Yes. A different consultant can review and update your asbestos register. The duty to keep and review the register sits with the person who manages or controls the workplace.
The previous consultant prepared it, and another competent consultant can review it, inspect the asbestos listed in it and update the document when it’s due.
Who is responsible for the register?
For a NSW workplace, the person with management or control of the workplace must keep an asbestos register at the workplace and maintain it so the information is up to date. SafeWork NSW also says the register must be given to the next person conducting a business or undertaking when there is a change of management or control of the workplace.
The asbestos register records the date asbestos was identified, and its location, type and condition.
Although asbestos registers and management plans are closely related and are generally prepared at the same time, strictly speaking they’re different documents. Briefly, an asbestos register states where asbestos has been found in your workplace. An asbestos management plan is about the processes you have in place for dealing with that asbestos.
When does the register have to be reviewed?
Under the NSW Work Health and Safety Regulation, the asbestos management plan must be reviewed at least every five years. When the plan is reviewed, the register is reviewed too. The NSW asbestos code of practice also says the register should be reviewed at least once every five years.
There are earlier triggers as well. The register must be reviewed and, as necessary, revised if further asbestos is identified, or asbestos is removed, disturbed, sealed or enclosed.
Before demolition or refurbishment, the register must also be reviewed and revised if it is inadequate for the work planned. If the register doesn’t cover the areas or materials that will be affected by the work, it may need to be updated before the work starts.
If you’re still working out whether your workplace needs an asbestos survey before the register can be updated, we’ve covered that separately.
What does a new consultant do with the old register?
A new consultant starts with the existing register and the documents that sit around it. That can include the asbestos management plan and earlier survey reports.
At Airsafe, we’ll review the existing register, conduct a fresh visual inspection of the asbestos previously identified, and update or rebuild the document as needed. If we find anything the previous consultant missed, we’ll let you know straight away.
Asbestos may have been removed, disturbed, sealed or enclosed since the register was first prepared. The review checks what is listed, inspects the current condition of the asbestos previously identified and updates the document so it reflects the workplace as it now stands.
From there, we can take over the five-yearly reviews and any interim updates as your single point of contact for the document.
What should you have ready when asking for a quote?
When you ask for a quote, have the existing register ready if you can. If you also have the asbestos management plan or earlier survey reports, send those through as well.
We’ll talk through the scope of your premises and any existing documents you already have. It also helps to tell us what workplace or premises the register covers, and whether demolition or refurbishment is being planned, because that can affect the review needed before work starts.
If you don’t have all the paperwork, say so. The next step may be a review of what is available, followed by an inspection and an update or rebuild of the register as needed.
Can Airsafe do this review?
Airsafe is often asked to quote when a register is due for its five-year review, including registers prepared by other consultants. We prepare and maintain asbestos registers and management plans, and review registers under the NSW Work Health and Safety Regulation.
Airsafe has seven Licensed Asbestos Assessors. Asbestos samples are identified in Airsafe’s own NATA-accredited laboratory at Beaconsfield, NATA Accreditation No. 2959.
Airsafe never removes asbestos. We are based in Sydney, and our asbestos consultants travel throughout Australia for survey, register and review work.
For asbestos register and management plan review, call Airsafe on 1300 888 338.
Questions people ask
How often does an asbestos register need to be updated?
In NSW, the asbestos register is reviewed with the asbestos management plan at least every five years. It also needs review, and revision where needed, if more asbestos is found, asbestos is removed, disturbed, sealed or enclosed, or before demolition or refurbishment where the current register is inadequate for the work planned.
Does an asbestos register expire?
No expiry date is set for the register; it has to be kept up to date, reviewed with the management plan at least every five years, and updated earlier when asbestos is found, removed, disturbed, sealed or enclosed, or when planned demolition or refurbishment shows a gap.
Who is responsible for the asbestos register?
For a NSW workplace, responsibility sits with the person who manages or controls the workplace. SafeWork NSW describes this as the person conducting a business or undertaking, or PCBU. That person must have the register prepared, keep it at the workplace, maintain current information and pass it on when management or control changes.
Which buildings need an asbestos register in NSW?
NSW workplaces need an asbestos register where asbestos has been identified or is assumed to be present. A register is not required if the building was constructed after 31 December 2003, no asbestos has been identified there, and asbestos is not likely to be present from time to time.
What must an asbestos register contain?
The register lists all identified or assumed asbestos in the workplace. It records when the asbestos was identified, where it is located, what type it is and what condition it is in. It also has to be maintained with current information and state if no asbestos has been identified. Drawings or photographs can help show locations.
What is the difference between an asbestos register and an asbestos management plan?
The register is the document that records where asbestos has been found or assumed in your workplace, along with its type and condition. The management plan sets out how that asbestos is dealt with. They are usually prepared at the same time, and the management plan must be prepared if asbestos has been identified.
