Asbestos licensing and the new work health and safety laws
New work health and safety (WHS) laws commenced on 1 January 2012.
Transitional arrangements have been put in place in NSW to support businesses, industry and workers move to this new system.
With the introduction of the new WHS laws asbestos removal work will continue to be licensed. A current licence for friable asbestos removal work will be recognised as a ‘Class A’ asbestos removal licence and a current licence for bonded asbestos removal work will be recognised as a ‘Class B’ asbestos removal work licence under the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (WHS Regulation).
From 1 January 2012, a Class A (friable) and Class B (non friable) asbestos removal work licence will be required. Existing asbestos removal work licences will be converted to the equivalent asbestos removal licence class on renewal. Asbestos licences will be valid for 5 years.
From 1 January 2013 there will be health monitoring requirements before a worker begins asbestos removal work.
More information about WHS asbestos removal work is available in the WHS code of practice, How to safely remove asbestos.
Check the transitional arrangements for asbestos work to see if they apply to your work.
Note: This page is currently being updated to include the changes required under the new WHS laws.
Non friable Class B (bonded) asbestos removal licence
A non friable class B asbestos removal licence allows the licence holder to remove non friable asbestos and ACD associated with the removal of non friable asbestos. ACD is asbestos contaminated dust or debris and means any dust or debris that has settled within a workplace and is, or assumed to be, contaminated with asbestos.
Eligibility criteria
To be eligible for a Class B asbestos removal licence you must nominate a competent person or persons who has been engaged to supervise the asbestos removal work.
The supervisor must be 18 years of age and if the applicant is also the supervisor, the applicant must be 18 years of age.
Each supervisor must have 12 months industry experience in the removal of non friable asbestos and have completed the VET course for supervise asbestos removal. See asbestos transitional arrangements.
Friable Class A asbestos removal licence
A friable class A asbestos removal licence allows the licence holder to remove friable asbestos and non friable asbestos and ACD associated with the removal of friable adn non friable asbestos. ACD is asbestos contaminated dust or debris and means any dust or debris that has settled within a workplace and is, or assumed to be, contaminated with asbestos.
Eligibility criteria
To be eligible for a class A asbestos removal licence you must include the name of the competent person or persons who has been engaged to supervise the asbestos removal work.
The supervisor must be 18 years of age and if the applicant is also the supervisor, the applicant must be over 18 years of age.
Each supervisor must have three years industry experience in the removal of friable asbestos and have completed the VET course for supervise asbestos removal. See asbestos transitional arrangements.
Applying for a licence
You must complete the Application for an asbestos removal licence (Asbestos-01) form and;
- select either class A or class B asbestos removal work
- provide a certificate of currency for workers compensation insurance if you have employees and are not an exempt employer
- pay a fee of $500 (GST free) for a class B non friable asbestos removal licence or $5000 (GST free) for a class A friable asbestos removal licence.
The licence will last for five years from the date of issue.
Applications can be lodged by fax: (02) 9287 5499 or post to WorkCover NSW, Locked Bag 2906, Lisarow, NSW, 2252.
Adding supervisors
You can add multiple supervisors to your licence. To register additional supervisors complete the Asbestos removal supervisor nomination (Asbestos-03) form.
More information about asbestos licences is available in the guide for Applicants for asbestos removal and asbestos assessor licence and notifications or by calling 13 10 50.