When to review your asbestos management plan

If you’re the PCBU (Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking) at your workplace, then the asbestos management plan falls under your list of responsibilities. And according to the Health and Safety at Work Asbestos Regulations of 2016, you will need a plan for any workplace where asbestos containing materials (ACM) have been identified, or are likely to exist. 

Whether you inherited an existing plan from a prior PCBU, or whether you created your workplace’s original plan, the job isn’t finished just yet. That’s because it’s also necessary to occasionally review your asbestos management plan and keep it up to date. 

So when do you need to review your asbestos management plan? 

When asbestos in the workplace has been removed or disturbed in any way 

One of the common reasons you will need to update your asbestos management plan is if there have been any changes to the asbestos on site. 

That can include if you have had asbestos removal work completed, or if the asbestos containing materials have been disturbed. Additionally, update your plan if the asbestos has been sealed or enclosed to reflect these changes.

When there have been other relevant changes in the workplace

The plan will also need to be updated if there have been other changes in the workplace that might have an impact on the asbestos. 

For example, this includes if there have been new asbestos risks identified since the plan was last updated. Or, it could include if a previously inaccessible area is now accessible to staff, contractors, or visitors. 

Be sure to keep asbestos in mind whenever there are similar changes at your workplace and consider how they might affect your plan. 

When a worker representative requests a review 

Regulation 14 of the Health and Safety at Work (Asbestos) Regulations 2016 allows for a worker representative to request a review of the asbestos management plan. 

They can make this request if they reasonably believe that there may be a risk to the health and safety of a member of the work group represented by the representative, and if the PCBU hasn’t adequately reviewed the asbestos management plan. 

When five years have passed since the plan was last reviewed

Whenever you review your asbestos management plan, set a reminder for five years from that time. This is how often, at minimum, an asbestos management plan must be reviewed.

This can be a good way to make sure nothing is missed in the plan, even when there are changes in the worksite. 

When an asbestos control measure is reviewed

Has one of the asbestos control measures been reviewed? That means you will need to review and update the overall asbestos management plan. 

Keep in mind, a PCBU who contravenes the reviewing subclause of the regulations may be liable for a fine up to $6,000. 

Asbestos removal Wellington 

One way to remove the headaches of dealing with asbestos management plans is to have any asbestos completely removed from the worksite for good. 

PRO Environmental Services specialises in asbestos removal across the greater Wellington region, with experience in a variety of commercial properties and worksites. We know the time constraints that many businesses are under, and will work with you to get the job done as efficiently as possible at a time that suits you, all without compromising safety. 

Contact our team for a free, no-obligation quote, or to discuss how we can make your job as a PCBU that much easier.