Asbestos removal

Asbestos Audit Project

SafeWork SA and the Environment Protection Authority are conducting an ongoing audit to assess South Australian asbestos removalists' licence compliance. Between June 2012 and January 2013, 15 per cent of the state's licensed asbestos removalists have been audited for compliance with current legislative requirements for the identification, removal and disposal of asbestos.

A summary of the audit project's first stage findings (PDF 81kb) is now available.

Asbestos removal requiring a Class A licence

Licence: Class A asbestos removal licence

Fees: Refer to Related Information for current fees.

Duration: 5 years

Note: This licence enables the holder to remove any form of asbestos material. Applicants must be familiar with the provisions of the Work Health and Safety Act 2012 (SA) and Chapter 8 of the Work Health and Safety Regulations 2012 (SA), relevant Codes of Practice and Australian Standards.

Please contact us on 8303 0400 for an explanation on Asbestos removal licenses and notifications.

Asbestos removal requiring a Class B licence

Licence: Class B asbestos removal licence - Asbestos Cement (Fibro), and non-Friable (Floor Tile) Products

Fees: Refer to Related Information for current fees.

Duration: 5 years

Note: This licence enables the holder to remove only asbestos cement products (eg. fibro) and other non-friable asbestos containing material (eg. floor tiles). Applicants must be familiar with the provisions of the Work Health and Safety Act 2012 (SA) and Chapter 8 of the Work Health and Safety Regulations 2012 (SA), relevant Codes of Practice and Australian Standards. Where applicants intend to remove asbestos-backed vinyl floor coverings and other friable asbestos products they must hold a Class A asbestos removal licence.

Please refer to the attached User Guide for information on the requirements for applicants of this licence.

Licence Holders

Notification of asbestos removal

Holders of a current Class A or Class B asbestos removal licence must notify SafeWork SA of asbestos removal work using the Asbestos Online Portal.

From 1 January 2013, Notifications are required 5 working days prior to commencement of asbestos removal.

To use the Online Portal, licence holders must have a valid username and password.   Please contact the SafeWork SA Licensing Unit on 8303 0400 for further information.

Asbestos Assessor Licences

This licence is new in South Australia. Laboratories previously approved to carry out asbestos monitoring work will continue to be authorised until 1 January 2015 via transitional regulation 727.

Regulation 528 requires SafeWork SA to keep a publicly available register of each person holding an asbestos assessor licence. Details will be added to the website as assessors are licensed from 1 January 2013.