❓ A WA parliamentary question regarding asbestos complaints and management in small rural hospitals received no complaints in the past five years. The WA Country Health Service has an Asbestos Management Plan and procedures for reporting concerns.
AnsweredQoN 532Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to page 319 of Budget Paper No.2, Volume 1, line-item “Total Cost of Service”, under the heading Small Rural Hospital Services, and I ask: (a) have any complaints been received by WA Health regarding asbestos at small rural hospitals in the past five years; (b) if yes to (a), at which hospital sites were the complaints received and in what years; (c) what assessments or inspections have been undertaken in response to these complaints in (a); (d) what remedial works have been funded under the 2025-26 budget, or across the forward estimates, to address asbestos in small rural hospitals; and (e) what is the current policy or process for staff to report asbestos or other infrastructure safety concerns at regional or remote hospitals?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
14 October 2025
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health
Response time
6 days
(a – c)
No complaints were received.
(d)
WA Country Health Service (WACHS) manages asbestos-related risks in accordance with its Asbestos Management Plan, the Work Health and Safety Act 2020 (WA), and Work Health and Safety (WHS) Regulations 2022. WACHS continues to monitor and manage asbestos across its facilities through regular inspections, updates internal registers, undertakes site-specific risk assessments, and expedites remediation works as required.
(e)
WACHS operates a comprehensive Asbestos Management Plan and supporting procedures to ensure the safety of staff, patients, and visitors across all regional and remote facilities. All identified or suspected asbestos-containing materials are managed in accordance with the Work Health and Safety Act 2020 (WA) and WHS Regulations 2022, including the use of licensed professionals for removal, regular inspections, and clear signage.
WACHS mandates asbestos awareness training, an Asbestos Works Procedure, clear communication protocols, and regular audits to ensure compliance. Facility staff and contractors are required to report any asbestos-related or infrastructure safety concerns directly to the Site Supervisor or the Regional Manager Infrastructure and Support Services.
Non facilities staff can formally raise concerns, which are then reviewed by the Work Health and Safety team and Regional Manager Infrastructure and Support Services.
No complaints were received.
(d)
WA Country Health Service (WACHS) manages asbestos-related risks in accordance with its Asbestos Management Plan, the Work Health and Safety Act 2020 (WA), and Work Health and Safety (WHS) Regulations 2022. WACHS continues to monitor and manage asbestos across its facilities through regular inspections, updates internal registers, undertakes site-specific risk assessments, and expedites remediation works as required.
(e)
WACHS operates a comprehensive Asbestos Management Plan and supporting procedures to ensure the safety of staff, patients, and visitors across all regional and remote facilities. All identified or suspected asbestos-containing materials are managed in accordance with the Work Health and Safety Act 2020 (WA) and WHS Regulations 2022, including the use of licensed professionals for removal, regular inspections, and clear signage.
WACHS mandates asbestos awareness training, an Asbestos Works Procedure, clear communication protocols, and regular audits to ensure compliance. Facility staff and contractors are required to report any asbestos-related or infrastructure safety concerns directly to the Site Supervisor or the Regional Manager Infrastructure and Support Services.
Non facilities staff can formally raise concerns, which are then reviewed by the Work Health and Safety team and Regional Manager Infrastructure and Support Services.
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