Asbestos is a highly dangerous material, and exposure can cause serious long-term health effects, including asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma. This 11-page safe work method statement (SWMS) identifies the potential hazards, risks and control measures associated with asbestos work.
This SWMS is designed to help employers, contractors, and workers understand the risks of asbestos work and implement the correct safety procedures. It provides step-by-step guidance on planning, handling, removal and disposal of asbestos, ensuring a safe and healthy work environment.
Asbestos work can be a very dangerous job and workers must take all the proper safety precautions to remain safe. The SWMS outlines how employers can safely manage asbestos related work to enable a safe and healthy work environment for workers.
A person conducting a business or undertaking at a workplace must ensure that exposure of a person at the workplace to asbestos containing materials (ACM) is eliminated so far as is reasonably practicable or if not reasonably practicable, to eliminate exposure to airborne asbestos, the exposure must be minimised so far as is reasonably practicable.
Note: Work that involves or is likely to involve the disturbance of asbestos is classified as a ‘high risk construction work’ under the work health and safety regulation and a SWMS is mandatory.
Under the Model Work Health and Safety (WHS) Regulation, asbestos-related tasks are classified as high risk construction work, requiring a safe work method statement.
This asbestos SWMS helps businesses and contractors comply with their legal duty to identify asbestos-containing materials (ACM), implement strict control measures and protect workers from exposure.
By following the outlined procedures—such as isolation, air monitoring, hygiene controls, and safe disposal, you can ensure compliance with WHS laws and reduce the risk of asbestos-related diseases in the workplace.
Job steps that are covered in the safe work method statement include:
