|
Background Information | NSW WorkCover Licensing Requirements for Asbestos Removal
| Council's Role and Responsibilities | Dealing with Dumped Asbestos | Links
to
Useful
Additional
Information
Regarding
Asbestos
Background
Information
Asbestos is the generic term for a number of fibrous silicate minerals.
Asbestos is a versatile product, which withstands heat, erosion and
decay and has fire and water resistant properties. Asbestos
fibres are hazardous when inhaled. They can be released into the air
when asbestos products are incorrectly handled, removed or transported
for disposal.
Friable asbestos material is any material that contains asbestos and is
in the form of a powder, or can be crumbled, pulverized or reduced to
powder by hand pressure when dry.
Bonded asbestos is produced when asbestos fibres are bonded to another
material, such as cement or resin binder. It cannot be crumbled,
pulverised or reduced to a powder by hand pressure when dry.
NSW WorkCover has a major role in ensuring that removal of asbestos is
carried out in accordance with legislative requirements and where
necessary by registered contractors. WorkCover legislation, however,
only applies to:
- a workplace, or
- where the type or quantity of asbestos
being removed,
repaired, or disturbed requires the work to be carried out by an
asbestos licensed contractor (see licensing requirements below)
A work place includes a residential
property if any person is being employed there, but not if the works
are carried out solely by an owner builder who does not employ anyone.
NSW WorkCover
Licensing Requirements for Asbestos Removal
The licensing requirements for removal of asbestos are shown on the New South
Wales WorkCover website. WorkCover also ensures that
specialist
contractors are correctly licensed.
The current requirements advised by WorkCover for Asbestos Licensing
are:
- Bonded Asbestos Licence - a bonded
asbestos licence is
required to remove, repair or disturb more than 10 square metres of
bonded asbestos material such as fibro, corrugated cement sheeting and
asbestos cement pipes
- Friable Asbestos Licence - a friable
asbestos licence is
required to remove, repair or disturb any amount of friable asbestos,
such as sprayed limpet, asbestos cloth, millboard and pipe lagging. It
also allows the removal of bonded asbestos
Council's role and
responsibilities are where NSW WorkCover does not have jurisdiction
over works being carried out. Council has a role to protect personal
and public safety. This includes but is not restricted to:
- private residential properties when it
is not a workplace
- customer requests concerning the
condition of asbestos
products used at residential premises
Dealing
with Dumped Asbestos
If you would like to report an incident relating to asbestos please
call Council's Customer Service section on 02 9562 1666.
Links to
Useful Additional Information Regarding Asbestos
The following links provide useful information on legal requirements
and good practices to minimise the risks associated with asbestos
products.
NSW
Government: Fibro
and Asbestos - A Renovator and Homeowner's Guide (website)
Fibro
and
Asbestos
-
A
Renovator
and Homeowner's Guide (PDF file)
NSW
WorkCover
-
Asbestos
Working
With
Asbestos:
Guide
Department
of
Environment
and Climate Change
|