Asbestos Businesses in Victoria, Australia
Victoria handles asbestos under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 and OHS Regulations 2017, with WorkSafe Victoria as the regulator. Victoria is the only Australian state that has not adopted the national model WHS laws. It keeps its own OHS framework, which uses different terminology, duty structures, and penalty regimes compared to the harmonised WHS legislation used everywhere else.
Because Victoria has not harmonised with the national model, businesses working across state borders need to be aware of the differences between Victorian OHS law and WHS law elsewhere. Victoria publishes Compliance Codes (not Codes of Practice) which have a specific legal status under Victorian OHS law. The state runs a government portal at asbestos.vic.gov.au and has established the Victorian Asbestos Eradication Agency (VAEA), which is working through the removal of asbestos from over 13,000 government-owned buildings including schools, hospitals, and emergency services facilities.
Victoria participates in the ASSEA-coordinated Asbestos National Strategic Plan 2024-2030. There is a general push across Australia toward national consistency in asbestos regulation. Victoria's VAEA program aligns with the national plan's objectives around proactive removal, even though the state maintains its own legislative framework.
Licensing
The licence structure is the same two tiers as other states. Class A covers friable asbestos, Class B covers more than 10 square metres of non-friable. Applicants need training from an approved RTO, and Class A applicants must provide an external OHS Management System certificate plus details of their respiratory protective equipment. Licensed asbestos assessors are separately required for air monitoring and clearance inspections.
Regulators
Legislation & Codes of Practice
National Resources
Asbestos disposal: There are 36 licensed waste disposal facilities in this region.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who needs a licence to remove asbestos in Victoria?
Where can I dispose of household asbestos in Victoria?
How should household asbestos be packaged in Victoria?
How do I get a suspected asbestos sample tested in Victoria?
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