FAQs

Before purchase, have the house assessed by a qualified occupational hygienist or other professional qualified for the job. Asbestos products are found in many houses built or renovated before the mid-1980s.

Not necessarily. Products containing any percentage of asbestos should be regarded as potentially dangerous if disturbed. Trust only a licensed asbestos removalist to get rid of such material.

Absolutely not. Such action is a health risk and illegal. Asbestos removed from your house can only go to an establishment that is lawfully able receive asbestos waste.

For the location of waste facilities nearby get in touch with your local council. You can also get information about safely transporting and dumping asbestos waste by phoning The Environment Protection Authority on 13 15 55 or visiting their website.

If your home was built or renovated before the mid-1980s, products with asbestos were often used in wet areas such as laundries, kitchens and bathrooms. Don’t risk it: have the material tested and/or removed by a professional.

It is essential that you hire a licensed asbestos removalist if there is more than 10 square metres of asbestos-containing material. If there is less than 10 metres, however, visit the Workcover website for a guide to removing asbestos.

Go to the Workplace Queensland website to confirm the contractor is appropriately licensed. It is our recommendations to engage and A Class asbestos removal company for all asbestos related matters.

Safe management of asbestos in your home:

• General asbestos safety issues – Local Council
• Derelict properties – Local Council

Complaints about unsafe work at a residential property:

• Work conducted by a neighbour – Local Council
• Work conducted by a contractor or worker – WH&S Queensland
• Licensed removal work at a residence – WH&S Queensland
• Removal work carried out by the homeowner or tenant as part of renovations or demolition work – Local Council
• Small removal and maintenance jobs able to carried out by homeowner/tenant – Local Council

You don’t need a licence if less than 10 square metres of bonded (non-friable) asbestos material is going to be removed. However, over 10 square metres must be removed by a licensed and trained person, and any amount of friable asbestos can only be removed legally by a suitable qualified and licenced person.

Yes. The current exposure standard for asbestos is 0.1 fibre/ml for Amosite and Crocidolite, or for mixtures that have more than one asbestos type. However, any degree of exposure to asbestos fibres is best avoided.

It’s about risk management, and some asbestos-containing products are known to have a long and stable lifespan. Material that has a low risk of disturbance and is in good condition requires a less frequent review than the code of practice’s recommended 12 months. However, this reduction in review must be backed by a written recommendation of a competent person, and adequate systems must exist in the workplace for the reporting of any damage or work involving the material. The maximum time allowed between reviews is three years.