Global Asbestos Awareness Week is a good reminder of something most people in construction already know: asbestos is still out there.
It turns up in older homes, commercial buildings and renovation projects across the ACT. Often it’s not obvious – a wall lining, some roofing, or embedded in old flooring. Nothing looks unusual until the material is disturbed. That’s usually when the problem starts.
Someone drills into it, cuts it or breaks it without realising what it is. By the time questions are asked, exposure may already have happened.
The risk isn’t just the material itself. It’s not knowing how to recognise it, or what to do in the moment.
On a busy site, decisions happen quickly. There isn’t always time to stop and second-guess every material. That’s why asbestos can be difficult to manage in real conditions. It doesn’t announce itself. It sits behind finishes, under surfaces or inside structures until work begins.
Most workers have had that moment where something doesn’t quite look right. They hesitate, but the next step isn’t always clear:
Without the right training, people rely on guesswork. That’s where the risk increases.
Understanding asbestos is about recognising situations early and knowing how to respond without putting yourself or others at risk.
Asbestos training builds depending on the type of work you do and the level of responsibility you carry on-site.
For anyone entering a construction site in the ACT, 11084NAT – Course in Asbestos Awareness is compulsory. It covers how to identify asbestos, where you’re likely to find it and what steps to take if you come across it.
This is the minimum expected knowledge before starting work.
For tradespeople who may need to work directly with asbestos-containing materials, 11348NAT – Course in Working Safely with Asbestos Containing Materials goes further. It focuses on how to carry out tasks such as drilling or fixing into asbestos cement safely using the right controls and equipment.
At a supervisory level, CPCCDE4008 – Supervise Asbestos Removal focuses on managing the process. This includes planning, compliance, and ensuring removal work is carried out safely.
Each course builds on the last and reflects the level of responsibility on-site.
Asbestos isn’t just a compliance issue. It’s a long-term health risk that often comes from small everyday tasks. A single mistake can have consequences that don’t show up until years later.
That’s why responding the right way matters just as much as identifying asbestos. Stopping work, reporting it properly and keeping others clear of the area are simple actions, but they rely on having the right knowledge in the first place.
When everyone on-site understands what to look for and how to respond, decisions are made earlier, risks are controlled sooner and supervisors can act quickly.
To improve your asbestos knowledge and skills, visit the course pages below and check the upcoming dates.
11084NAT – Course in Asbestos Awareness
11348NAT – Course in Working Safely with Asbestos Containing Materials
CPCCDE4008 – Supervise asbestos removal
