Asbestos compliance initiative focuses on Queensland businesses

Asbestos Compliance Initiative Focuses on Queensland Businesses

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) has announced that starting 1 August 2025, inspectors will commence audits of businesses based in structures built prior to 1990 and those suspected of having asbestos. This workplace safety watchdog audit initiative forms part of a broader push to strengthen asbestos management across the state.

The statewide audit is scheduled to continue until 31 October and will concentrate on adherence to asbestos management regulations, which include maintaining an asbestos register and implementing a management plan in areas where asbestos has been detected. Queensland businesses operating from older premises should review their asbestos management plans now to prepare for scrutiny.

What Inspectors Will Check

Inspectors will assess whether health and safety obligations relating to asbestos have been met, focusing heavily on documented management arrangements. Key areas under review include:

• Existence and accuracy of an asbestos register
• Implementation of an asbestos management plan
• Control measures for identified asbestos-containing materials
• Procedures for reporting suspected asbestos on-site

Businesses must ensure their management systems align with current legislation governing asbestos handling and disposal. Inspectors will take action against non-compliance through enforcement measures, which may include the issuance of statutory notices and immediate fines.

Lessons From the Previous Campaign

In the previous year's campaign, which occurred between August and October 2024, WHSQ assessed a total of 182 businesses, leading to the issuance of 23 immediate compliance notices, 151 improvement notices, and 6 infringement notices. Findings from that work highlighted gaps in record-keeping and outdated management procedures across multiple sectors, reinforcing why proactive compliance work matters for Queensland businesses.

Why Compliance Work Matters for Queensland Businesses

Health and safety obligations under Queensland legislation require employers to actively manage asbestos risks rather than simply acknowledging their presence. Robust management practices protect workers, reduce liability, and support safer workplaces across construction, manufacturing, and healthcare settings.

Businesses can strengthen their compliance position by reviewing existing procedures against similar enforcement work seen interstate. For example, the SafeWork SA compliance focus on asbestos management demonstrates a comparable regulatory approach, while the inspection program targeting Queensland's construction sector shows how audit priorities often overlap across industries.

Preparing for an Audit

Queensland businesses should take practical steps well before inspectors arrive on-site. Recommended actions include:

• Reviewing and updating the asbestos register regularly
• Confirming management plans reflect current site conditions
• Training staff on control procedures for suspected asbestos materials
• Auditing existing safe work method statements for accuracy

Organisations seeking ready-made resources can access asbestos safety documents covering registers, management plans, and procedural guidance. Those involved in roofing or demolition work may also benefit from a dedicated asbestos roof restoration SWMS, alongside broader asbestos SWMS templates suited to various work environments.

Businesses reviewing broader compliance frameworks may find value in a structured compliance evaluation policy to support ongoing management reviews beyond this audit period.

For more information, visit the Workplace Health and Safety Queensland website.