Remove and dispose

You can use the Find a Licensed Asbestos Removalist tool to locate a licensed removalist in your area

There are two types of licences for asbestos removal – Class A and Class B. Only Class A licence-holders can remove friable asbestos. Both Class A and Class B can remove non-friable asbestos. To determine what type of licence is required for your job, see using a licensed asbestos removalist.

You should work closely with any employers or self-employed persons who lease your premises so that they are aware of the asbestos removal that is due to take place. They have a responsibility to protect the health and safety of their employees, so they will need to be aware of the situation and take necessary precautions.

If you commission the asbestos removal work, you must arrange to obtain a clearance certificate. A clearance certificate is a written statement that a specific area where asbestos removal work has taken place has had specified asbestos-containing materials removed and has been cleaned of any visible asbestos containing debris associated with the removal.

The clearance certificate must be completed by an independent person before the areas where the asbestos removal work was performed are re-occupied. An independent person is someone who is independent from you and the licensed asbestos removalist, and has the requisite knowledge, skills and experience to carry out the relevant functions needed to complete the clearance certificate.An example of a person with the requisite knowledge, skills and experience is an occupational hygienist.

If you hired an asbestos consultant to manage the process, they can act as the independent person and can issue the clearance certificate. If you did not hire a consultant, an independent competent person with sufficient knowledge, skills and experience can issue the clearance certificate.

The Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists website(opens in a new window) provides a list of occupational hygienists. For more information about clearance certificates, see the Removing asbestos in workplaces compliance code(opens in a new window).

When asbestos is removed from your workplace, you must update your asbestos register to reflect the removal of asbestos.  You must also update the asbestos register in circumstances where asbestos has been sealed or enclosed.