Breaking Down the Barriers to Better Asbestos Management

Article originally published in Council Leader (Spring 2024)

Introduction

Over the past decade, I've had countless conversations with councils who struggle to manage asbestos data scattered across spreadsheets, PDFs, and paper files - that is of course, when they find the documents. These outdated tools create inefficiencies and risks when managing something as critical as asbestos.

Not surprisingly, this challenge isn't isolated to councils. We work with private organisations & state departments alike to facilitate the complete management of their asbestos data (and communication of these risks to the public) into a single, accessible platform. The platform centralises everything—from asbestos locations and risk assessments to audit schedules—giving councils a clear view and better control over their asbestos portfolios.

Inspector app

Our companion app, Inspector, also makes collaboration with assessors effortless. Councils can invite contractors into the system who then use templated checklists. This standardises all data entry with industry best practices for risk assessment baked in. The end result is an up-to-the-minute accurate portfolio of consistent, auditable records, reducing re-inspection complexity and costs. As we know,

"Australian councils have a responsibility in relation to educating the community about asbestos safety. Part of this responsibility is to provide clear, consistent and up-to-date information"— Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency

Octfolio supports this with customisable templates and checklists that help councils communicate effectively and fulfil their duty to keep the public informed.

Our commitment goes further by automatically generating QR codes for each asset, linked directly to publicly accessible 'SafetyPages'. Each page includes the essential information you choose to provide, which can include asbestos risks, safety protocols, published registers, floor plans, URLs and contact points. Though undoubtedly biased, I haven't yet come across anything else in the market that provides this information as fast or as comprehensively. We're able to keep everyone—managers, contractors, and visitors—aligned on risk.

Better asbestos management starts with better systems and communication. By consolidating data, standardising processes, and using modern tools, councils are reducing risks, saving time, and cutting costs.