Dangerous Substances (Asbestos Safety Reform) Legislation Amendment Act 2014 (ACT)

Dangerous Substances (Asbestos Safety Reform) Legislation Amendment Act 2014

A2014-53

Contents

Page

Part 1      Preliminary

1            Name of Act  2

2            Commencement  2

3            Legislation amended  2

Part 2Building Act 2004

4            Contravention of requirements for building work involving asbestosSection 42A (2) (a)  3

5            New section 42A (5)  3

6            Meaning of prescribed requirements—div 5.1Section 66, definition of prescribed requirements, paragraph (a)            3

7           Dictionary, new definition of asbestos  4

8            Dictionary, definition of friable asbestos and examples and note            4

Part 3Building (General) Regulation 2008

9            DictionarySection 3, note 1  5

10          Bonded asbestos removal—Act, s 26 (3)Section 14 (2) and (3)  5

11          Section 15  5

12          Dictionary, note 3  6

13          Dictionary, definition of asbestos  6

Part 4Construction Occupations (Licensing) Act 2004

14          What is a construction occupation?Section 7 (a) and (b)  7

15          Who is an asbestos assessor?Section 7A  7

16          What is an asbestos removalist?Section 7B  7

17          Suspension of licence—public safetySection 52A (1), example 1  7

18          Construction occupations registrarSection 103 (2) (a)  7

19          Dictionary  7

Part 5Construction Occupations (Licensing) Regulation 2004

20          Licence applications—Act, s 17 (3)Section 5 (h) (i)  8

21          Term of licences generally—Act, s 24Section 7 (1) (f)  8

22          Section 8 heading  8

23          Section 8 (1) (a)  8

24          Particulars in registerSection 9 (1) (c) (i)  8

25          Corporations and partnerships eligible for some occupationsSection 15 (1) (a)  8

26          Eligibility to be asbestos removalistSection 15A  9

27          Eligibility to be asbestos assessorSection 16A  9

28          Services that may be provided without licenceSection 35 (2)  9

29          Section 35 (4), definition of relevant asbestos qualification                   9

30          Classes of asbestos assessorSection 36A  9

31          Classes of asbestos removalistSection 36B  9

32          Asbestos assessorSchedule 1, part 1.1  9

33          Asbestos removalistSchedule 1, part 1.2  10

34          Dictionary, definition of bonded asbestos  10

Part 6Dangerous Substances Act 2004

35          Exclusions from ActNew section 7 (1A)  11

36          Failure to comply with safety duty—exposing people to substantial risk of death or serious harmSection 43 (1), new example  12

37          Important conceptsPart 3A.1  12

38          Public educationPart 3A.3 heading  12

39          Asbestos advice and assessment reportsPart 3A.4 heading  12

40          Asbestos assessment reportsSection 47K (1)  13

41          Section 47K (2)  13

42          Requirement to give asbestos assessment reportSection 47L (1) (b)  13

43          Section 47L (4)  13

44          Dictionary, definition of asbestos  14

Part 7      Dangerous Substances (General) Regulation 2004

45          DictionarySection 3, notes  15

46          Chapter 3 heading  15

47          Sections 301 and 302  15

48          Section 303 heading  16

49          Section 303  16

50          Section 303, new note  16

51          Section 304 heading  16

52          Section 304  16

53          Section 304, new note  17

54          Section 305 heading  17

55          Section 305  17

56          Part 3.2 heading and notes  17

57          Sections 306 to 310  18

58          Asbestos management—non-residential premisesPart 3.4  21

59          Dictionary, new definitions  21

60          Dictionary, definitions of asbestos management plan, asbestos product and asbestos register  21

61          Dictionary, new definition of asbestos-related work  21

62          Dictionary  22

63          Dictionary, definition of risk assessment  22

Part 8Work Health and Safety Act 2011

64          Approved codes of practiceSection 274 (2)  23

Dangerous Substances (Asbestos Safety Reform) Legislation Amendment Act 2014

A2014-53

An Act to amend legislation about asbestos

The Legislative Assembly for the Australian Capital Territory enacts as follows:

Part 1Preliminary

1. Name of Act

   This Act is the Dangerous Substances (Asbestos Safety Reform) Legislation Amendment Act 2014.

2. Commencement

   This Act commences on 1 January 2015.

   NoteThe naming and commencement provisions automatically commence on the notification day (see Legislation Act, s 75 (1)).

3. Legislation amended

   This Act amends the following legislation:

   ·     Building Act 2004

   ·     Building (General) Regulation 2008

   ·     Construction Occupations (Licensing) Act 2004

   ·     Construction Occupations (Licensing) Regulation 2004

   ·     Dangerous Substances Act 2004

   ·     Dangerous Substances (General) Regulation 2004

   ·     Work Health and Safety Act 2011.

Part 2Building Act 2004

1. Contravention of requirements for building work involving asbestos
   Section 42A (2) (a)

   substitute

   (a)the person is—

   (i)a licensed builder; or

   (ii)a licensed asbestos assessor; or

   (iii)a licensed asbestos removalist; and

   (aa)carries out the building work; and

2. New section 42A (5)

   insert

   (5)In this section:

   licensed asbestos assessor—see the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011, dictionary.

   licensed asbestos removalist—see the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011, dictionary.

3. Meaning of prescribed requirements—div 5.1
   Section 66, definition of prescribed requirements, paragraph (a)

   substitute

   (a)if the building work involves handling asbestos or disturbing friable asbestos—the requirements of—

   (i)this Act; and

   (ii)the Work Health and Safety Act 2011; or

4. Dictionary, new definition of asbestos

   insert

   asbestos—see the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011, dictionary.

5. Dictionary, definition of friable asbestos and examples and note

   substitute

   friable asbestos—see the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011, dictionary.

Part 3Building (General) Regulation 2008

1. Dictionary
   Section 3, note 1

   substitute

   Note 1The dictionary at the end of this regulation defines certain terms used in this regulation, and includes references (signpost definitions) to other terms defined elsewhere in this regulation.

   For example, the signpost definition ‘ActewAGL Distribution, for schedule 2 (Referral of building approval applications)—see schedule 2, section 2.1.’ means that the term ‘ActewAGL Distribution’ is defined in that section for schedule 2.

2. Bonded asbestos removal—Act, s 26 (3)
   Section 14 (2) and (3)

   substitute

   (2)The application must include an asbestos removal control plan for the removal.

3. Section 15

   substitute

4. Friable asbestos removal—Act, s 26 (3)

   (1)This section applies to an application for building approval involving the removal of friable asbestos from a residential building.

   (2)The application must include an asbestos removal control plan for the removal.

5. Dictionary, note 3

   insert

   · asbestos

   · friable asbestos

6. Dictionary, definition of asbestos

   omit

Part 4Construction Occupations (Licensing) Act 2004

1. What is a construction occupation?
   Section 7 (a) and (b)

   omit

2. Who is an asbestos assessor?
   Section 7A

   omit

3. What is an asbestos removalist?
   Section 7B

   omit

4. Suspension of licence—public safety
   Section 52A (1), example 1

   omit

5. Construction occupations registrar
   Section 103 (2) (a)

   omit

6. Dictionary

   omit the definitions of

   asbestos assessment service

   asbestos assessor

   asbestos removalist

   asbestos removal service

Part 5Construction Occupations (Licensing) Regulation 2004

1. Licence applications—Act, s 17 (3)
   Section 5 (h) (i)

   omit

2. Term of licences generally—Act, s 24
   Section 7 (1) (f)

   omit

3. Section 8 heading

   substitute

4. Term of licence for building assessors, building surveyors, plumbing plan certifiers and works assessors—Act, s 24

5. Section 8 (1) (a)

   omit

6. Particulars in register
   Section 9 (1) (c) (i)

   omit

7. Corporations and partnerships eligible for some occupations
   Section 15 (1) (a)

   omit

8. Eligibility to be asbestos removalist
   Section 15A

   omit

9. Eligibility to be asbestos assessor
   Section 16A

   omit

10. Services that may be provided without licence
    Section 35 (2)

    substitute

    NoteConstruction service does not include asbestos removal work (see Act, s 6).

11. Section 35 (4), definition of relevant asbestos qualification

    omit

12. Classes of asbestos assessor
    Section 36A

    omit

13. Classes of asbestos removalist
    Section 36B

    omit

14. Asbestos assessor
    Schedule 1, part 1.1

    omit

15. Asbestos removalist
    Schedule 1, part 1.2

    omit

16. Dictionary, definition of bonded asbestos

    omit

Part 6Dangerous Substances Act 2004

1. Exclusions from Act
   New section 7 (1A)

   insert

   (1A)This Act, other than the following sections, applies to the handling of asbestos only if the handling is non-commercial handling:

   (a)section 13 (Correctly classified for a dangerous substance);

   (b)section 14 (Correctly for packed, stored, labelled and placarded);

   (c)section 75 (Unauthorised import of certain dangerous substances);

   (d)section 76 (Unauthorised supply of certain dangerous substances);

   (e)section 77 (Unauthorised possession of certain dangerous substances).

   NoteAsbestos is also dealt with in the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011.  See s 8 and s 8A for the relationship of this Act to the WHS Act.

2. Failure to comply with safety duty—exposing people to substantial risk of death or serious harm
   Section 43 (1), new example

   before the note, insert

   2 Caroline receives a letter from the ACT Government, advising her that her house contains loose-fill asbestos insulation and alerting her to the dangers associated with this form of insulation. The letter also informs Caroline that she must engage a licensed asbestos assessor and a licensed asbestos removalist before undertaking any work on the house, and to inform anyone carrying out work on the house that the house contains loose-fill asbestos insulation. After receiving the letter, Caroline engages a gasfitter to repair the heating system located in the ceiling cavity of the house, without telling the gasfitter, or taking any other steps to make the gasfitter aware, that the house contains loose-fill asbestos insulation. Caroline is reckless about whether her failure to tell the gasfitter about the loose-fill asbestos insulation exposes the gasfitter to a substantial risk of serious harm. Caroline commits an offence against this section because asbestos is a dangerous substance and, under the general safety duty of everyone involved in handling a dangerous substance, she must take all reasonable steps to minimise the risks resulting from handling the substance (see s 23 and s 41). Handling a dangerous substance includes possessing, or otherwise having custody or control of, the substance (see s 11).

3. Important concepts
   Part 3A.1

   omit

4. Public education
   Part 3A.3 heading

   omit

5. Asbestos advice and assessment reports
   Part 3A.4 heading

   omit

6. Asbestos assessment reports
   Section 47K (1)

   omit

   an asbestos assessor

   substitute

   a licensed asbestos assessor

7. Section 47K (2)

   substitute

   (2)In this section:

   licensed asbestos assessor—see the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011, dictionary.

8. Requirement to give asbestos assessment report
   Section 47L (1) (b)

   substitute

   (b)an owner, or occupier, (the owner) of the premises engages someone (the worker) to undertake work involving asbestos.

   NoteInvolves—see s (4).

9. Section 47L (4)

   substitute

   (4)In this section:

   involves—see the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011, section 419 (2).

10. Dictionary, definition of asbestos

    substitute

    asbestos—see the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011, dictionary.

Part 7Dangerous Substances (General) Regulation 2004

1. Dictionary
   Section 3, notes

   substitute

   Note 1The dictionary at the end of this regulation defines certain terms used in this regulation, and includes references (signpost definitions) to other terms defined elsewhere.

   For example, the signpost definition ‘emergency service, for chapter 2 (Certain dangerous substances)—see the Emergencies Act 2004, dictionary.’ means that the term ‘emergency service’ is defined in that dictionary and the definition applies to this regulation.

   Note 2A definition in the dictionary (including a signpost definition) applies to the entire regulation unless the definition, or another provision of the regulation, provides otherwise or the contrary intention otherwise appears (see Legislation Act, s 155 and s 156 (1)).

2. Chapter 3 heading

   substitute

Chapter 3Asbestos and asbestos containing material

1. Sections 301 and 302

   substitute

2. Meaning of asbestos containing material (ACM)—ch 3

   In this chapter:

   asbestos containing material (ACM)—see the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011, dictionary.

3. Section 303 heading

   substitute

4. When asbestos and asbestos containing material correctly packed—Act, s 14 (1) (a)

5. Section 303

   omit

   asbestos product

   substitute

   asbestos containing material

6. Section 303, new note

   insert

   NoteThis provision applies to both commercial and non-commercial packing of asbestos and asbestos containing material (see Act, s 7 (1A)).

7. Section 304 heading

   substitute

8. When asbestos and asbestos containing material correctly labelled—Act, s 14 (2) (a)

9. Section 304

   omit

   asbestos product

   substitute

   asbestos containing material

10. Section 304, new note

    insert

    NoteThis provision applies to both commercial and non-commercial labelling of asbestos and asbestos containing material (see Act, s 7 (1A)).

11. Section 305 heading

    substitute

12. Asbestos and asbestos containing material are prohibited dangerous substances—Act, s 73, def prohibited dangerous substance

13. Section 305

    omit

    asbestos products

    substitute

    asbestos containing material

14. Part 3.2 heading and notes

    substitute

Part 3.2Authorised handling of asbestos and asbestos containing material

Note 1The non-commercial manufacture of asbestos containing material is prohibited except in certain circumstances (see Act, s 74 (1)).

Note 2The transport of asbestos and asbestos containing material is regulated by the Dangerous Goods (Road Transport) Act 2009.

1. Sections 306 to 310

   substitute

2. Authorised importation of asbestos and asbestos containing material—Act, s 75 (1) (b)

   A person is authorised to import asbestos or asbestos containing material if the asbestos or asbestos containing material is imported for non-commercial use in asbestos‑related work.

   NoteThis provision applies to both commercial and non-commercial importation of asbestos and asbestos containing material (see Act, s 7 (1A)).

3. Authorised supply of asbestos and asbestos containing material—Act, s 76 (1) (b) and (3) (b)

   A person is authorised to supply asbestos or asbestos containing material to someone else if the asbestos or asbestos containing material is supplied for non-commercial use in asbestos‑related work.

   NoteThis provision applies to both commercial and non-commercial supply of asbestos and asbestos containing material (see Act, s 7 (1A)).

4. Authorised possession of asbestos and asbestos containing material—Act, s 77 (1) (b)

   (1)A person conducting a business or undertaking is authorised to possess asbestos or asbestos containing material, for commercial use, if the possession of the asbestos or asbestos containing material is in accordance with the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011.

   (2)A person is authorised to possess asbestos or asbestos containing material, for non-commercial use, if the asbestos or asbestos containing material—

   (a)is in plant or a vehicle in the person’s possession; and

   NotePlant includes machinery and equipment and a building or other structure (see Act, dict).

   (b)is fixed in place; and

   (c)was fixed in place before 31 December 2003; and

   (d)is fixed in a way that does not cause a risk unless it is disturbed.

   (3)A person is authorised to possess asbestos if—

   (a)the asbestos is in its natural form in minimal quantities in another mineral; and

   (b)the presence of the asbestos is incidental to the purpose of disturbing or extracting the other mineral.

   (4)However, this section does not authorise a person to possess chrysotile or chrysotile containing material.

   (5)In this section:

   person conducting a business or undertaking—see the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, section 5.

   NoteThis provision applies to both commercial and non-commercial possession of asbestos and asbestos containing material (see Act, s 7 (1A)).

5. Storage of asbestos and asbestos containing material—Act, s 78 (1) (a)

   A person who stores asbestos or an asbestos containing material that has been removed from plant or a vehicle (the waste) must ensure that—

   (a)the waste is correctly packed and labelled; and

   (b)the person disposes of the waste as soon as practicable after the person comes into possession of the waste.

   Note 1Plant includes machinery and equipment and a building or other structure (see Act, dict).

   Note 2This provision applies only to non-commercial storage of asbestos and asbestos containing material (see Act, s 7 (1A)).

6. Authorised use of asbestos and asbestos containing material—Act, s 79 (1) (b)

   (1)A person is authorised to use asbestos or asbestos containing material if the asbestos or asbestos containing material—

   (a)is in plant or a vehicle used by the person; and

   NotePlant includes machinery and equipment and a building or other structure (see Act, dict).

   (b)is fixed in place; and

   (c)was fixed in place before 31 December 2003; and

   (d)is fixed in a way that does not cause a risk unless it is disturbed.

   (2)A person is authorised to use asbestos if—

   (a)the asbestos is in its natural form in minimal quantities in another mineral; and

   (b)the presence of the asbestos is incidental to the purpose of disturbing or extracting the other mineral.

   (3)However, this section does not authorise a person to possess chrysotile or chrysotile containing material.

   NoteThis provision applies only to non-commercial use of asbestos and asbestos containing material (see Act, s 7 (1A)).

7. Asbestos management—non-residential premises
   Part 3.4

   omit

8. Dictionary, new definitions

   insert

   ACM—see asbestos containing material.

   asbestos containing material (ACM), for chapter 3 (Asbestos and asbestos containing material)—see the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011, dictionary.

9. Dictionary, definitions of asbestos management plan, asbestos product and asbestos register

   omit

10. Dictionary, new definition of asbestos-related work

    insert

    asbestos-related work—see the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011, dictionary.

11. Dictionary

    omit the definitions of

    authorised activity

    authorised activity condition

    disturb

    licensed asbestos assessor

    national standards

    non-residential premises

12. Dictionary, definition of risk assessment

    substitute

    risk assessment, for a hazard at premises—see section 222.

Part 8Work Health and Safety Act 2011

1. Approved codes of practice
   Section 274 (2)

   after 1st mention of

   code of practice

   insert

   (other than a code of practice in relation to the management, control or removal of asbestos or asbestos containing material)

Endnotes

1. Presentation speech

   Presentation speech made in the Legislative Assembly on 30 October 2014.

2. Notification

   Notified under the Legislation Act on 3 December 2014.

3. Republications of amended laws

   For the latest republication of amended laws, see certify that the above is a true copy of the Dangerous Substances (Asbestos Safety Reform) Legislation Amendment Bill 2014, which was passed by the Legislative Assembly on 25 November 2014.

   Clerk of the Legislative Assembly

   © Australian Capital Territory 2014