Understanding Asbestos Removal Licensing in Australia — Classes and Requirements

Why licensing exists

Asbestos removal is one of the most tightly regulated activities under Australian work health and safety law. The fibres released when asbestos-containing materials are disturbed can cause mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer. Licensing ensures that only trained, equipped, and insured operators carry out the work, with proper controls to protect workers and building occupants.

The two licence classes

Under the model WHS Regulations, there are two classes of asbestos removal licence:

Class A — Friable asbestos removal

A Class A licence authorises the holder to remove any type of asbestos, including friable asbestos. Friable materials are those that can be crumbled, pulverised, or reduced to powder by hand pressure when dry. For a full explanation of why this distinction matters, see our guide on friable vs non-friable asbestos. Examples include sprayed insulation coatings, lagging around pipes and boilers, and loose-fill insulation. These materials are the highest risk because they release fibres very easily.

Class A licence holders can also remove non-friable (bonded) asbestos. In other words, a Class A licence covers everything.

Class B — Non-friable (bonded) asbestos removal

A Class B licence authorises the removal of non-friable asbestos only. Non-friable materials are those where the asbestos fibres are bound in a solid matrix (typically cement, vinyl, or resin) and cannot be crumbled by hand when in good condition. Common examples include asbestos cement (fibro) sheeting, vinyl floor tiles, and cement pipes.

A Class B licence holder cannot remove friable asbestos under any circumstances.

When is a licence required?

The WHS Regulations require a licence for the removal of any amount of friable asbestos, and for the removal of more than 10 square metres of non-friable asbestos. Below that 10 square metre threshold, a non-licensed worker may be able to remove bonded asbestos, but strict conditions still apply. The person doing the work must be trained, the material must remain in a non-friable state, and the PCBU must ensure safe work procedures are followed.

Even for small jobs, many building managers choose to engage a licensed removalist. The compliance burden of doing it yourself, including safe work method statements, air monitoring, waste disposal, and notification, often makes it simpler to bring in a professional.

What licence holders must have in place

To obtain and maintain an asbestos removal licence, a removalist must demonstrate:

• Appropriate training and competence for the licence class held
• Adequate plant and equipment (decontamination units, HEPA-filtered vacuums, negative pressure enclosures for Class A work)
• Health monitoring arrangements for workers who carry out asbestos removal
• Workers' compensation and public liability insurance
• A safe work method statement (SWMS) for each removal job

Class A removalists face additional requirements, including mandatory use of negative pressure enclosures and independent air monitoring by a licensed assessor during friable removal work.

How to verify a removalist's licence

Each state and territory regulator maintains a public register of licensed asbestos removalists. You can check these online:

• NSW — SafeWork NSW licence verification portal
• VIC — WorkSafe Victoria's licence register
• QLD — Workplace Health and Safety Queensland licence search
• WA — WorkSafe WA Licensing and Registration Search
• SA — SafeWork SA licence register
• TAS — WorkSafe Tasmania licence enquiries
• ACT — WorkSafe ACT licence register
• NT — NT WorkSafe licence register

Ask for the licence number upfront and check it before signing any contract. Confirm the licence class matches the type of work you need done. If you have friable materials, you need a Class A removalist, no exceptions.

Penalties for unlicensed removal

Carrying out licensed asbestos removal work without the appropriate licence is a serious offence. Under the model WHS Act, penalties for a body corporate can exceed $1.5 million per offence. Individual operators face penalties in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, and in serious cases, imprisonment is possible under Category 1 offences (reckless conduct creating a risk of death or serious injury).

For a broader picture of what the removal process involves from start to finish, see our guide on what to expect during asbestos removal. As the building manager or property owner commissioning the work, you share responsibility. If you knowingly or negligently engage an unlicensed removalist, you could face prosecution as the PCBU who failed to ensure the work was carried out safely.

Practical checklist before engaging a removalist

• Confirm the licence class (A or B) and verify it with the relevant regulator
• Request a copy of their current workers' compensation and public liability insurance
• Ask for their safe work method statement for the specific job
• Confirm who will carry out air monitoring (for friable removal, this must be an independent licensed assessor)
• Agree on waste transport and disposal arrangements, including tracking documentation

Related guides

For a side-by-side comparison of what each licence allows, see Class A vs Class B Asbestos Removal Licence. To find the regulator and licence register in your state or territory, see our State Licensing Reference.