| 📋 Article Summary — Legacy Asbestos Management | |
|---|---|
| Entity | Anitech Group — Occupational Hygiene |
| Article Type | Compliance Guide / Risk Management |
| Target Audience | Building owners, facility managers, construction contractors, WHS managers, asbestos assessors |
| Key Entities | Safe Work Australia, state WHS regulators, How to Manage and Control Asbestos in the Workplace Code of Practice |
| Regulations & Standards | Model WHS Act and Regulations — asbestos provisions; How to Manage and Control Asbestos in the Workplace Code of Practice 2020; AS ISO 16000-7 air sampling for asbestos |
| Key Fact 1 | Asbestos use was banned in Australia in 2003, but buildings constructed before 1990 are very likely to contain asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) — millions of buildings remain affected. |
| Key Fact 2 | Mesothelioma kills approximately 700 Australians annually — 40 years after asbestos was widely used, the death toll continues because of the 20–50 year latency of mesothelioma. |
| Key Fact 3 | All friable asbestos removal must be performed by a licensed Class A removalist; non-friable (bonded) asbestos removal requires a Class B licence in all Australian jurisdictions. |
| What This Covers | ACM identification methods, asbestos register obligations, asbestos management plans, removal contractor licensing, air monitoring during and post-removal clearance |
| What This Does Not Cover | Medical management of mesothelioma and asbestosis, asbestos in domestic properties, asbestos in soils |
| Primary CTA | Contact Anitech for asbestos risk assessment, register preparation and air monitoring services |
| Read Time | 11 min read |
Despite being banned in 2003, asbestos remains one of Australia’s most significant occupational health hazards — not because new asbestos is being introduced, but because the existing installed stock in buildings, plant and equipment constructed before 1990 continues to present exposure risks during maintenance, renovation and demolition activities. Every tradesperson drilling, cutting or disturbing materials in pre-1990 buildings potentially faces asbestos exposure if ACMs have not been identified and managed.
Types of Asbestos-Containing Materials (ACMs)
Asbestos was used in hundreds of product types in Australia before the ban. The two main categories relevant to management are:
Bonded (Non-Friable) ACMs
Asbestos firmly bound in a matrix — cement, resin or bitumen. Includes: fibro cement sheeting (flat and corrugated), asbestos cement pipes, vinyl floor tiles, roofing products, textured coatings (artex/popcorn ceilings), fire-rated boards. Bonded ACMs do not release fibres in their intact, undisturbed condition. Drilling, cutting, grinding or sanding releases fibres. Class B licence required for removal.
Friable ACMs
Loosely bound asbestos that can be crumbled by hand pressure. Includes: pipe lagging and boiler insulation (amosite, crocidolite); sprayed asbestos insulation on structural steelwork; asbestos rope and gaskets; loose-fill asbestos insulation (particularly in roof cavities of some homes). Friable ACMs are the highest-risk category because they can readily release fibres. Class A licence required for removal. Loose-fill asbestos insulation (loosely installed fibrous amosite/crocidolite in ceiling spaces) is the highest priority removal scenario in Australia — identified in residential properties in ACT and NSW and subject to remediation programmes.
Asbestos Register Obligations
Under the model WHS Regulations, the PCBU who manages or controls a workplace in a building constructed before 1 January 2004 must ensure an asbestos register is prepared, maintained, and accessible at the workplace. The register must identify:
- The location of all identified or assumed ACMs
- The condition of each ACM (good, damaged, deteriorated)
- Date of last inspection
- The results of any air monitoring
- History of disturbances, removals and repairs
If no survey has been conducted and ACMs are not identified in a pre-2004 building, the regulations require the ACMs to be assumed present until a survey is completed. The register must be reviewed and updated at least every 5 years or whenever ACM conditions change.
Asbestos Management Plans
Where identified ACMs are not immediately removed, an Asbestos Management Plan (AMP) must be prepared. The AMP documents: the decision to manage in place rather than remove; the condition monitoring regime; controls to prevent disturbance; information and training for workers who may encounter ACMs; and removal schedule where condition deterioration is expected. AMPs must be accessible to workers and reviewed at least every 5 years.
Identification of ACMs
Visual identification of ACMs by an experienced assessor is possible for commonly recognised materials (fibro sheeting, asbestos cement pipes, vinyl floor tiles from the 1960s–80s). However, definitive identification requires laboratory analysis. Bulk sample analysis by polarised light microscopy (PLM) identifies fibre type and percentage content. For air samples, phase contrast microscopy (PCM) counts total fibres; transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with selected area electron diffraction (SAED) provides definitive fibre identification and is required for post-clearance monitoring.
Licensing for Asbestos Removal
Australian jurisdictions require licensing for asbestos removal:
- Class A licence: Required for removal of any amount of friable ACM. Class A licensees must have supervisors with specified competency credentials; use full containment enclosures with negative pressure; conduct continuous personal air monitoring during removal; and obtain independent clearance inspection from a licensed asbestos assessor
- Class B licence: Required for removal of non-friable (bonded) ACM exceeding 10 m². (Under 10 m² of non-friable ACM may be removed without a licence by a competent person with appropriate controls.)
Air Monitoring During and After Asbestos Removal
Personal and Static Monitoring During Removal
During friable asbestos removal, personal air monitoring must be conducted for removal workers to verify RPE selection and control effectiveness. Static monitors inside and outside the containment enclosure monitor fibre release and verify enclosure integrity. Fibre counts are compared to the 0.01 fibres/mL action level specified in the Code of Practice.
Clearance Inspection and Monitoring
Before an asbestos removal area is released for re-occupation, a licensed asbestos assessor must conduct a clearance inspection — visual inspection of the area to confirm that no visible ACM or debris remains — and a clearance air monitoring survey. Clearance air monitoring uses aggressive sampling conditions (leaf blower to disturb settled dust) with static PCM samples. The clearance standard under the Code of Practice is that post-removal fibre concentrations must not exceed background levels and must not exceed 0.01 fibres/mL. TEM analysis is used when PCM counts are elevated to confirm fibre identity.
