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Important: From 1 January 2012, information on this website is being reviewed and must be read in conjunction with the Work Health and Safety Act 2011.

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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:

the specific asbestos removal task
the type, location, quantity and condition of ACM to be removed
whether there are workers or other people nearby.

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:

emergency plans
planning for ACM removal from hot surfaces
planning for decontamination.

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:

determining the asbestos removal boundaries
security, signs and barriers
electrical and lighting installations
preparation activities, including:
- minimising the number of people present
- using the correct tools
- personal protective equipment (PPE)
- decontamination materials
methods for removing ACM, including:
- wet spray method (most preferred)
- dry removal method (least preferred)
inspection of equipment
personal protective equipment including:
- respiratory protective equipment
- protective clothing and footwear
air monitoring
decontamination
waste removal
disposal of asbestos waste.

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:

by holders of an A class certificate
in accordance with the general requirements for the removal of ACM from workplaces and detailed in Part 9 of the asbestos removal code
in accordance with the additional requirements for the removal of friable ACM detailed in Part 10 of the asbestos removal code.

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:

All ventilation and air-conditioning networks servicing the asbestos work area must be closed down for the duration of the asbestos removal work and all vents thoroughly sealed to prevent the entry of airborne asbestos fibres into the duct network.
Once completed, and after final cleaning of the asbestos work area, all mechanical ventilation filters for recirculated air must be replaced.
Care must be taken to ensure that airborne asbestos fibres cannot escape at points where pipes and conduits pass out of the asbestos work area.

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:

negative pressure exhaust units - to prevent the escape of asbestos fibres from enclosed asbestos work areas
enclosures for large-scale asbestos removal work - including design and installation considerations, testing of enclosures and decontamination
mini enclosures for small-scale asbestos removal work
glove bag removal method.

Responsibilities of asbestos removalists

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

hold a certificate to remove asbestos-containing material (ACM) where required by law:
- removal of friable asbestos requires an A class certificate
- removal of 10m² or more of bonded asbestos requires either an A class or B class certificate
- removal of less than 10m² of bonded asbestos does not require a certificate holder, but the asbestos removalist must be competent
if applicable, provide details of their certificate to the client
develop an asbestos removal control plan before work starts
ensure asbestos removal is carried out safely
ensure asbestos removal supervisors have appropriate knowledge of precautions and procedures
ensure persons performing the removal of ACM are competent to perform the tasks
provide people doing asbestos removal work with adequate training to prevent risk to themselves and others
establish a health surveillance program as determined by an assessment of potential risk.

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:

ensure that an asbestos removalist is used to perform asbestos removal work
- removal of friable asbestos requires an A class certificate holder
- removal of 10m² or more of bonded asbestos requires either an A class or B class certificate holder
- removal of less than 10m² of bonded asbestos does not require a certificate holder, but the asbestos removalist must be competent
nominate one or more people to liaise with the asbestos removalist
request the details of the removalist's certificate (if the removal work is for friable asbestos or 10m² or more of bonded asbestos)
ensure a copy of the workplace's register of asbestos-containing materials (ACM) is given to the asbestos removalist. If there is no register of ACM, it is the owner's responsibility to create one before work starts
ensure the owner provides an asbestos removalist with precise details of the asbestos removal requirements. This includes details of what is to be removed, i.e. details on the type (friable or bonded) and condition of ACM present, their quantity, where it is located and any hazards that may be associated with the asbestos removal work.

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:

determining boundaries for the work area and asbestos removal site
security signs and barriers
electrical safety
preparation for asbestos removal work
negative pressure exhaust units
enclosures for asbestos removal work
wet and dry removal methods
glove bag removal method
'wrap and cut' removal method
asbestos removal equipment
personal protective equipment
air monitoring
decontamination
waste removal
disposal of asbestos waste
recycling of construction materials.

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

asbestos-cement products
asbestos flooring, e.g. vinyl floor tiles and sheet vinyl containing asbestos
asbestos-backed vinyl and millboard from beneath a vinyl floor
asbestos gaskets and rope from plant and equipment
asbestos switchboards or meter boards
asbestos mastics and bitumen
and cleaning ceiling tiles
asbestos friction products.