Asbestos
Prosecutions
Queensland Government agencies may prosecute individuals and businesses for asbestos offences under the laws that they enforce in accordance with their enforcement framework. Sanctions may include adding conditions, cancelling, suspending, disqualifying or issuing warnings to a person holding a licence.
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland investigate and prepare briefs of evidence about offences concerning asbestos. Since 2019, prosecutions have been undertaken by the independent Office of the Work Health and Safety Prosecutor (OWHSP).
A summary of prosecutions for offences concerning asbestos from 2018–2021 is provided below.
2021
- Building repair company fined $20,000 for exposing workers to asbestos
- Not-for-profit fined for unlicensed and uncontrolled asbestos removal work
- Ipswich caravan park convicted for failure to identify asbestos
- Business fined for storing bee smoker containing asbestos
- Painter fined for using high pressure water spray on asbestos roof
- Painter fined $9,000 for spraying high-pressure water device on asbestos roof
2020
- Company fined $6,000 for unlicensed asbestos removal
- Company fined $6,000 for failure to remove asbestos prior to demolition
- $7,000 fine for unlicenced asbestos work and non-disturbance notice breach
- Director of demolition company fined $2,000 for unlicensed asbestos removal
- Asbestos removal company and its directors fined total $16,000
- Worker fined for false statement to Workplace Health and Safety Queensland
- Unlicensed removal of asbestos costs small business $3,000
- Asbestos regulation breaches at waste transfer station
2019
2018
