Asbestos removal work

An asbestos removal licence is held by a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU). Workers carry out licensed asbestos removal work on behalf of or for the PCBU who holds the licence. Individual workers do not hold an asbestos licence but must meet certain training requirements.

An asbestos removal licence issued by Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) is valid for five years.

Requirements for licensed asbestos removal work

To conduct licensed asbestos removal work, other requirements include:

getting a copy of the asbestos register for the workplace
preparing asbestos removal control plans and making them readily accessible
informing people before asbestos removal work starts
erecting signage and barricades
limiting access to the asbestos removal work area
having decontamination facilities available
disposing of asbestos waste properly
being aware of additional requirements for class A asbestos removal work, including air monitoring
notifying Workplace Health and Safety Queensland five days prior to work commencing.

Documentation requirements for asbestos removal and asbestos-related work

Preparing an asbestos removal control plan

A licensed asbestos removalist must prepare and document an asbestos removal control plan for any licensed asbestos removal work. The asbestos removal control plan must include:

details of how the asbestos removal will be carried out, including the method to be used and the tools, equipment and personal protective equipment to be used
details of the asbestos to be removed, including location, type and condition of the asbestos.

Safe work method statement (SWMS)

A person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) carrying out high risk construction work must prepare and document a safe work method statement (SWMS). High risk construction work includes construction work that involves or is likely to involve, the disturbance of asbestos. A SWMS must:

identify the high risk construction work
state hazards relating to the high risk construction work and risks to health and safety associated with those hazards
describe the measures to be implemented to control the risks
describe how the control measures are to be implemented, monitored and reviewed.

Keeping documents

The asbestos removal control plan and the SWMS both have similar requirements on the length of time they are to be kept.

The asbestos removal control plan must be kept until all the asbestos removal work to which it relates has been completed. The plan must be readily accessible to other PCBUs and workers at the workplace, and if the work is being carried out at domestic premises, it must also be accessible to the occupants. If a notifiable incident occurs in connection with the asbestos removal work, the licensed asbestos removalist must keep the plan for at least two years after the incident occurs.

A SWMS must be kept by the PCBU until the high risk construction work to which it relates has been completed. The SWMS must be readily accessible to any worker engaged by the PCBU to carry out the high risk construction work. If a notifiable incident occurs in connection with the high risk construction work, the PCBU must keep the statement for at least two years after the incident occurs.

Combining the asbestos removal control plan and SWMS

Due to the overlap of information to be included in both the asbestos removal control plan and the SWMS, there is a potential for duplication of paper work required before licensed asbestos removal work is carried out.

WHSQ considers the asbestos removal control plan covers the information required in a SWMS so a licensed asbestos removalist can rely on the asbestos removal control plan as evidence of having prepared a SWMS. WHSQ inspectors will not require licensed asbestos removalists to have two separate documents for an asbestos removal control plan and a SWMS.

Training requirements

Persons conducting a business or undertaking must ensure workers, supervisors, assessors and competent persons complete specific training requirements.