Asbestos removal notifications

Licensed asbestos removal work

Licensed asbestos removal work involves the removal of any quantity of friable asbestos, or more than 10 square metres of non-friable asbestos.

You must notify us at least 5 days before starting licensed asbestos removal work. However, there are other instances when you must notify us immediately of work involving asbestos.

Lodge a notification of all licensed asbestos removal work.

However, you don't need to notify us before starting licensed work if it's necessary due to flooding or severe weather conditions.

Immediate asbestos removal work

Immediate removal of asbestos may be required if:

• there's a sudden and unexpected event, including a failure of equipment, that may cause persons to be exposed to respirable asbestos fibres
• an unexpected breakdown requires immediate rectification to enable the service to continue.

Notification in the case of an emergency

If you’re a licensed asbestos removalist, you must notify us immediately if immediate asbestos removal work is required due to an emergency. An emergency is defined in regulations 454 and 455 as a structure or plant structurally unsound or the collapse of the structure or plant is imminent. Emergency work still requires a clearance before re-occupation.

If asbestos must be removed immediately due to an emergency you must contact WorkSafe by telephone on 1300 307 877 (during business hours or the next business day if outside of business hours) and submit the notification of all licensed asbestos removal work within 24 hours. WorkSafe will then consider the information and if required grant approval to proceed.

You will need to give us the following details:

• name of licensed removalist
• site address where the asbestos is being removed
• reason immediate removal is required.

Emergency demolition of a structure or plant containing asbestos

An emergency occurs if:

• a structure or plant is structurally unsound
• collapse of the structure or plant is imminent.

This notification applies to the emergency demolition of any of the following:

• a building constructed before 31 December 1989
• a non-building structure constructed or installed before 31 December 2003 if there are reasonable grounds to believe asbestos is installed in the structure
• plant constructed or installed before 31 December 2003 if there are reasonable grounds to believe asbestos is installed in the plant.

If asbestos must be removed immediately due to an emergency, you must contact WorkSafe immediately by telephone on 1300 307 877 (during business hours or the next business day if outside of business hours) and submit the notification of all licensed asbestos removal work within 24 hours.

Notification to neighbours 

Under the WHS Regulations, if the workplace is a residential premises, the licensed asbestos removalist must inform the occupier, the owner and anyone occupying premises in the immediate vicinity of the workplace before the work is carried out. The method of notification is not specified in the WHS legislation. Most asbestos licence holders do a letter drop, which includes a contact number, if there are any concerns.

For general workplaces, the person with management or control of the workplace must be informed that licensed asbestos removal work is to be carried out and when the work is to commence.

Frequently asked questions

If I come across some unexpected buried asbestos containing material (ACM) do I have to submit another notification?

No. A second notification is not required, you can contact WorkSafe to advise of additional asbestos to be removed or changes to the duration of the work and update your existing notification

Do I need to submit another notification if I find more asbestos during demolition?

No. Your original notification for asbestos removal will suffice, unless you originally notified non-friable asbestos containing material and have now identified friable asbestos containing material. However, when you come across this situation you must stop the demolition and remove the asbestos.

Does the 5 day notification period include the weekend and public holidays?

The Interpretation Act states that if the notice day falls on an excluded day (weekend or public holiday) the excluded rule moves the notification period to the following day as set out in the table below: