It has been recognised for many years that asbestos is a hazardous substance. The people who work with asbestos must be trained in the safe way of handling and transporting the material.  

A licence is required in Western Australia for the removal of materials that contain asbestos.  Only a licence holder, or an employee of a licence holder, may carry out this type of work.

There are two types of asbestos removal licence (unrestricted and restricted). Each licence in valid for a period of three years and is endorsed with a number of conditions that relate to the way asbestos removal work is carried out:

• Unrestricted: An Unrestricted Asbestos Removal Licence allows the licence holder, or people employed by the licence holder , to remove all forms of asbestos (friable and non-friable). Friable asbestos means any material that contains asbestos and is in the form of a powder, or can be easily crumbled, pulverised or reduced to a powder by hand pressure when dry. Examples of friable asbestos include, but are not limited to, asbestos lagging, sprayed insulation, millboard, felt and woven asbestos matting. Unrestricted asbestos removal licence holders; and
• Restricted: A Restricted Asbestos Removal Licence allows the licence holder, or people employed by the licence holder, to remove amounts exceeding 10 square metres of bonded (non-friable) asbestos.  Bonded asbestos contains material such as cement or rubber, which stabilises the product and gives it a non-friable structure. Common examples are asbestos cement sheets and pitch-based electrical switchboards.  Restricted asbestos licence holders

Under ten (10) square metres of bonded (non-friable) asbestos can be removed without a licence.

Although a licence is not required to remove ten square metres or less of non-friable asbestos material, all asbestos removal work must be carried out properly using safe work procedures and systems of work. There is a duty of care that all removal of asbestos containing materials is carried out in accordance with the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984, the Occupational Safety and Health Regulations 1996 and Part 9 of the Code of Practice for the Safe Removal of Asbestos – 2nd Edition [NOHSC: 2002 (2005)] and Code of practice for the  Management and control of asbestos in workplaces

Over ten (10) square metres must be removed by a licensed and trained individual or business.

Further information

• Removal checklist - Non friable asbestos
• OAG report – Regulation of Asbestos Removal