Asbestos removal poses a serious health risk. There are specific requirements for how asbestos should be managed during removal, minor works and maintenance procedures. It is also important to know about prohibited activities, notifications, licences and advice on clean-ups after floods, storms or fires.
Prohibited activities
Western Australia laws ban the use of certain tools and work methods when working with asbestos-containing materials (ACM) because they can generate dangerous airborne asbestos fibres.
You must never do the following when working with or removing ACM:
- use brooms or brushes to dry-sweep asbestos containing dust
- use high-speed power tools to cut, grind, sand or drill asbestos materials
- use high pressure water or compressed air to clean asbestos materials
- use industrial drying fans in areas where damaged or friable asbestos might be present, until the area has been certified as clear of remaining asbestos.
All of these activities are very dangerous because they can release large numbers of asbestos fibres into the air.
Removing asbestos at your home
You are allowed to remove intact asbestos from your own home. However, we strongly recommend using a competent person to do the job safely. If you are removing a small amount of intact asbestos cement products or doing minor maintenance or renovation on or around asbestos-containing products, read how you can do this safely.
Follow strict safety precautions and use personal protective equipment during removal, disposal and decontamination.
If you plan to remove asbestos from your property, you may need approval to remove asbestos products. Contact the environmental health and compliance team at your local council or shire for advice.
If you’re unsure about the condition of asbestos, get advice from a competent person before starting any work. After the work is complete, the competent person should issue a clearance certificate confirming that all asbestos materials have been removed and that no dust or debris remains.
Trades and construction workers hired to work on your property must comply with the work health and safety laws. These laws limit how much asbestos a tradesperson can remove without a licence. Learn how to work safely with asbestos.
Use the Online Licence Search to verify that the contractor holds the correct licence if you plan to hire an asbestos removalist.
Anyone paid to work on your property must follow the legal requirements for asbestos removal.
Removing asbestos at a workplace
If you have management or control of a workplace, you must have measures in place to control the risk to workers and others when asbestos removal work is carried out.
Asbestos management is the responsibility of the property owner, contractor, facility manager and work supervisor. The site must develop and maintain an asbestos management plan and procedures, including an on-site asbestos register.
You must keep an asbestos register for workplaces built before 2004 or where asbestos is likely to be present. The register must outline:
- where the asbestos is, or assumed to be
- what type of asbestos it is
- what condition it is in.
The asbestos register must be:
- made available to anyone likely to be exposed to asbestos
- kept up to date
- passed on to the new workplace management.
Learn more about asbestos safety, asbestos removal and managing asbestos risk in the workplace.
Unlicensed asbestos removal
You can remove some non-friable asbestos yourself, but we strongly recommend using a licensed asbestos removalist. There is no safe level of exposure to asbestos.
The amount of asbestos to be removed determines who can remove and dispose of the waste:
- a homeowner can remove less than 10m2 of non-friable asbestos themselves
- a tradesperson can remove less than 10m2 of non-friable asbestos on behalf of the homeowner.
Removal of more than 10m2 of non-friable asbestos or any amount of friable asbestos, must be done by a licensed asbestos removalist.
Managing asbestos risks
There is no safe level of asbestos exposure. Licensed removalists and assessors have the training and equipment to manage the risks. Using an unlicensed person for work that requires a licence is illegal and increases health risks for everyone.
A competent person with the necessary training and experience can determine if asbestos is present in your home or workplace. You can find more information from the Australian Asbestos Network.
Asbestos removal cost
Removing asbestos can be costly, but it is worthwhile to remove the risks from your home or workplace.
The cost for removing asbestos depends on:
- the age of the building or object and how it was built
- how much asbestos needs to be removed
- whether the asbestos is friable or non-friable.
Asbestos removal can be significantly more expensive if the material has been damaged by fire, cyclones or strong winds. It is generally cheaper and safer to remove asbestos while it is still in good condition, so have your building inspected for asbestos before you start work to help plan for removal costs.
See controlled waste for details on how to dispose of ACM.
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