If you manage, own, or control a workplace in Australia – especially a building built or installed before 2004 – you may be legally required to keep an asbestos register onsite. Done properly, it’s a core tool for asbestos register compliance and forms part of your broader asbestos management plan obligations.
Asbestos management is a legal and safety priority for Australian workplaces an asbestos register is mandatory for any person with management or control of a workplace (such as owners, employers, or building managers) where the building, structure, or plant was constructed or installed before 31 December 2003 (or before 1990 in Queensland). In practical terms, that covers a huge number of commercial and industrial sites, including offices, warehouses, hospitals, schools, retail centres and older infrastructure assets.
One of the most important aspects of safe asbestos management is the asbestos register. This is the document that identifies asbestos encountered or assumed asbestos, where it’s located within a workplace building, and the condition it’s in. It helps with smarter decision-making, safer maintenance and better planning for work involving asbestos.
For business owners, property managers, and anyone with management or control of a workplace, understanding asbestos register requirements isn’t optional – it’s part of meeting legal obligations under WHS laws and protecting the people who enter and work in the building.
This article breaks down who needs an asbestos register, what it must include, and how to maintain asbestos register compliance across day-to-day operations.
1. What Is an Asbestos Register?
An asbestos register is a legally required document that lists all identified asbestos or asbestos that is assumed to be present in a workplace. It is designed to prevent accidental disturbance of asbestos or ACM (asbestos-containing materials) and reduce the risk of exposure to asbestos fibres, including airborne asbestos fibres.
A comprehensive asbestos register typically includes:
- The exact location of any asbestos containing materials (room, level, plant area, service riser, etc.)
- The type of asbestos (including whether it is non-friable asbestos or friable asbestos)
- The condition of the material and whether it’s likely to be disturbed during service work or maintenance.
- Accessibility and risk notes (e.g., behind panels, above ceilings, within plant rooms)
- Records of sampling or asbestos testing results (where undertaken)
- The date the asbestos register inspection took place and any actions taken (such as sealing or removal work)
Importantly, the register is required even if asbestos is not found – it must clearly record that outcome so the workplace can demonstrate asbestos register compliance during audits or future works.
2. Who Needs an Asbestos Register?
When it comes to responsibility for the Asbestos Register, the legal duty generally sits with the person with management or control of the workplace. This may be the PCBU, the property owner, a landlord, or a facility manager – depending on the site and lease arrangements.
Under WHS rules, a register is typically required where:
- The building was constructed or installed before 2004
- Asbestos is present or likely to be present
- People are working in the workplace or could be exposed if materials are disturbed.
This is why you’ll often see workplace asbestos registers in:
- Schools, hospitals and public buildings
- Industrial and logistics sites
- Shopping centres and multi-tenant office buildings
- Warehouses and older commercial properties
- Government facilities and infrastructure sites
Exemptions and special situations
If a workplace was constructed after 2003 and you have verified asbestos-free certification, a register may not be required. That said, many older buildings have staged extensions and upgrades – so recently renovated doesn’t always mean asbestos-free.
Shared or multi-tenant sites, such as shopping centres, office buildings and industrial parks, come with additional problems. In these cases, a coordinated asbestos management plan is required with clear processes for contractors entering the site.
It’s also worth noting that WHS frameworks differ across Australia, for example in Queensland, Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) – SafeWork NSW | NSW Government in New South Wales and WorkSafe ACT is the primary regulator for asbestos in Canberra. Businesses operating across states should confirm regulatory requirements and keep it up to date to avoid legal penalties.
3. Key Asbestos Register Requirements
When people talk about asbestos register requirements, they’re usually referring to the minimum inclusions and responsibilities set out in WHS law.
Under WHS Regulation 425, the person with management or control of the workplace must ensure an asbestos register is prepared and kept at the workplace.
A compliant asbestos register must include:
- Details of all asbestos that has been identified – or assumed asbestos/ACM.
- The date of the most recent inspection (and who carried it out).
- Details of analyses where sampling was undertaken (testing authorities and outcomes).
- The condition of each material and an assessment of asbestos risks.
- Records of any removal, sealing, encapsulation, or changes over time.
- The details of the competent person or assessor who completed the inspection and reporting.
Three “non-negotiables” for compliance
To support asbestos register compliance, businesses need to focus on three core requirements:
1) It must be readily accessible
The asbestos register must be available to workers, contractors, and other persons who may be affected by work involving asbestos – especially anyone carrying out maintenance, installation, repairs, or demolition.
2) It must be updated
Registers should be reviewed regularly and updated whenever:
- asbestos removal work has taken place
- the asbestos has been disturbed, damaged, or sealed
- new information becomes available
- refurbishment or demolition work changes access to materials
3) It must link to an asbestos management plan
In most workplaces where asbestos is present, a current asbestos register supports a practical asbestos management plan. This includes control measures, training responsibilities, and how you manage contractors entering areas where asbestos may be present.
4. Why Asbestos Register Compliance Matters
Asbestos register compliance is a key part of controlling risk and avoiding serious consequences.
Legal and financial exposure
Failing to maintain a register can expose businesses to regulatory penalties, project stoppages and insurance complications – particularly if asbestos is unexpectedly encountered during service work or refurbishment.
Health and safety impacts
When asbestos is damaged or disturbed, fibres can become airborne. Breathing in asbestos fibres can cause serious disease – often decades after exposure.
A clear, up-to-date asbestos register helps protect:
- workplace workers and contractors by providing hazard awareness
- employers and those with control of a workplace from liability
- businesses and government organisations during audits, procurement processes, and compliance checks
Due diligence for property and facilities teams
For property managers and facility managers, an asbestos register helps with decision-making – from minor maintenance works through to long-term upgrades. It also helps reduce unexpected costs when asbestos is discovered late in a project.
5. Maintaining and Updating Your Asbestos Register
The best asbestos registers aren’t created once and forgotten – they’re treated as live documents that support ongoing risk management.
When updates are required
Your asbestos register should be reviewed and updated:
- after asbestos removal or repair work
- after refurbishment, renovation, or partial demolition
- when new areas become accessible (e.g., ceiling spaces, risers, plant rooms)
- when asbestos is encountered unexpectedly during work
A common best practice is to schedule annual inspections by a licensed asbestos inspector. This helps ensure the register reflects real site conditions and supports proactive asbestos management rather than reactive fixes.
Keep the supporting evidence (not just the register)
For strong compliance, record-keeping matters. Helpful supporting material includes:
- labelled photos and marked-up floor plans
- sampling data and laboratory results
- notes on condition changes
- updates after sealing or removal work
- contractor sign-offs for induction and access
Many organisations now store a digital asbestos register to ensure the document remains readily accessible – especially across multi-site portfolios.
Planning for emergencies involving asbestos
While most asbestos risks can be managed through prevention and planning, every site should consider “what if” scenarios. A good asbestos management plan should include steps for emergencies involving asbestos, such as storm damage, fire impacts, vandalism, or unplanned disturbance during works.
6. How The GBAR Group Helps with Asbestos Register Requirements
The GBAR Group is a national hazardous materials remediation firm with extensive experience in identification, testing and reporting of asbestos.
We help commercial and industrial clients meet asbestos register requirements through services such as:
- Site inspections, asbestos identification and NATA-accredited testing by licensed assessors
- Guidance and the management of safe asbestos removal where required
“A current asbestos register and asbestos management plan are two of the most practical tools a business can have. They support safer maintenance, clearer contractor communication, and stronger compliance – especially across older commercial buildings and complex sites.”
— GBAR Group, Hazardous Materials Remediation Specialists
Conclusion: Asbestos management plan
A current asbestos register is more than a regulatory requirement – it’s an essential part of workplace health and safety and responsible property management. If your building is older, or asbestos is likely to be present, meeting asbestos register requirements helps you manage risks, protect workers and reduce legal exposure.
For businesses, facility managers and government organisations, staying on top of the asbestos register for workplaces means keeping the register updated, linking it to an asbestos management plan, and making sure it’s readily accessible to anyone who may disturb asbestos containing materials.
Ensure your business is fully compliant – reach out to the GBAR Group today for professional asbestos management support.
