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Homepage, Queensland Government Asbestos
Homepage, Queensland Government Asbestos
Asbestos
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Asbestos
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  • General information
    • What is asbestos?
    • How was asbestos used?
    • Are there health effects?
    • The risks of exposure
    • Health monitoring
    • Legislation and codes of practice
    • Low density asbestos fibre board
    • Asbestos contaminated dust or debris
    • Fires
    • Cleaning up after floods and storms
    • Importation prohibited
    • Government and agency roles
    • Asbestos in government assets
  • Know where asbestos is
    • Common locations of asbestos in domestic and commercial buildings
    • Naturally occurring asbestos
    • Asbestos products gallery
    • Vehicles and plant
    • Electrical switchboards and meters
    • Marblesheen pool coatings containing asbestos
    • Testing for asbestos
    • Asbestos registers for workplaces
    • Asbestos management plans
  • Removing or disturbing asbestos
    • Prohibited activities
    • Wearing protective equipment
    • Safe work procedures
    • Asbestos removal work
    • Asbestos-related work
    • Homeowner's certificate to remove asbestos
    • Air monitoring
    • Clearance inspections
    • Transport and disposal of asbestos waste
  • Practical guidance
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    • Trades and contractors
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    • Residential tenants, lessors and landlords
    • Volunteers
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    • Asbestos news
    • Codes of practice
    • Guidance
    • Films
    • Safe work procedures
    • Frequently asked questions for homeowners and the general public
    • Podcasts
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    • Working Safely with Asbestos Guide
    • Asbestos Awareness Week 2022
    • Induction and safety training for unlicensed work
  • Sanctions
    • Asbestos on-the-spot fines
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  1. Home
  2. General information
  3. Legislation and codes of practice
In this section

In this section

  • What is asbestos?
  • How was asbestos used?
  • Are there health effects?
  • The risks of exposure
  • Health monitoring
  • Legislation and codes of practice
  • Low density asbestos fibre board
  • Asbestos contaminated dust or debris
  • Fires
  • Cleaning up after floods and storms
  • Importation prohibited
  • Government and agency roles
  • Asbestos in government assets

Legislation and codes of practice

Asbestos is managed and controlled in Queensland by 10 main statutes and two codes of practice. These are administered by state government agencies and local councils.

  • work health and safety legislation regulates the management, control and removal of asbestos in the workplace (including residential premises which are a 'workplace' when work is undertaken by a contractor).
    • Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (WHS Act)
    • Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (WHS Regulation)
    • Code of Practice: How to Safely Remove Asbestos (PDF 2.2 MB)
    • Code of Practice: How to Manage and Control Asbestos in the Workplace (PDF 1.1 MB).
  • public health legislation applies to asbestos-related activities carried out at non-workplaces settings (i.e. by home owners at domestic premises).
    • Public Health Act 2005 (PH Act)
    • Public Health Regulation 2005 (PH Regulation).

    The management of asbestos in non-workplaces is the responsibility of local governments under public health legislation. Queensland Health provides information and advice to the general public on asbestos and its health risks and works in partnership with other government agencies in response to incidents involving asbestos.

  • environmental protection and waste legislation regulates the transportation of commercial and industrial waste; the licensing of disposal facilities (such as landfills); and notification and remediation of contaminated land.
    • Environmental Protection Act 1994 (EP Act)
    • Environmental Protection Regulation 2008 (EP Regulation)
    • Environmental Protection (Waste Management) Regulation 2000 (EP Waste Regulation).

    The Department of Environment and Heritage Protection(DEHP) maintains a public register of contaminated land (including land contaminated by asbestos). It also regulates the transportation and disposal of asbestos waste.

    Some of the DEHP powers are delegated or devolved to local councils. For example, while the DEHP is responsible for licensing disposal facilities, councils are responsible for the management of landfills and transfer stations where asbestos is accepted.

    Councils are also responsible for cleaning up the illegal dumping of asbestos material under the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (EP Act) and the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (WHS Act) (where council officers are undertaking any clean-up) and any relevant local laws.

  • mining and quarrying legislation regulates the risks posed by naturally occurring asbestos that may be exposed during mining processes within the mining and quarrying industries and asbestos materials installed in buildings and plant on mine sites.
    • Mining and Quarrying Safety and Health Act 1999 
    • Coal Mining Safety and Health Act 1999
    • Mining and Quarrying Safety and Health Regulation 2017
    • Coal Mining Safety and Health Regulation 2017
  • building standards and approval legislation regulates building standards and approval processes through the Building Act 1975, including the demolition of buildings and structures which contain asbestos. Councils have the responsibility for administering this legislation.
    • Building Act 1975
    • Building Regulation 2006
  • residential tenancies authority legislation

    The Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA) provides tenancy information, bond management, dispute resolution, investigation, policy and education services.

    • Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008
    • Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Regulation 2009

Other policies

Asbestos in government assets policies apply to all government departments and impose obligations to manage and control asbestos in government-controlled assets, including workplaces, employee housing and public housing.

The Department of Housing and Public Works' (DHPW) undertakes a lead agency role on asbestos management for assets managed or controlled by government departments. DHPW oversees and supports the implementation of the Queensland Government Asbestos Management Policy for its Assets, which applies to all government departments.

Find out more about asbestos in government assets including public schools.

National legislation

Australian Customs and Border Protection Service

An Australia-wide ban on the importation, manufacture and use of all forms of asbestos and asbestos containing products took effect from 31 December 2003. To complement this ban, the import prohibition on asbestos under the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956 was also introduced. Importing asbestos into Australia is only allowed under very limited circumstances.

Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956

To find out more about Importing asbestos into Australia visit Australian Customs and Border Protection Service.

Prosecution

Related links

  • Workplace health and safety laws
  • Transitional provisions
  • Government and agency roles
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© The State of Queensland 2018-2023
Queensland Government

  • Home
  • General information
    • What is asbestos?
    • How was asbestos used?
    • Are there health effects?
    • The risks of exposure
    • Health monitoring
    • Legislation and codes of practice
    • Low density asbestos fibre board
      • Low density board photo gallery
    • Asbestos contaminated dust or debris
    • Fires
    • Cleaning up after floods and storms
    • Importation prohibited
    • Government and agency roles
    • Asbestos in government assets
  • Know where asbestos is
    • Common locations of asbestos in domestic and commercial buildings
    • Naturally occurring asbestos
    • Asbestos products gallery
    • Vehicles and plant
    • Electrical switchboards and meters
    • Marblesheen pool coatings containing asbestos
    • Testing for asbestos
    • Asbestos registers for workplaces
    • Asbestos management plans
  • Removing or disturbing asbestos
    • Prohibited activities
    • Wearing protective equipment
    • Safe work procedures
    • Asbestos removal work
    • Asbestos-related work
      • Induction and safety training for unlicensed work
    • Homeowner's certificate to remove asbestos
    • Air monitoring
    • Clearance inspections
    • Transport and disposal of asbestos waste
      • Important disposal information and illegal dumping
      • Requirements for transporting asbestos
      • Asbestos disposal information
  • Practical guidance
    • Asbestos workers and removalists
    • Trades and contractors
    • Homeowners and home renovators
      • Tips when home renovating
        • Homeowners: Look, check and prepare
      • Tips when hiring a contractor
    • Commercial building owners (of workplaces)
    • Body corporate and apartment owner occupiers
      • Is my body corporate a PCBU
      • Asbestos in body corporate common areas
    • Residential tenants, lessors and landlords
      • Add a warning sticker to your home
    • Volunteers
      • Is my volunteer association a PCBU?
      • Businesses and volunteers
    • Local government environmental health officers
      • Frequently asked questions from local government authorised persons
  • Resources
    • Asbestos alerts
    • Asbestos news
    • Codes of practice
    • Guidance
    • Films
      • Asbestos safety session 2021
      • Asbestos safety session 2020
      • Cleaning Asbestos Roofs
      • Shadow vacuuming with a H-Class vacuum cleaner
      • Use and maintenance of a H-Class vacuum cleaner
      • Identifying low density asbestos fibre board hazards and risks
      • Working safely with asbestos for the home renovator
      • How to properly wear personal protective equipment for airborne contaminants
      • Personal protective equipment
      • Dear Dad - An asbestos awareness film
      • Clear and present danger: Asbestos exposed
      • Uses and applications of asbestos - an extract from a film by Parsons Brinckerhoff
      • Asbestos health issues - an extract from a film by Parsons Brinckerhoff
      • Safe work procedure - storm and wind damage cleanup
      • Drilling into asbestos walls and ceilings
      • Asbestos - Removing switchboard panels
      • Decontamination procedure, personal decontamination and cleanup procedures
      • Asbestos awareness
    • Safe work procedures
      • Preparation before commencing the task
      • Preparing and painting corrugated asbestos cement roof and fences
      • Drilling into non-friable asbestos using a thickened substance to control airborne fibres and dust
      • Drilling into non-friable ACM using an H rated industrial HEPA filter vacuum to control airborne fibres and dust
      • Removing a small package electrical switchboard
      • Cleanup and disposal
      • Safe cleanup of storm damaged materials that may contain asbestos
    • Frequently asked questions for homeowners and the general public
    • Podcasts
    • Strategies
    • Working Safely with Asbestos Guide
    • Asbestos Awareness Week 2022
    • Induction and safety training for unlicensed work
  • Sanctions
    • Asbestos on-the-spot fines
    • Sanctions against asbestos licence holders
    • Prosecutions