Asbestos-Containing Fire Rated Boards Safety Alert

Original safety alert: Asbestos-containing fire rated boards (worksafe.vic.gov.au)

What’s going on

WorkSafe Victoria is reminding businesses and tradespeople that asbestos is totally banned in Australia and that includes products that might contain even a tiny amount of it. That’s especially important after the Australian Border Force detected chrysotile asbestos in some fire rated boards (FRBs) imported into Australia between 2021 and May 2025. Those boards were on-supplied for use in fire doors here and in New Zealand.

Why this matters

Asbestos has been banned in Australia since 2003 because when asbestos fibres are disturbed and become airborne they can cause serious disease, including mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer. Even a small amount of contamination in products is strictly prohibited.

Fire doors and fire rated boards might look safe on the surface, but if they contain asbestos and are cut, drilled, sanded or otherwise disturbed, there’s a risk of asbestos fibres being released. That’s a risk not just for tradespeople doing installs but for anyone in a workplace where these products are handled.

What you need to do

WorkSafe’s alert sets out clear steps for duty holders to follow so that no contaminated products slip through:

Don’t import, supply or use products you suspect contain asbestos

• If you’re importing goods from countries that still make asbestos-containing materials, check the product specs and safety data sheets carefully before you buy. Confirm they’re 100 per cent asbestos-free with testing results from the manufacturer.
• Include asbestos-free requirements in your supply contracts.
• Have goods tested before they’re shipped and again when they arrive, especially if you’re not confident about the documentation.

Don’t install or use anything you’re not sure about

• If materials are suspected of containing asbestos, don’t install or use them until a lab confirms they’re clean.
• If you can’t confirm they’re clean, assume they contain asbestos and treat them as asbestos-contaminated products.

WorkSafe also makes it clear that you can’t import, sell, supply, transport, store or reuse asbestos or anything suspected of containing it, even if someone else sold it to you.

Legal duties at work

Under Victoria’s safety laws, anyone who supplies plant or materials that are used at workplaces must ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, that they’re safe and without health risks. This includes giving users all relevant information about those goods so they know how to use them safely or avoid them if they’re unsafe.

If materials containing asbestos are found on a site, duty holders also have obligations under the Dangerous Goods Act to notify WorkSafe and either remove or manage the asbestos in line with an approved plan.

TL;DR

• WorkSafe Victoria issued a safety alert about fire rated boards imported into Australia that were found to contain chrysotile asbestos (2 Feb 2026).
• Asbestos has been banned here since 2003, and any material that might contain it must not be imported, supplied, installed or used.
• Importers, suppliers and installers must verify products are asbestos-free before they’re shipped and again before they’re used on site.
• If there’s any doubt, assume asbestos is present and manage the material accordingly.