Asbestos licensing

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.

The three 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 in 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 WHS Regulation allows the WorkSafe ACT to apply conditions or suspend or cancel licences 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 four 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 four 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.

Lists of licensed asbestos assessors and asbestos 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 our Public Register.

Asbestos removal licensing

In the ACT, only a Class A asbestos removal licence holder can remove friable asbestos or asbestos containing material. A Class A asbestos removal licence holder may also remove non-friable asbestos or asbestos containing material.

In the ACT a Class B asbestos removal licence holder can only remove non-friable asbestos or asbestos containing material.

Access Canberra is responsible for licensing Asbestos Removal Licensing. For information on Asbestos Removal licensing go to the Asbestos Assessor and Removal Licensing Page on the Access Canberra Website.

Asbestos assessor licensing

In the ACT, only a licensed asbestos assessor can undertake asbestos identification, risk assessment, air monitoring, clearance inspections and the issuing of clearance certificates. The scope of the assessor licence is therefore broader than in other States or Territories.

Access Canberra is responsible for licensing Asbestos Removal Licensing. For information on Asbestos Removal licensing go to the Asbestos Assessor and Removal Licensing Page on the Access Canberra Website.

Training

The Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 requires that a person conducting a business or undertaking must ensure that all of their workers who they reasonably believe will work with asbestos or asbestos containing materials attend face-to-face training in asbestos awareness.

WorkSafe ACT provide approval for registered training organisations to conduct Asbestos Awareness Training. For information on Asbestos Awareness Training requirements go to the Training page.

Related resources

Legislation

Codes of Practice

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