You need a licence to remove asbestos. There are three types of asbestos licences:
- Class A removalist: Can remove all types of asbestos.
- Class B removalist: Can only remove non-friable asbestos.
- Licensed asbestos assessor: Can perform air monitoring, clearance inspections, and issue clearance certificates for all asbestos removal work and must be used for friable asbestos removal work conducted by a Class A removalist.
Friable asbestos: Class A asbestos removal licence
Class A asbestos removal licence is the removal at a workplace of:
- friable asbestos
- friable asbestos contaminated dust, or dust or debris contaminated with asbestos that is more than a minor contamination.
Friable asbestos means any material that contains asbestos and is in the form of a powder or can be easily crumbled, pulverised or reduced to a powder by hand when dry.
Class A asbestos removal licence also allows a worker to remove non-friable asbestos. All asbestos removal licence holders are required to ensure that asbestos removal work is completed under the supervisors of a suitably qualified person. These are known as ‘nominated supervisors’. An application for an asbestos removal licence must include the nomination of at least one supervisor.
A nominated supervisor is required to be on site at all times that work is being completed.
For more information about Class A asbestos removal licence including renewal see Asbestos licence.
Non-friable asbestos: Class B asbestos removal licence
Class B asbestos removal is the removal at a workplace of:
- more than 10 square meters of non-friable asbestos
- asbestos containing dust associated with the removal of more than 10 square meters of non-friable asbestos containing material, or dust that is a minor contamination.
Non-friable asbestos (or bonded asbestos) contains material such as cement or rubber, which stabilises the product and give it a non-friable structure.
All asbestos removal licence holders are required to ensure that asbestos removal work is completed under the supervisors of a suitably qualified person. These are known as ‘nominated supervisors’. An application for an asbestos removal licence must include the nomination of at least one supervisor.
Class B work must be completed with a nominated supervisor readily available.
For more information about Class B asbestos removal licence including renewal see Asbestos licence.
Nominated supervisor
Nominated supervisor must be at least 18 years of age and be able to provide evidence of being a competent person through the appropriate certification and experience.
All nominated supervisors are required to have completed the following courses:
- CPCCDE4008: Supervise asbestos removal
- One of the following:
- for Class A licences: CPCCDE3015 – Remove friable asbestos
- for Class B licences: CPCCDE3014 – Remove non-friable asbestos.
To add or replace a nominated supervisor a licence holder must submit a Change to Nominated Supervisor application. There are different forms and different considerations for Class A and Class B nominated superiors.
Applicants must complete the statement of experience (SOE) within the application form(s) to demonstrate that the nominated supervisor meets the competency and experience requirements.
The SOE forms a critical part of the application and must be completed in accordance with the regulator’s requirements. Each section in the SOE must be completed with as much detail as possible to ensure the full scope of experience is illustrated.
The regulator must be informed of any changes regarding a nominated supervisor by the licence holder (for example, removing a nominated supervisor from the licence).
For more information on nominated supervisors, see the applicant guide.
Asbestos assessor
Under the WHS Regulation and the WHS Mines Regulations, an independent licensed asbestos assessor is required to carry out certain functions connected with Class A (friable) asbestos removal work. This work relates only to Class A asbestos removal work and consists of:
- air monitoring during friable asbestos removal work
- clearance inspections for friable asbestos removal work
- issuing clearance certificates in relation to friable asbestos removal work.
WorkSafe hosts a list of licensed asbestos assessors, if you are a licensed asbestos assessor that would like to be added to this list please contact safety@demirs.wa.gov.au
See Asbestos assessor licence for more information or to apply for a licence.