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Workplace legislation
Queensland laws
The Queensland Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 establishes mandatory requirements for managing and removing asbestos in the workplace in the workplace through:
From 1 July 2006, in Queensland:
- An A class licence, also known as an Asbestos Removal Business Certificate, is required to remove friable or loose asbestos in any quantity.
- A new B class licence is required to remove non-friable asbestos (bonded materials such as asbestos cement sheeting) in quantities of 10 square metres or more.
You can find out more about the new B class licence in the Department of Industrial Relations fact sheet on the topic.
National codes of practice
Part 13 of the Queensland Workplace Health and Safety Regulation refers to the national codes of practice for asbestos management and asbestos removal. These codes are given legal standing in the Queensland Workplace Health and Safety framework and must be complied with.
Part 13, Division 3 of the Workplace Health and Safety Regulation 2008 states that all building owners must comply with the national code of practice for asbestos management by 1 January 2008. This code has the following requirements:
- Identify the locations of all asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) on site.
- Maintain a register on the premises which includes date of assessment, location of asbestos, analysis, risk assessments, control measures, and details of competent person who undertook the assessment.
- Review the register of ACMs at least every 12 months.
- Label all ACMs.
- Provide training for workers, contractors and others who come in contact with ACMs.
- Perform air monitoring whenever ACMs are being removed.
- Stop removal works if levels exceed 0.02 fibres/ml.
- Ensure clearance inspections are conducted by competent persons who are independent to the removal process, before a work area is re-occupied.
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