Asbestos

UTS is committed to maintaining the health and safety of its workers, students, contractors and visitors. There are buildings and equipment under the control of the university that contain asbestos or Asbestos Containing Material (ACM).

UTS aims to eliminate exposure to asbestos where reasonably practicable through the identification and removal of asbestos where safe to do so. Where elimination is not possible, exposure is to be minimised so far as is reasonably practicable.      

Risk management

Asbestos can pose a risk to health and safety when asbestos fibres become airborne. When asbestos or ACM (e.g. fibro) is in good condition and left undisturbed the health risk of asbestos exposure are significantly reduced.

The risk management process attempts to identify asbestos exposure hazards by identifying whether asbestos or ACM is present in the workplace. Some of the university buildings are known or presumed to have asbestos containing material within them.  When asbestos or ACM has been identified in the workplace its location is to be noted in the UTS's Asbestos Register.  Only people in FMO and PMO have direct access to the Asbestos Register.  The register is used to ensure that ACM can be located so that any work that could potentially disturb asbestos can be avoided.

Staff from ITU AVS etc. who manage contractors and who may go into roof spaces and drill into building fabric must contact the building services manager for the register in the area of the works.

The Asbestos Management Plan (PDF, 795Kb) sets out how UTS identifies and manages ACM’s in the workplace.

UTS Hazardous Materials Register (UTS Staff Access Only)