Guideline forRemoval and Disposal of Asbestos Containing Material

The information contained within is to be used as a guide only

The information below has been obtained using a range of resources detailed at the end of this document, the aim of this guide is to provide general information in accordance with current scientific literature, legislation and codes of practice with respect to asbestos removal and disposal.

Safe Asbestos Removal

Left undisturbed in buildings, asbestos containing materialspresent in building products do not present a threat to health. There is no need to remove asbestos containing materials because of health concerns.

Degraded, damaged or mishandled asbestos fibres can be inhaled and have the potential to cause respiratory diseases. Asbestos containing building products can be removed safely and without risk to workers or the public, provided safe work procedures are employed.

Hazards

A significant hazard will be created if power tools are used for cutting, drilling, sanding, grinding or sawing asbestos containing materials.Power tools must NOT be used on asbestos containing materials. Safe work procedures must be implemented and followed at all stages of removal and disposal of asbestos containing materials.

Although the risk to humans of exposure to installed and undisturbed asbestos containing materials is negligible, surface weathering of asbestos containing materials can lead to the release of asbestos fibres during removal. This is the reason for implementing safe work procedures.

Coating of weathered asbestos containing materialsroofing withpaint and coatings is dealt with in the pamphlet “How Safe is Asbestos Containing Material” available from the City of Nedlands.

Identifying Asbestos

Fibrous cement products in use before 1987 may contain asbestos, whereas similar building products manufactured and sold today do not contain asbestos fibres.

Careful visual inspection and microscopic examination by experienced people are the only means of confirming whether fibrous materials contain asbestos. Should you wish to confirm if a material at your residence contains asbestos, look in the yellow pages under ‘analysts’ for a NATA accredited laboratory that can confirm the presence of asbestos in a product.

Identifying, assessing and controlling hazards during removal and disposal of asbestos containing materials in the workplace should be jointly achieved through consultation and co-operation between employers and employees and, where elected, health and safety representatives.

Legislation

The Health, safety and welfare of workers handlingasbestos containing materials is covered by the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 and Occupational Safety and Health Regulations 1996. Regulation 5.45 specifically refers to the safe removal of asbestos containing materials.

The Health (Asbestos) Regulations 1992 control the handling and use of materials containing asbestos, to protect the public from uncontrolled fibre release into the environment, specifically Regulation 7 (3) ‘a person who stores, breaks damages, cuts, maintains, repairs, removes, moves or disposes of, or uses any material containing asbestos without taking reasonable measures to prevent asbestos fibres entering the atmosphere commits an offence’. The Regulations also make it an offence to sell or supply second-hand asbestos cement sheeting, other than to dispose of the material.

Safe Handling and Removal

Material less than 10m2 of bonded (non-friable) asbestos may be removed without a licence however; all safety measures must be employed for its removal in accordance with Health (Asbestos) Regulations 1992. Bonded (non-friable) asbestos in excess of 10m2or any friable asbestos must be removed by a WorkSafe licensed and trained individual or business. During removal fibres may release when asbestos containing material is disturbed in a way that generates airborne dust. To minimise generating and inhaling asbestos fibres when asbestos containing material is being repaired or removed, precautions should include:-

  • Wearing suitable personal protective equipment –

-disposable overalls

-disposable class P1, P2 or P3 air respirators

-safety goggles; and

-disposable gloves

  • Carefully wetting asbestos containing material surfaces with water or spraying with a PVA solution before handling
  • Never using any power tool on asbestos containing material
  • Removing asbestos containing materialwith minimal breakage, and lowering to the ground.
  • Cleaning or sealing roof gutters prior to their removal
  • Stacking asbestos containing sheeting between layersofthick plastic,without sliding, to avoid scuffing and release of fibres
  • Not leaving asbestos containing materials about the site where they may be further broken or crushed by machinery or site traffic
  • Wrapping and sealing asbestos containing materialin thick plastic labelling or marking the bundles with the words “CAUTION ASBESTOS” at least 40mm high.
  • Cleaning, using an approved vacuum cleaner if necessary, any asbestos containing materialresidue remaining in the roof space or within the removal area.
  • Keeping wet and wrapping in sealed thick plastic all waste containing asbestos including contaminated protective clothing and removing from the site as soon as practicable.

Caution: Walking on an asbestos roof can be highly dangerous, particularly if the roof has undergone significant weathering and can be very slippery when wet. Many people have been injured falling through weathered asbestos cement roofs while attempting to treat or repair the roof surface. Another danger is that coatings applied toasbestos containing roofs can hide roofing nails which normally indicate where it is safe to walk.

Further more detailed information regarding asbestos removal for non-licensed individuals, removing less than 10m2, can be obtained from the Department of Health publication ‘Asbestos Cement Products in the Home’ and Safe Work Australia’s Code of Practice for the Safe Removal of Asbestos 2nd Edition [NOHSC:2002(2005)] . Should you wish to locate a licensed asbestos removalist look under the yellow pages under this title.

Disposal and Landfill Sites

Within the metropolitan area, asbestos waste must be disposed of in accordance with the requirements of the Health (Asbestos) Regulations 1992.Listed below are landfill sites that accept asbestos waste, however, the landfill sites should be contacted to determine conditions for disposal. Further information can also be obtained from the Department of Environmental Protection (phone: 9222-7000).

JFR Resource Recovery Facility (Brockway Transfer Station) / Cnr Brockway Road and Lemnos St, Shenton Park / 9384 2544
City of Armadale / Hopkinson Road, Armadale / 9399 3935
City of Cockburn / Rockingham Road, Henderson / 94180444
Eastern Metropolitan Regional Council / Toodyay Road, Redhill / 95746235

City of Stirling

/ Balcatta Road, Balcatta / 9344-1401

Mindarie Regional Council

/ Tamala Park, Marmion Drive, Mindarie / 9305-5246

It is advisable to check with landfill sites prior to the removal of asbestos to ascertain the cost of disposal and the desired format for disposal (i.e on pallets) and also to ensure that the landfill still accepts asbestos.For an updated list of facilities accepting asbestos materials refer to the Department of Environmental and Conservation

Occupational Asbestos Issues

Any issues with the management of asbestos in an occupational environment (e.g. work place) should be referred to the Department of Commerce (WorkSafe WA) on (08) 9327 8777 or the WorkSafe WAwebsite.

Useful Resources

  • Enhealth publication ‘Management of Asbestos in the Non-occupational Environment’
  • Department of Health publication ‘Asbestos Cement Products in the Home’ and ‘Managing Contamination from Pressure Cleaning of Asbestos Cement Roofs’
  • Safe Work Australia’s Code of Practice for the Safe Removal of Asbestos and Code of Practice for the Management and Control of Asbestos in the Workplace
  • Department of Housing Sealing, Coating and Cleaning of Asbestos Cement Products and Asbestos Booklet

Useful Websites

  • Enviromental Health Directorate (EHD) Contaminated Sites
  • Department of Health
  • Australian Asbestos Network (External link)
  • WorkSafe WA
  • National Health and Medical Research Council
  • ACT Asbestos Awareness
  • State Law Publisher
  • Department of Environmental and Conservation

Last updated July 2011