Asbestos notifications
You must notify us at least five days before starting licensed asbestos removal work. However, there are other instances when you must notify us immediately of work involving asbestos.
This information will help you understand what asbestos notifications you must make to Workplace Health and Safety Queensland under work health and safety laws, as well as when and how to notify us.
What asbestos notifications must I make?
Who must notify and when?
If you’re a licensed asbestos removalist, you must notify us at least five days before starting licensed asbestos removal work.
However, you don't need to notify us before starting licensed work if it's necessary due to flooding or severe weather conditions. This is due to a class exemption that we granted that took effect on 16 March 2018 and expires on 15 March 2023, unless amended or cancelled beforehand.
How do I notify?
You must notify us in writing using form Form 65 – Notification of licensed asbestos removal work/demolition work/ emergency demolition.
When is immediate removal of asbestos required?
Immediate removal of asbestos may be required if:
- there's a sudden and unexpected event, including a failure of equipment, that may cause persons to be exposed to respirable asbestos fibres
- an unexpected breakdown requires immediate rectification to enable the service to continue.
Who must notify and when?
If you’re a licensed asbestos removalist, you must notify us immediately on 1300 362 128 if immediate asbestos removal work is required.
You will need to give us the following details:
- name of licensed removalist
- site address where the asbestos is being removed
- reason immediate removal is required.
How do I notify?
You must notify us immediately on 1300 362 128.
You must also notify us in writing using form Form 65 – Notification of licensed asbestos removal work/demolition work/ emergency demolition within 24 hours of your telephone notification.
What's considered an emergency?
An emergency occurs if:
- a structure or plant is structurally unsound
- collapse of the structure or plant is imminent.
What emergency demolition is covered?
This notification applies to the emergency demolition of any of the following:
- a building constructed before 31 December 1989
- a non-building structure constructed or installed before 31 December 2003 if there are reasonable grounds to believe asbestos is installed in the structure
- plant constructed or installed before 31 December 2003 if there are reasonable grounds to believe asbestos is installed in the plant.
When must I notify?
If an emergency happens at your place of work or domestic premises where a structure or plant must be demolished and asbestos is fixed to or installed in the structure or plant, you must notify us immediately after you become aware of the emergency and before starting the demolition work.
Who must notify?
At a place of work – the person with control and management of the workplace.
At domestic premises – the person or business operator doing the demolition work.
How do I notify?
You can notify us by telephone on 1300 362 128 or by using Form 65 – Notification of licensed asbestos removal work, demolition work or emergency demolition.
The licensed asbestos removalist must also notify us using Form 65 – Notification of licensed asbestos removal work, demolition work or emergency demolition if the resultant debris arising from the demolition includes friable asbestos or more than 10 square metres of non-friable asbestos, or asbestos-containing materials.
Other requirements
You must develop a procedure before starting the demolition work that will, so far as is reasonably practicable, reduce the risk of exposure to asbestos for workers and other people near the demolition site to below the exposure standard.
Who must notify and when?
If you're a licensed asbestos removalist carrying out asbestos removal work requiring an A class removal licence at a workplace and asbestos fibre levels are recorded at more than 0.02 fibres/ml, you must notify us immediately on 1300 362 128.
You will need to give us the following details:
- name of licensed removalist
- site address where the asbestos is being removed
- date the notification of licensed asbestos removal work was made to us
- details of testing and test results.
How do I notify?
You must notify us immediately on 1300 362 128.
Other requirements
You must also:
- order the asbestos removal work to stop
- investigate the cause of the respirable asbestos fibre level
- implement controls to prevent exposure of anyone to asbestos
- prevent the further release of respirable asbestos fibre.
You must provide us with a copy of the air monitoring report as soon as practicable. You can submit this by email or fax.
Class exemption—notification of licensed asbestos removal work due to flooding or severe weather conditions
The regulator has granted a class exemption to remove the requirement for licensed asbestos removalists to notify the regulator before carrying out licensed asbestos removal work if the work is necessary due to flooding or severe weather conditions (section 466, WHS Regulation).
This class exemption took effect on 16 March 2023 and is in effect until 15 March 2028 unless amended or cancelled sooner.
How do I submit an asbestos notification?
You can submit your completed Form 65 – Notification of licensed asbestos removal work, demolition work or emergency demolition notification online.