Asbestos removal work is best performed by licensed asbestos removalists, who are appropriately trained to perform the removal work safely.
Please use the service provider directory to find a licensed asbestos removalist in your area.
If you decide to remove asbestos yourself, review the following information prior to starting work, and thoroughly read the Dos and Don'ts of working with asbestos section.
Asbestos removal work needs to be undertaken according to strict safety procedures, for your own safety and that of anyone else in the area. Safety measures should include the use of protective clothing and equipment, decontamination facilities, waste disposal procedures, and the preparation of an asbestos control plan.
It is important you take the proper precautions for handling asbestos to avoid risking your health or the health of your family and others in the area. You also need to consider your neighbours and anyone else who is in the vicinity of your home. During asbestos removal, you need to ensure that removal work is performed in a manner that eliminates the release of airborne asbestos fibres as much as possible.
When performing asbestos removal work, personal protective equipment should be worn.
Any equipment used for removal work and that is likely to be contaminated needs to be:
(a) decontaminated before removal from the area where removal work is performed
(b) placed in a sealed container, the exterior of which is decontaminated before the container is removed from the area where the removal work is performed.Please make sure you properly read our do's and don'ts about working with asbestos.
Keep the material wet until it is packaged, and then carefully package the material, including any offcuts, in two layers of 0.2 mm thick polythene sheeting.
Keep the packages of a manageable size and completely seal them with adhesive tape. Place smaller sized asbestos waste such as tiles, offcuts and dust in two 0.2 mm thick polythene bags (double bagged), then tie and seal for disposal with the other asbestos waste.
Only fill bags half full (to minimise the risk of splitting) and gently release excess air in a way that does not cause the release of dust. Bags need to be twisted tightly and have the neck folded over and secured with appropriate adhesive tape (for example, cloth tape with a plastic coating that can be easily decontaminated).
Clearly label the packages with the asbestos warning mark using a permanent marker pen. You can hire a mini skip from a waste removal company authorised by EPA to transport asbestos to fill with your bagged asbestos waste and have it collected by the waste company.
Plan ahead to ensure you are transporting asbestos waste safely and in secure packaging. Check the waste disposal site is authorised by EPA to accept asbestos and check the requirements of the site, to ensure the waste will be accepted.
Asbestos waste disposal needs to be carried out in a manner that prevents the release of airborne asbestos fibres, which means ensuring:
- asbestos waste is securely packaged
- the waste is secure during transport
- the method of unloading the waste is safe.You must only dispose of asbestos at a site authorised by EPA Victoria to accept waste asbestos. You should contact the disposal site operator to check whether the site is authorised to accept the waste. At the waste disposal site, permission conditions require waste asbestos to be handled and covered in such a manner that no dust is generated.
Find your nearest disposal site that is authorised to accept asbestos.
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