Asbestos removalists - how can I find a suitable one?

Part 4.4 (Asbestos) of the Victorian Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017 requires that any asbestos removal work on commercial sites be done by a licensed removalist.

Limited removal without a license is permissable ONLY if the asbestos to be removed is in a good condition (non-friable) and a very small quantity, and the removal takes no more than one hour in any seven day period. Very limited amounts of asbestos-contaminated dust can also be removed if it constitutes no more than a 'minor contamination'. However, it is our view that asbestos-contaminated dust should only be removed by licensed removalists.

However, this does not necessarily apply in homes. Householders can legally remove asbestos themselves, from their own home, though certain requirements MUST be followed for both health and safety and legal reasons. This only applies if there are no paid workers involved. More information on removing asbestos in homes is on this website.

The Victorian Trades Hall Council (03 9659 3511) maintains a list of licensed removalists who have also signed an agreement with the VTHC to operate according to a code of conduct. We recommend that any asbestos removal be undertaken by one of the removalists on our list, which is updated every 3 months. All removalists on the VTHC list are licensed by WorkSafe Victoria as required under the regulations.

Important Note: While the VTHC cannot guarantee the quality of the work performed by the listed removalists, the Asbestos Committee monitors their adherence to the Agreement and Code of Conduct and reserves the right to remove a company not complying.

By signing the agreement the removalist company agrees, amongst other things, to:

1. have an EBA with the relevant union
2. ensure all the workers are trained by the union
3. gurarantee all workers are getting all entitlements
4. ensure they have adequate insurance
5. provide the VTHC with details of their license
6. Notify the VTHC as well as WorkSafe of the removal jobs they undertake
7. agree to comply with requirements under the OHS Act and regs (including notifying HSR at worksite of the job they're doing)

These undertakings maximise the likelihood that the removal company is complying will all legal requirements, including proper training and payment of their workers. If you have any concerns that a removalist on the register has not adhered to any condition of the Agreement or the Code, please contact us at the Unit on 03 9659 3511.

Domestic removals: Some companies will do small jobs - call them to discuss your needs (start with the ones with a D first).

VTHC RECOGNISED ASBESTOS REMOVALIST LIST
No 104

Date: 21 December 2015 - this is the latest version.
Remains current until next list issued
(Note that List 104 replaces List 103)

NOTE: a number of Class A Removalists' listing was temporarily suspended on December 21, 2015. These are marked in the table below.

CLASS A Asbestos Removalists

All forms of Asbestos Containing Material (friable and non-friable) Removal

NOTE: there has been one change to the Class A list: Cobra Contracting Services Pty Ltd, recently downgraded to a Class B Removalist and subsequently decided to come off our list altogether.

CLASS B Removalists

All types of non-friable asbestos containing material (eg cement sheeting or vinyl tiles)

For more information, contact the following union contacts

NOTE: under the new licensing system, the WorkCover Authority issues the following classes of licences:

Class A
Class A (Restricted)
Class B
Class B (Restricted)
As at August 2014, no company with a restricted license had applied to be included on our Asbestos Removalist List.

There are many other asbestos removal companies that are licensed by WorkSafe Victoria.The above companies have gone the step further and applied for listing on the VTHC list. You can check whether a removalist you come across has an asbestos removalist licence on the 'Service Provider Directory' on the WorkSafe website.

Last amended December 2017