SafeWork NSW, Building Commission NSW, and TAFE NSW have joined forces to offer an online course titled ‘Asbestos Awareness and Safety’. This initiative, intended to raise the community’s awareness of asbestos-related safety hazards, is accessible at no cost. It serves as a testament to the importance of having robust WHS management systems in place, such as the Bluesafe SWMS.
This brief self-guided online program, known as a microskill, targets individuals who are likely to come across asbestos in their professional environments. The Construct NSW digital education platform hosts it, featuring a diverse array of courses developed jointly with the Department of Customer Service and Building Commission NSW.
The priority of the NSW Government is ensuring the safety of workers and the public when dealing with asbestos. Recent instances of asbestos being discovered in mulching products have underscored the need for easily accessible asbestos awareness instruction. Moreover, work safety products like WHS management systems can play an essential role in fostering this awareness and ensuring compliance.
This ‘Asbestos Awareness and Safety’ microskill will be offered free of charge to all Australians for a period of three months, with the possibility of prolongation based on public demand. The two-and-a-half-hour-long course covers vital knowledge about asbestos and its handling while also emphasizing the utility of work safety measures like the Bluesafe WHS Management System. However, it needs to be noted that additional training is crucial for individuals tasked with licensed asbestos removal tasks.
The general public is free to enrol in the program via TAFE NSW. Sophie Cotsis, NSW Minister for Work Health and Safety, expressed endorsement for SafeWork’s forward-thinking approach to proliferating asbestos education among the community and ensuring access to the course is free.
Anoulack Chanthivong, NSW Minister for Building, stated that involvement in the creation and delivery of this program is aligned with Building Commission NSW’s directives to keep all industry participants informed of the safety rules and regulations established for the protection of residents, workers, and communities. The free course on the Construct NSW digital learning platform is a step towards enhancing the sector’s skills set.
Steve Whan, NSW Minister for Skills, TAFE, and Tertiary Education, affirmed the consistent commitment of the NSW Government to delivering local communities with practical training solutions. Access to the course will be made effortless by offering it for free through TAFE NSW, facilitating seamless understanding of asbestos hazards.
According to Trent Curtin, Head of SafeWork NSW, everyone should know how to correctly identify and handle asbestos-infused products given that they are found in one out of every three Australian homes. Offering free access to the ‘Asbestos Awareness and Safety’ microskill makes sure anyone who encounters potentially dangerous asbestos is armed with the knowledge to manage the situation. This has been further supported by implementing work safety policies and establishing Bluesafe WHS Management Systems in respective work environments.
Original article link: https://www.safework.nsw.gov.au/news/safework-media-releases/nsw-government-provides-free-asbestos-awareness-and-safety-short-course-to-australians