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As an employer, you have a general duty to make your workplace safe, as well as the following duties in relation to control any risk to health from the presence of asbestos where there is a risk to health.

Control risk

Work through the following list to control asbestos risks.

1. Remove the asbestos 
The best option is to remove the asbestos completely, so you should always try to do this first.

Example: Use a licensed removalist to replace a damaged ceiling that contains asbestos.   

2. Enclose the asbestos-containing material
If there is a risk but you can’t remove the asbestos altogether, you need to enclose it.

Example: If the asbestos is undamaged, use non-asbestos boarding to protect asbestos from impact damage, seal any cavities and note the presence of asbestos material.

3. Seal the asbestos-containing material
If you can’t enclose the material, or you have enclosed it but a risk still remains, think about how you can seal the asbestos to reduce the risk.

Example: Restrict access to the area and treat the material with a sealant that either binds the asbestos fibres together or coats the material to prevent the release of fibres.

Removing asbestos

Asbestos removal must be done by a licensed removalist and WorkSafe must be notified of any work taking place.

View a list of licensed asbestos removalists or contact the WorkSafe Advisory Service (1800 136 089).

In some circumstances, small amounts of non-friable asbestos can be removed without a licence.  However, certain safety precautions must be taken and the waste disposed of safely.

Unlicensed removal of limited amounts of asbestos is permitted if:

• the asbestos-containing material is non-friable; and
• the area to be removed is less than 10 square metres in total; and
• the total cumulative asbestos removal work undertaken by all employees is no more than 1 hour in any period of 7 days.

If you are an employer carrying out asbestos removal that does not require a licence, you still have to comply with a range of safety requirements, including providing protective clothing and equipment, training and medical examinations.

Testing for asbestos

To find a NATA approved asbestos analyst, visit the online directory at NATA or contact NATA in Victoria on (03) 9329 1633.

Disposing of asbestos

For information on disposal, or what to do in case of accidents, contact:

• EPA Information Centre on 9695 2722
• EPA Pollution Watch Line (24 hours) on 9695 2777 or 1800 444 004
• a licensed asbestos removalist
• WorkSafe Advisory Service on 1800 136 089