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'B' class licence

What is the new asbestos 'B' class licence and when do I need one?
Why is there a new asbestos licence?
How do I obtain a 'B' class licence?
Find an authorised assessor or registered training organisation

What is the new asbestos 'B' class licence and when do I need one?

From 1 July 2006, workers must hold a new 'B' class licence to remove 10 square metres or more of bonded asbestos in Queensland. That’s equal to about four standard sheets of plasterboard.

Bonded asbestos materials include asbestos cement sheeting, often called fibro, used in many Queensland buildings before 1990. The sheeting was used for cladding and roofs, and can often be found as backing boards in wet areas like kitchens and bathrooms.

An 'A' class licence, also known as an Asbestos Removal Business Certificate, is required to remove loose asbestos in any quantity.

A person that is carrying out the removal of bonded asbestos is not required to hold a ' B' class licence if the person is:

employed by a business that holds an 'A' class licence; and
directly supervised by the 'A ' class licence holder's 'competent person'.

A 'competent person' for an 'A' class licence is not required to hold a ' B' class licence.

Why is there a new asbestos licence?

Any tradesperson or other worker who is required to remove significant amounts of bonded asbestos material needs to know how to do it safely. The licence certifies this knowledge.

Although a licence is not required to remove less than 10 square metres of bonded asbestos material, all asbestos removal work must be carried out to a national standard. It’s the law.

Queensland is the first state to wholly adopt national codes of practice for managing and removing asbestos, which is the most effective way of minimising the potential exposure to asbestos.

How do I obtain a 'B' class licence?

To obtain a 'B' class licence an applicant (or employee of an applicant) has to demonstrate they are familiar with the practices and procedures for removing bonded asbestos material that are set out in the National Code of Practice for the Safe Removal of Asbestos 2^nd Edition [NOHSC:2002 (2005)] (non-Queensland Government link) as stated in Information Paper AR1: Approved criteria for a certificate to perform the prescribed activity of asbestos removal work (PDF, 168 KB).

Competency can be demonstrated by:

producing a certificate for asbestos removal work issued under the Workplace Health and Safety Regulation 1997 before 1 February 2002
producing a statement of attainment issued by a registered training organisation for a course which covers competencies for the removal of bonded asbestos material as set out in asbestos removal code
passing an exam assessed by an authorised accredited provider or registered training organisation.

Authorised accredited providers and registered training organisations offer examinations to qualify for the 'B' class licence.

Find a registered training organisation or authorised accredited provider that offers examinations to qualify for the 'B' class licence.

Applicants who successfully demonstrate competencies and pay the application fee of $51.10 will be granted a licence for two years. The 'B' class licence will be issued by the Department of Employment and Industrial Relations, through the division of Workplace and Health Safety Queensland.

Last updated 3 July 2008

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