Asbestos workers and removalists

Learn about asbestos removalists, licensing requirements and how to check if someone is qualified to work with asbestos in Western Australia.
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Before working with asbestos, it is important to understand:

  • asbestos removal work
  • asbestos-related tasks
  • when you need to notify WorkSafe
  • health monitoring requirements.

Asbestos licences

Removing asbestos is extremely dangerous. In Western Australia, you must be a licensed asbestos removalist if you are removing more than 10m² of non-friable asbestos or any amount of friable asbestos.

There are three types of asbestos licences:

  • Class A removalist: can remove friable and non-friable 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.

Licensed removalists know how to safely remove and dispose of asbestos and decontaminate the site to reduce health risks. They must follow strict legal requirements under the Work Health and Safety legislation.

For more information on asbestos licences or to apply for a licence, visit Asbestos licensing.

Which businesses are licensed to remove asbestos in Western Australia?

Before you hire an asbestos removalist or a licensed asbestos assessor, use the Online Licence Search to confirm that they hold the correct and current licence.

Asbestos removal work

There are specific requirements for how asbestos should be managed during removal work, minor works or maintenance. You must also be aware of:

  • prohibited activities
  • when you must notify WorkSafe
  • when a licence is required
  • how to manage asbestos clean-ups after floods, storms or fires.

Learn more about requirements for asbestos removal, demolition and disposal.

Immediate asbestos removal work

Immediate removal of asbestos may be required if:

  • there is a sudden and unexpected event, such as equipment failure that may expose persons to respirable asbestos fibres
  • an unexpected breakdown needs to be fixed straight away to keep a service operating.

Notification in an emergency

If you’re a licensed asbestos removalist and immediate asbestos removal is required because of an emergency, you must notify WorkSafe immediately.

An emergency means a structure or plant is structurally unsound or its collapse is imminent. Emergency work still requires clearance before the area can be re-occupied.

If asbestos must be removed immediately due to an emergency, you must:

WorkSafe will review the information and if required, grant approval to proceed.

Learn more about asbestos removal notifications.

If you are an employer or a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU), you must protect anyone who works with or could be exposed to asbestos. This includes managing the risks, keeping an asbestos register and having an asbestos management plan.

Workers carrying out asbestos-related work and/or asbestos removal must:

  • be trained in asbestos identification, safe handling and control measures
  • use equipment designed to capture or suppress airborne asbestos
  • follow safe removal, decontamination and disposal methods.

The work health and safety laws also require a safe work method statement (SWMS) for construction work that disturbs or is likely to disturb asbestos. This is because it is considered high-risk construction work.

If you are carrying out asbestos removal, you must:

Property owners and businesses must ensure licensed professionals are engaged when required, and that an asbestos management plan and asbestos register are in place for workplaces built before 2004.

Learn more about working with asbestos.

Air monitoring and clearance

A clearance inspection is carried out after licensed asbestos removal work to confirm the area is safe to use again.

A clearance is required for all licensed Class A and Class B asbestos removal work.

Learn more about air monitoring and clearance.

Health monitoring

There are specific health monitoring requirements for workers who work with asbestos. You must monitor a workers’ health if they are at risk of asbestos exposure and carrying out:

  • licensed asbestos removal work
  • ongoing asbestos removal work or asbestos-related work.

Learn more about health monitoring requirements.

Asbestos law and guidance

There are laws, codes of practice, and guidance documents that can help you understand your asbestos-related obligations.

The Work Health and Safety Act 2020, the Work Health and Safety (General) Regulations 2022 and the Work Health and Safety (Mines) Regulations 2022 outline the responsibilities and duties for workplace health and safety in Western Australia.

To understand health and safety requirements for managing and removing asbestos in the workplace, see Asbestos law and guidance. 

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