A South Australian asbestos contractor has had their licence suspended for failing to identify and remove asbestos before commencing demolition. 

SafeWork SA was notified by a concerned member of the public on 25 April 2023 that the demolition of residential premises had commenced with an excavator, and that the premise may still contain asbestos. 

Demolition was stopped by SafeWork SA, and inspectors obtained samples of non-friable materials from the existing structure and demolition debris. 

The samples were analysed by a NATA laboratory, which confirmed all contained asbestos. 

The licence suspension coincided with the launch of a state-wide campaign targeting buildings requiring an asbestos register. 

A similar campaign last year resulted in 130 improvements and prohibition notices being issued. 

The contractor’s failure to identify and remove asbestos prior to demolition resulted in non-friable asbestos cement products being subjected to mechanical action (crushing). 

This process can liberate respirable asbestos fibres and leave behind settled friable dust containing asbestos, creating a risk of exposure to airborne asbestos fibres for people exposed to the demolition.

The asbestos licensing scheme covers work activities involving significant hazards, risks, or public concerns. Asbestos is classified as a category 1 carcinogen. 

Australia has one of the highest rates of asbestos-related diseases in the world, with approximately 4,000 deaths each year from exposure to asbestos. 

Working with asbestos requires a high degree of regulatory control and the purpose of licensing is to achieve this. 

The contractor suspended failed to ensure activities authorised by their licence were carried out safely and competently, said SafeWork SA executive director, Glenn Farrell. 

“SafeWork SA’s role is to ensure that the community can be confident in South Australia’s asbestos licensing regime by taking action to cancel or suspend an asbestos removal licence where there is evidence a removalist has not demonstrated safe and competent asbestos removal practices,” he said. 

“This contractor’s failure as a licensed asbestos removalist required such a sanction and should be seen as a warning to any other business who fall short of ensuring the health and safety of their workers and members of the public are not put at risk.”