Removing less than 10 sq metres - in a workplace, with management or control

An employer, a self-employed person or a person who manages or controls a workplace (such as a commercial property owner) can conduct a limited amount of asbestos removal work without a licence involving:

the removal of non-friable asbestos-containing material if:
- the area of asbestos-containing material to be removed does not exceed 10 square metres in total, and
- the total time asbestos removal work is performed in any period of seven days does not exceed one hour (this period is the cumulative total time the asbestos removal work is carried out by all employees over a period of seven days).
the removal of asbestos-contaminated dust if:
- the asbestos removal work does not exceed 10 minutes in total, and
- the total time asbestos removal work is performed in any period of seven days does not exceed one hour (this period is the cumulative total time the asbestos removal work is carried out by all employees over a period of seven days).

Although the unlicensed removal of a limited amount of non-friable asbestos or asbestos-contaminated dust is permitted, it is generally not recommended. It is safer for a licensed asbestos removalist to perform the removal work.

Further information on the requirements for performing asbestos removal work, such as training, signage, personal protective equipment, decontamination processes, packaging of asbestos waste and disposal, can be found in the Removing asbestos in workplaces compliance code.

If you are engaging a licensed asbestos removalist remember:

Class A licensed asbestos removalists can remove both friable and non-friable asbestos.
Class B licensed asbestos removalists can only remove non-friable asbestos.

Find a licenced removalist using our provider directory(opens in a new window).

You may also wish to view the

Working safely with asbestos