There are specific requirements for how asbestos should be managed during removal, minor works or maintenance procedures. It is also important to know about prohibited activities, notifications, licences as well as advice about clean ups after floods, storms or fires.
Health and safety duties when removing asbestos
There are several duty holders who have a role in managing risks associated with removal of asbestos and asbestos containing material (ACM) at the workplace. These include:
- persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU)
- designers, manufacturers, importers, suppliers and installers of plant, substances or structures
- work health and safety (WHS) service providers
- officers.
High efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtered H-Class industrial vacuum cleaner
A HEPA filtered H-Class industrial vacuum cleaner should be used wherever reasonably practicable. Vacuum cleaners used for asbestos should comply with the Class H requirements in AS/NZS 60335.2.69. Particular requirements for wet and dry vacuum cleaners, including power brush, for industrial and commercial use or its international equivalents (e.g. International Standard IEC 60335-2-69). All equipment used for the removal of asbestos should be inspected before the commencement of the asbestos removal work, after any repairs and at least once every seven days when it is continually being used.
A register with the details of these inspections, the state of the equipment and any repair details should be maintained. Asbestos vacuum cleaners can only be used for collecting small pieces of asbestos dust and debris. Larger pieces should be picked up and placed in suitable waste containers and should never be broken into smaller sizes for vacuuming.
Dispersed oil particulate (DOP) testing must be undertaken as per the manufacturer’s instructions or guidance material to ensure the HEPA filtered vacuum is working as intended.
At the completion of the asbestos removal work, the tools and equipment must be decontaminated, placed in sealed, labelled containers before being transferred to the next asbestos removal job.
Can I hire a HEPA vacuum cleaner?
Whenever possible, you should not hire asbestos vacuum cleaners as they can be difficult to fully decontaminate. Asbestos vacuum cleaners should be hired only from organisations that provide vacuum cleaners specifically for work involving asbestos and if the asbestos vacuum cleaner has been previously decontaminated. If hired, the asbestos vacuum cleaner should be fully decontaminated before it is returned.
Alternatively, the hire organisation may undertake the decontamination and maintenance of the filters and bags of the asbestos vacuum cleaner itself. In these cases, the asbestos vacuum cleaner should be hired out if the hire organisation has:
- placed it in a sealed storage container
- provided instructions stating that it may be removed from the container only when it is inside the asbestos removal work area
- provided instructions that users must wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when using the vacuum cleaner.
Organisations that hire out asbestos HEPA vacuum cleaners should ensure all their asbestos vacuum cleaners are decontaminated, maintained in good working order and the hirers are competent in their safe use. It is recommended that asbestos vacuum cleaners are only hired out to asbestos removal supervisors or licence holders.
Do industrial HEPA vacuum cleaners need to have annual dispersed oil particulate (DOP) testing?
All equipment used for asbestos removal must be maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Typically, manufacturers of HEPA filtered H-Class industrial vacuum cleaners recommend the appliance’s dust filtration efficiency should be tested at least annually. The dispersed oil particulate (DOP) testing ensures the HEPA filter and the seals inside the appliance are containing asbestos dust at 99.995 per cent efficiency. DOP testing may not be carried out if there is evidence of damage to the vacuum cleaner. Additionally, some HEPA vacuum cleaners using self-ventilating motors (bypass air) may be precluded from DOP testing or servicing because of contamination of asbestos dust outside the HEPA protected zones of the HEPA vacuum cleaner.
Disposal of asbestos
Transport and disposal of asbestos waste must be in accordance with all relevant State legislation and guidelines.
Regulation 472 requires that asbestos waste is contained and labelled in accordance with Schedule 9 clause 8 of the Work Health and Safety (General) Regulations 2022 and disposed of as soon as practicable at a site authorised to accept asbestos waste.
The Asbestos and Silica Safety and Eradication Agency has a handy search function which helps users find a nearby asbestos disposal facility.