Removing a small amount of asbestos yourself in Queensland

Before you decide

Queensland’s first question is whether the material needs to come out at all. Its homeowner questions page says: “You don’t need to remove asbestos. If materials containing asbestos are in good condition (i.e. undamaged, undisturbed), the safest option is to leave them alone.”

If it must come out, size the whole job honestly. Queensland measures the entire job, not each section. Its minor renovation guide gives a sense of scale: “As a guide, 10m² is equivalent to about four sheets of asbestos cement wall sheeting, or usually only one wall of an average bathroom.” And help counts too: Queensland says “You cannot also get other people involved to assist in the removal, unless each of them have a certificate of competency in the safe removal of asbestos approved by the Chief Executive.”

Over 10 m², or with anything crumbly, this page stops applying: see when Queensland requires a licensed removalist.

Queensland’s procedure: tips when home renovating

Queensland publishes these tips for homeowners and home renovators. Every step is printed here word for word and in order, with the warnings under the heading Queensland gives them.

• “If it is in good condition (e.g. undamaged), can you leave it alone? (Can it be painted, covered to avoid removal?)”
• “Remember, before starting a DIY job with asbestos consider:”
• “Do you know the alternatives to removing the material containing asbestos (e.g. painting or sealing, covering with a non-asbestos product)?”
• “Can you comply with the laws and safe procedures for working with asbestos?”
• “Should you use a licensed asbestos removalist?”
• “Think of your family and your neighbours. When planning your work, don’t forget your family and neighbours. Under public health laws, you have a responsibility to make sure that you protect their health by not releasing asbestos fibres into the air during your work.”
• “You should also speak to your neighbours about the work you are about to do. It is particularly important to explain the safety precautions you will be taking to minimise the chance of asbestos fibres getting into the air.”
• “Look, check and prepare before doing any renovation work in a building.”
• “As a homeowner or owner-builder, you can remove 10 square metres or less of non-friable (also known as bonded) asbestos without a certificate. You must still take safety precautions.”
• “If the amount is more than 10 square metres, you must obtain a certificate before removing it or engage a contractor who holds a current asbestos removal certificate.”
• “You do not need a certificate for non-removal work (e.g. preparing a surface for painting, drilling a hole, removing tiles from a bathroom wall). You must still take precautions to prevent asbestos fibres getting into the air and following safe work procedures .”
• “If removing an asbestos sheet:”
• “The work area should be cordoned off (e.g. with barrier tape) to ensure unprotected people cannot enter the area.”
• “Those people removing the asbestos sheet should wear suitable protective equipment (disposable coveralls and a P2 respirator).”
• “The asbestos material should be wet down prior to removal, except where this would be dangerous (e.g. on a roof).”
• “Damaging or breaking the bonded asbestos should be prevented. Keep activities to a minimum where damaged asbestos materials may be found.”
• “Plastic drop sheets should be used, and all surfaces then wet wiped after removal is completed (i.e. wiped over with a damp cloth).”
• “Decontamination of the people removing the asbestos will include disposing coveralls and wiping boots (with waste materials to be bagged in plastic) and showering to remove any dust particles on skin.”
• “Where possible, work should be performed in well-ventilated areas or in the open air.”

Reproduced every step, word for word, from Tips when home renovating, on asbestos.qld.gov.au, under its Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence.

Queensland’s procedure: wearing protective equipment

Every step of Queensland’s protective equipment page, printed word for word and in order, followed by the warnings it carries.

• “A range of personal protective equipment (PPE) should be worn by workers to protect them from exposure to airborne asbestos fibres, including:”
• “P2 disposable mask or a half-face respirator”
• “disposable coveralls suitable to the task , for example, European Standards Type 5 and Type 6”
• “face and hand wipes”
• “boot covers or gumboots.”
• “You will need to purchase and use a specific respirator designed specifically for working with asbestos.”
• “Wear a half-face filter respirator fitted with a class P1 or P2 filter cartridge, or a class P1 or P2 disposable respirator appropriate for asbestos.”
• “Respirators should comply with Australian Standard AS1716.”
• “This number should be displayed somewhere on the mask.”
• “Males should be clean-shaven to make sure there is a clean seal between their face and the mask.”
• “The respirator should have an airtight fit.”
• “Read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions on how to check the fit of the respirator.”
• “Keep your respirator on until all work and clean up is done and your contaminated clothing is removed, bagged and sealed.”
• “Disposable coveralls should be used to prevent the contamination of any clothing, including your shoes/boots.”
• “A disposable hat and disposable gloves should also be worn.”
• “After your work is complete, spray your clothing with a light mist of water and remove them.”
• “Keep your respirator on when doing this.”
• “Seal all of these in your asbestos waste bags for disposal (contaminated clothing can be disposed of with other asbestos waste).”
• “To remove any dust and asbestos that may be on your body, have a thorough shower after finishing your work.”
• “Make sure you wash your hair as well.”

Reproduced every step, word for word, from Wearing protective equipment, on asbestos.qld.gov.au, under its Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence.

Bagging and labelling the waste

Queensland’s disposal page describes the packaging: “Asbestos waste is double-wrapped in 0.2 mm thick plastic bags or sheeting, sealed with tape and labelled double wrapped and transported to a landfill site that accepts asbestos.” Its suggested label wording is “CAUTION - ASBESTOS DO NOT DAMAGE OR OPEN BAG DO NOT INHALE DUST”.

There is a deadline. Under the Public Health Regulation, a person who does this work at home must package and dispose of the waste as soon as practicable, and within 5 business days. Queensland also says it is illegal to store, sell or give away asbestos. Transport limits and Brisbane’s rules are in disposing of asbestos in Brisbane.