You need to employ an asbestos removalist when renovating or repairing property where asbestos is present and may be disturbed. Removing, cleaning, cutting, drilling, sanding or painting materials containing asbestos may result in dangerous asbestos fibres being released.

Asbestos removal services

An asbestos removalist is an entity that provides, has provided or proposes to provide an asbestos removal service.

An asbestos removal service is the doing or supervising of building work that involves all or any of the following:

• handling (including disturbing) asbestos in buildings
• removing and disposing of asbestos from buildings. 

In the ACT, people working in the trades, maintenance and services sector must be trained to work with and remove up to 10 square metres of bonded asbestos. Only licensed asbestos removalists can remove asbestos in areas more than 10 square metres. An asbestos removalist should also be used if the material is in poor condition.

Bonded asbestos is asbestos in a form where the asbestos fibres are held within another material (for example, concrete) but does not include friable asbestos.

Friable asbestos is asbestos, whether or not contained in other material, that is crumbly, dusty or powdery or, when dry, can be crumbled, pulverised or reduced to powder by hand pressure. Examples of friable asbestos are sprayed asbestos coating or insulation, asbestos lagging, loose asbestos and asbestos in its raw form.

Check licensing

Asbestos removalists must be licensed. There are two different classes of licensees:

• Class A licensees can handle (including disturbing) asbestos in buildings, and remove and dispose of asbestos from buildings
• Class B licensees can handle (including disturbing) only bonded asbestos in buildings, and remove and dispose of only bonded asbestos from buildings.

You can find a licensed asbestos removalist and check their class of licence on our list of licensed asbestos removalists.

Check removal control plan

Find out about the asbestos removal control plan. The plan should include, at a minimum, the:

• method proposed to be used to remove the asbestos
• approximate quantity and kind of asbestos to be removed
• equipment proposed to be used to remove the asbestos, including any personal protective equipment, and
• details of a program for monitoring airborne asbestos.

Regulation

Anyone who believes a licensed or formerly licensed certifier has not fulfilled their obligations may put their concerns in writing by giving us feedback. Complaints may result in disciplinary action.