Access keys | Skip to content | Skip to footer |
Problems viewing this site

Asbestos removal

Planning for the removal of asbestos-containing materials (ACM)
Requirements for removing any and all asbestos-containing materials (ACM)
Requirements when removing 10m² or more of bonded asbestos, or any quantity of friable asbestos
Requirements when removing less than 10m² of bonded asbestos
Requirements when removing friable asbestos
Responsibilities of asbestos removalists
Responsibilities of the client
Specific asbestos removal procedures

Planning for the removal of asbestos-containing materials (ACM)

Planning requirements for the removal of asbestos-containing materials (ACM) depend on:

Asbestos removalists must develop a site-specific asbestos removal control plan before starting any asbestos removal.

A control plan must include information on how identification, preparation, removal, decontamination and waste disposal will be done. More information on the components that a control plan must address is available in section 8.1 of the asbestos removal code (non-Queensland Government link).

Other planning that must be done by the asbestos removalist include:

Information on these plans can be found in sections 8.2, 8.3 and 8.4 of the asbestos removal code (non-Queensland Government link).

Requirements for removing any and all asbestos-containing materials (ACM)

The Workplace Health and Safety Regulation 2008 requires any removal of asbestos-containing materials at a workplace to be done in accordance with the asbestos removal code.

Part 9 of the asbestos removal code states requirements for the removal of all asbestos-containing material (ACM) from workplaces that must be followed.

The requirements include:

Requirements when removing 10m² or more of bonded asbestos, or any quantity of friable asbestos

Work to remove any amount of friable asbestos must be done under the authority of the holder of an 'A' class certificate to remove friable asbestos-containing material.

Work to remove any asbestos-containing material must be done to comply with the asbestos removal code (non-Queensland Government link).

The required certificates for removal of asbestos-containing material (ACM) are:

A Class certificates

Cover work involving both the removal of friable asbestos-containing material (ACM), and bonded asbestos-containing material of 10 m² or more.

B Class certificates

Only cover work to remove 10 m² or more of bonded asbestos-containing material (ACM). This certificate does not permit its holder to remove friable asbestos.

Requirements when removing less than 10m² of bonded asbestos

The removal of less than 10m² of bonded asbestos does not require a certificate. However it can only be performed by a competent person.

A competent person is a person who possesses adequate qualifications, such as suitable training and sufficient knowledge, experience or skill, to perform a specific task safely.

Requirements when removing friable asbestos

The removal of friable asbestos must be done:

Both sets of requirements under the asbestos removal code must be met when removing friable asbestos.

The asbestos removal code states ACM that are friable must be removed using wet methods, wherever possible, and within an enclosed area.

Wherever practicable, enclosed 'negative pressure' asbestos work areas must be established for any large-scale removal of friable ACM.

In addition:

Part 10 of the asbestos removal code (non-Queensland Government link) provides descriptions of methods used in the removal of friable asbestos which must be followed including:

Responsibilities of asbestos removalists

Under Part 7.3 of the asbestos asbestos removal code (non-Queensland Government link), asbestos removalists must do the following:

More information on the obligations of asbestos removalists is available in section 7.3 of the asbestos removal code (non-Queensland Government link).

Responsibilities of the client

Under the Workplace Health and Safety Regulation 2008, if asbestos-containing material (ACM) is to be removed from a structure other than a building used for domestic residential purposes (e.g. a house), then the owner of the structure or a person engaged by the owner to supervise the work must comply with part 7.2 of the asbestos removal code (non-Queensland Government link).

Under Part 7.2 of the asbestos removal code (non-Queensland Government link) the client must do the following:

Specific asbestos removal procedures

Part 9 and 10 of the asbestos removal code (non-Queensland Government link) detail the requirements for the removal of asbestos-containing materials (ACM) including:

Part 12 of the asbestos removal code (non-Queensland Government link) shows examples of specific asbestos removal procedures which must be followed when removing: