hospitals, health services, train stations, community centres, warehouses and depots, recreation and sporting facilities, retail and commercial spaces, prisons and aged-care facilities.
Infrastructure such as fences, bridges and pipes are outside our remit as are premises leased or sub-leased to tenants by the Director of Housing.
We regularly collect asbestos information from government agencies. This information is stored in AIRSystem(opens in a new window), so we and government agencies can track and report on the progress of asbestos removal from government-owned buildings.
Schools
Government schools fall under the remit of the Victorian School Building Authority(opens in a new window) (VSBA), which has conducted a statewide audit of 1712 government school sites. The VSBA found high-risk asbestos at 497 schools and, by March 2016, had removed it all. Asbestos that may pose a future risk has also been removed from 396 schools.
Other workplaces
The scope of our work is limited to public sector, government-owned buildings. Workplaces in Victoria are subject to laws and regulations designed to protect workers from the health risks posed by asbestos.
Under the Victorian Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017(opens in a new window), employers and persons who manage or control workplaces have duties to identify asbestos, so far as is reasonably practicable.
When working near asbestos, employers must implement controls to eliminate the risk of exposure, so far as is reasonably practicable. Employers must make a workplace asbestos register readily accessible to employees and are required to employees of any proposed asbestos removal work.
Asbestos in Victoria(opens in a new window) provides comprehensive information about the risks of asbestos and how to safely remove it.
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