The recent news regarding the asbestos incident at Cremorne in Sydney, is yet another reminder of the importance of responsible and safe asbestos management.

Cyclone Debbie may have passed, but conditions are still potentially hazardous for residents who are now attempting to clean up the mess left behind. It is understandable that a natural disaster will elicit a hugely emotional response for affected residents as they survey the damage to their homes.

Did you know that as a company director, you could be held personally liable for occupational health and safety incidents at your workplace?

There are a number of different state regulations that could attribute fault to a director when a workplace accident occurs.

For the purposes of this article, we will highlight some vital discussion points based on offences categorised and punishable under the various legislation in each state.

On the 1st of January 2017, the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) became mandatory in all Australian states except Victoria and Western Australia.

Those affected by these changes include manufacturers, importers, suppliers and users of hazardous chemicals in workplaces.  

With a yearly trend towards higher rainfall and warmer temperatures, indoor air quality is becoming a hot issue. According to the Bureau of Meteorology, the Australian climate hit many record highs in 2016.

After an extreme weather event, it is difficult to know where to start the clean-up. The feeling of being overwhelmed can make it hard to digest conflicting information, much of which is incomplete and can leave you exposed to unforeseen risks.

There are some tasks in a business property renovation that should be left to the experts. Asbestos identification is one of them.

Complying with and managing OHS is often seen as an increasing burden, one that takes up precious time and money. It’s essential for all businesses to remove this task from the ‘too-hard basket' and make it a priority.

In recent times press articles have indicated that mould might be the new asbestos. Let’s look at the facts.

Asbestos is a proven human carcinogen with a history of occupational exposures which accounts for hundreds of deaths each year in Australia from mesothelioma and more from lung and other cancers.

In March 2016 The Victorian Premier announced the establishment of a dedicated agency to target and prioritise the removal of asbestos in government buildings – including hospitals and schools - across Victoria.

The Andrews’ Government stated that the Victoria Asbestos Eradication Agency (VAEA) will create a comprehensive and consolidated register of asbestos in Victorian government buildings to ensure the removal of asbestos in buildings of greatest concern are dealt with first.