Asbestos assessor and removal licensing

Access Canberra administers the provision of Asbestos Assessor and Removalist licensing on behalf of the WorkSafe ACT Commissioner.

No asbestos containing material may be removed from premises (commercial or residential) in the ACT by anyone other than a licensed asbestos removalist. In the ACT, identification, risk assessment, auditing, air monitoring and asbestos removal clearance inspections may only be done by a licensed asbestos assessor.

Asbestos licence types

The 3 licence types are:

• Class A asbestos removal: to remove all types of asbestos, including friable asbestos.
• Class B asbestos removal: to remove only non-friable asbestos.
• Asbestos assessor: to carry out identification, risk assessment, advise on how to manage and control, reporting, air monitoring, clearance inspections, issue clearance certificates (this is different scope to other states).

All asbestos removal supervisors and removal workers must obtain certificates for the relevant units of competency to meet the licensing regulatory requirements.

All interstate asbestos removal and assessor licence holders must notify WorkSafe ACT of the intention to undertake work in the ACT, where possible, within 20 working days of beginning that work. Notifications can be made using this form: Notice from an Interstate Licensee of Intention to Work in the ACT

Applicants from non-WHS jurisdictions (Victoria and WA) must apply for an ACT asbestos removal or assessor licence.

The Work Health and Safety Regulation allows WorkSafe ACT to apply conditions, suspend or cancel licenses under certain grounds at any time.

Competency requirements

Part 8.10 of the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 sets out competency and eligibility requirements for asbestos licence holders, asbestos removal supervisors and asbestos removal workers.

There are 4 units of competency, otherwise known as the specified vocational education and training courses, which have been developed for the asbestos industry. These units require demonstrations of hands-on competency for example building and operating negative air enclosure and applying the membrane filter method in air monitoring in addition to knowledge aspects. The knowledge components of the units of competency rely on the two ACT Codes of Practice; How to Safely Remove Asbestos and How to Manage and Control Asbestos in the Workplace.

The 4 units of competency prescribed in the regulations are:

• Remove non-friable asbestos (CPCCDE3014A) – Usually 2 days duration. This Level 3 unit contains only the elements necessary to remove non-friable asbestos to support the Class B licence.
• Remove friable asbestos (CPCCDE3015A) – Usually 2 days duration. This Level 3 unit contains all the elements necessary to remove friable asbestos. To work or supervise work for a Class A licence holder you must also hold a certificate for the non-friable unit.
• Supervise asbestos removal (CPCCBC4051A) – Usually 1 day duration. This Level 4 unit provides the management and administrative skills necessary to oversee an asbestos removal operation. You must also complete one or both of the Remove asbestos units.
• Conduct air monitoring and clearance inspections for asbestos removal work (CPCCDE5001) – 2 to 4 days duration. This Level 5 unit provides the applicant with specialist skills and knowledge to conduct clearance inspections and air monitoring.

Find licensed asbestos assessors and removalists

To find a licensed asbestos assessor or licensed asbestos removalist authorised to perform asbestos assessment or asbestos removal work in the ACT refer to the WorkSafe ACT Public Register.

Asbestos assessor licences

In the ACT you must be licensed to undertake asbestos assessor work, including:

• identification
• risk assessment
• air monitoring
• clearance inspections and
• issuing of clearance certificates.

The scope of the assessor licence is broader in the ACT than in other states or territories.

Eligibility criteria for assessor licensing

To be eligible for an asbestos assessor licence, you must:

• live in the ACT
• be an individual
• prove you have, through training or experience, industry knowledge and skills for asbestos assessment and removal.

You must also hold one of the following:

• a certification for CPCCBC5014A - Conduct asbestos assessment associated with removal
• a certification for CPCCDE5001 – Conduct air monitoring and clearance inspections for asbestos removal work
• a tertiary qualification in:
  • occupational health and safety,
  • industrial hygiene,
  • science
  • building construction
  • environmental health.

If you don't live in the ACT, you must also provide:

• a statement outlining your reasons for applying to be licensed in the ACT
• justification for why you should be licensed in the ACT.

Training and experience

To prove you have the required knowledge and experience, your application must include:

• three written references
• copies of certificates for any relevant training
• copies of asbestos documents

The written references must be from a person:

• familiar with your work in the asbestos assessment or removal industry
• with relevant asbestos industry knowledge, such as a licensed asbestos assessor or removalist, or an occupational or industrial hygienist.

The copies of certifications for asbestos-related training can include:

• professional occupational hygiene courses specialising in asbestos
• air monitoring courses
• risk assessment  training
• auditing or identification training.

This doesn't include the certificate of completion for the 'Conduct asbestos assessment associated with removal' unit.

The copies of asbestos documents can include:

• risk assessment reports,
• management plans,
• registers,
• air monitoring reports,
• removal clearance certificates or similar.

These documents should contain the client's name and contact details for verification purposes.

To apply for an asbestos assessor licence

To apply for an asbestos assessor licence in the ACT you must:

• complete an online Application for asbestos assessor licence
• pay the application fee.

You must submit:

• your evidence of eligibility documents
• a photo in jpeg format for your licence card if your application is successful.

Once you have submitted your application it will be allocated to a licence assessment officer. They will review your application and contact you to let you know the outcome of your application. They may also contact you if they need more information.

If your application is approved, you will receive an email offering you the licence.

To receive your licence, you need to pay the licence term fee which lasts for 5 years.

After accepting the offer and paying the fee:

• your licence card will be posted to you
• your name, licence number and contact details will be added to the public register of licensed assessors.

If your application is refused, you will be sent a notice of the decision outlining the reasons why. You’re able to apply for an internal review of the decision if you don't agree with the reasons for the refusal.

Asbestos removal licences

There are 2 types of asbestos removalist licences:

• Class A
• Class B

A Class A asbestos removal licence authorises you to remove friable asbestos, non-friable asbestos and asbestos containing material. In the ACT, you must have a Class A asbestos removal licence to remove friable asbestos.

A Class B asbestos removal licence authorises you to only remove non-friable asbestos or asbestos containing material.

Who can apply for an asbestos removal licence

To be eligible to apply for a Class A or Class B asbestos removal licence you must be:

• an individual or a corporation
• live in the ACT, or if applying as a corporation, have a registered office in the ACT
• meet the relevant eligibility criteria outlined below.

If you're an individual, you must meet the eligibility requirements to be appointed as an asbestos removal supervisor for the licence.

If you're a corporation, you must appoint at least one person who meets these eligibility requirements.

If you don't live in the ACT, or your registered office is outside the ACT, you must provide:

• a statement outlining your reasons for applying to be licensed in the ACT
• justification for why you should be licensed in the ACT.

Eligibility criteria for Class A removal licence

To be eligible for a Class A asbestos removal licence, you must be able to prove:

• you have a certified safety management system in place
• you have appointed at least one or more person to supervise the asbestos removal work
• each supervisor is at least 18 years of age
• each supervisor has at least 3-years’ relevant industry experience
• each supervisor holds certifications for all of the following specified vocational education and training courses:
  • CPCCDE3014A/CPCCDE3014 - Remove non-friable asbestos
  • CPCCDE3015A/CPCCDE3015 - Remove friable asbestos
  • CPCCBC4051A/CPCCDE4008 - Supervise asbestos removal.

Certified safety management systems must comply with the occupational health and safety management systems determined by the Regulator.

Eligibility criteria for Class B removal licence

To be eligible for a Class B asbestos removal licence, you must be able to prove:

• you have appointed at least one or more person to supervise the asbestos removal work
• each supervisor is at least 18 years of age
• each supervisor has at least one-year relevant industry experience
• each supervisor holds certifications for all of the following specified vocational education and training courses:
  • CPCCDE3014A/CPCCDE3014 - Remove non-friable asbestos
  • CPCCBC4051A/CPCCDE4008 - Supervise asbestos removal.

Evidence of industry experience

To prove relevant industry experience, each named supervisor should provide:

• two written references
• evidence that the supervisor has the industry experience needed for the licence.

The written references must be from a person:

• that is familiar with your work in the asbestos removal industry
• that has relevant asbestos industry knowledge, such as:
  • a licensed asbestos assessor
  • licensed asbestos removalist
  • an occupational or industrial hygienist.

Examples of evidence of a supervisor’s experience in asbestos removal work include:

• asbestos removal clearance certificates for asbestos removal projects undertaken
• asbestos removal control plans
• safe work method statements
• documents containing the client’s name, address and scope of work
• evidence of experience in Class A asbestos removal work – if applying for a Class A licence
• evidence of experience in Class B asbestos removal work – if applying for a Class B licence.

To apply for an asbestos removal licence

To apply for a Class A or Class B asbestos removal licence in the ACT you must:

• complete an online Application for asbestos assessor licence
• attach your evidence of eligibility documents
• pay the application fee.

Once you have submitted your application it will be allocated to a licence assessment officer. They will review your application and contact you to let you know the outcome of your application. They may also contact you if they need more information.

If your application is approved, you will receive an email offering you the licence.

To receive your licence, you need to pay the licence term fee which lasts for 5 years.

After accepting the offer and paying the fee:

• your licence document and a list of approved asbestos removalist supervisors will be posted to you
• your name, licence number and contact details will be added to the public register of licensed removalists.

If your application is refused, you will receive a notice of the decision outlining the reasons for the refusal. You can apply for an internal review if you disagree with the decision.

If you have an asbestos assessor or removalist licence and your address changes, you will need to update your address.

Interstate asbestos licence holders

If you have asbestos assessor or removal licence from interstate it can be recognised in the ACT. This will allow you to work in the ACT without applying for a new licence.

The first step is letting Access Canberra know before you start work in the ACT.

How to let us know

You will need to:

• complete the Intention to Work in the ACT online form
• attach a copy of your interstate asbestos assessor or removal licence.