Minister for Industrial Relations Chris Bourke welcomes today's launch of a new asbestos awareness training course in the ACT. He says the new course "reflects our local expertise as the most proactive jurisdiction in tackling asbestos".

"The course was developed by the ACT Construction Industry Training Council working with local training organisations, regulators, employer and worker representatives.

"The four-hour asbestos awareness course advises workers who may come into contact with asbestos in the workplace where it might be and how to identify it.

"This is a safety course so workers know if they have come across asbestos and they know who to call to deal with it.

"Other licensing and training courses are required for professionals who assess, remove or dispose of asbestos.

The asbestos awareness course is not mandatory however employers in the industry are required under health and safety laws to provide their workers with appropriate training to protect them from exposure to asbestos. Completion of the new course meets the requirement.

The WorkSafe guidance note on asbestos training is available at: http://www.worksafe.act.gov.au/publication/view/1898