Manage asbestos policy - Homes NSW

1. Background

Building products containing asbestos, commonly called 'asbestos-cement', 'fibro' or 'AC', was widely used until the early 1980s in many Australian homes, including Homes NSW properties.

All building products containing asbestos were banned nationally in the 1980s.

2. Scope

This policy applies to all parties residing in, managing a tenancy or performing work on residential properties owned by Homes NSW including the Aboriginal Housing Office.

3. Policy statement

Homes NSW tenants, staff and contractors, including agencies engaged for tenancy management, have a responsibility to report and take steps to resolve potential asbestos hazards in Homes NSW owned residential properties as soon as they become aware of them.

Homes NSW considers that any disturbance to asbestos, in its residential properties is a potential health risk. Disturbance includes natural (weathering) mechanical, flood or fire actions.

Homes NSW will investigate reports of property damage to materials that may contain asbestos, manage its actions in working with asbestos and take all reasonable, timely and practical actions to protect the health of all parties involved.

Homes NSW will:

1. Ask tenants, managing agents, and contractors to report any damaged to asbestos containing materials in their properties.
2. Investigate reports of damaged materials that may contain asbestos in Homes NSW including Aboriginal Housing Office properties.
3. Investigate complaints of unsafe work practices by contractors handling asbestos material.
4. Ensure any maintenance or demolition work in properties that may have asbestos containing materials is done safely in compliance with the Work Health and Safety Act and legislations.
5. Require all parties to report potential asbestos risks in properties so that Homes NSW can take steps to resolve them.
6. Require contractors to be appropriately licensed if handling asbestos material.
7. Require contractors to develop on site safe work method statements and have appropriate supervision of work in compliance with the Work Health and Safety Act, legislation and Code of Practice.

4. Legislation and compliance

The management of materials containing asbestos will be dealt with in accordance with the following:

• Housing Act 2001
• Residential Tenancies Act 2010
• Work Health and Safety Act 2011
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2017
• SafeWork NSW – How to Manage and Control of Asbestos in Workplace
• SafeWork NSW – How to Safely Remove Asbestos