Can I remove asbestos myself in Victoria?

Who the licence rules bind

Victoria's asbestos licensing sits in the workplace regulations, so it binds anyone doing the removal as work: a tradie, a builder, a handyman, a landlord's contractor. They can do a small unlicensed job only when all three of these are true:

• the material is non-friable (bonded sheeting you can't crumble by hand: fibro, cement roofing, fences, eaves lining), not friable (lagging, loose insulation, and sheet that crumbles by hand, such as burnt or badly weathered sheet that has gone that way);
• the total area is under 10 square metres; and
• the removal takes under one hour in total in any seven-day period.

That is a single fibro sheet or two, a short run of eaves, a small cupboard lining. A fence is over the limit; most shed roofs are too.

For a homeowner, asbestos.vic.gov.au says Victorian law "allows homeowners and some workers to remove very small amounts of asbestos in limited circumstances", but that "the risks are serious, and improper removal can release more fibres than leaving the material in place", and it recommends a licensed removalist for any amount. It gives no quantity for a homeowner. The state's homeowner guidance is the thing to read, not this page: friable asbestos should only be removed by a licensed removalist; there are published do's and don'ts if you remove a small amount yourself; and the waste can only go to an EPA-licensed site. EPA Victoria's guidance is that bonded asbestos cement in good condition is a very low risk. Start at asbestos.vic.gov.au.

DIY asbestos removal: what you'd have to do properly

• Keep the sheets whole. No cutting, drilling, sanding or breaking. Unscrew or lever the fixings and lower the sheet.
• Wet it down and keep it damp. Fibres travel dry.
• Wear a P2 respirator, disposable coveralls, gloves, and dispose of the lot with the waste.
• Double-wrap each sheet in heavy builders' plastic, tape every seam, and label it asbestos.
• Follow your council's weight and size limits, ring ahead, and take it to the facility that accepts domestic asbestos. See the disposal page.
• Clean up with wet wipes and a damp cloth, never a household vacuum or a broom.

When it stops being your job

Anything friable, anything damaged by fire or storm, and anything you'd need a ladder, a second person and a weekend for: get a licensed removalist rather than attempting it yourself. A Class B licence covers bonded material of any size. A Class A licence is needed for friable material and also covers Class B work. The licensed crew notifies WorkSafe before starting (five days ahead for friable material or more than 10 square metres of bonded sheeting, 24 hours ahead for a smaller bonded job), works to a removal control plan, arranges disposal at an EPA-licensed facility, and for the bigger jobs arranges a clearance certificate from an independent person. That paperwork is the thing people underestimate, and it's why a quote has a floor.

What the regulations actually say about a homeowner

The 10 square metre, one hour in seven days rule is regulation 250 of the OHS Regulations 2017, written for "an employer or self-employed person": a tradie at a workplace. No official Victorian source gives a homeowner a number; the line "homeowners can remove up to 10 square metres" turns up only on non-official sites. What the state's homeowner pages do say: Victorian law "allows homeowners and some workers to remove very small amounts of asbestos in limited circumstances", the state recommends a licensed removalist for any amount, and removal "is best performed by licensed asbestos removalists". This page uses the tradie's ceiling for one thing: a fair rule of thumb for "this is a licensed job".

How small 10 square metres really is

• A short run of side fence goes past it; the arithmetic is on the fence page.
• A 3 by 3 metre garden shed is around 30 square metres of sheet once you count the roof.
• A 2.4 by 3 metre bathroom with sheet walls to a 2.4 metre ceiling is roughly 26 square metres.

Every one of those is a licensed job for a tradie.

Things people say that aren't right

• "You can tell by looking." You can't. A NATA lab test on a sample is the only way.
• "It's only dangerous if you cut it." Broadly right for intact sheet. Wrong for weathered, chalky, hail-damaged or burnt sheet, and for anything friable.
• "Wet it down and wear a mask, she'll be right." Wetting is one control among several: no power tools, no breaking, coveralls, wrapping, decontamination, a licensed tip.
• "A shop vac will clean up the dust." A household vacuum spreads it. The compliance code says a Class H vacuum and damp rags, and no sweeping.

The do's and don'ts from the compliance code

WorkSafe's compliance code is written for licensed crews, but the method is the method.

• Do use hand tools, unscrew rather than cut, and lower sheets rather than drop them.
• Do keep a constant low-pressure mist on the material: a mains garden hose with a pistol grip on the mist setting.
• Do put drop sheets down, cordon the area, and wet-wipe your boots before you step out.
• Don't use a broom, a brush, a high-pressure water jet or a power tool on it. The rule is "not unless the use is controlled"; the code says power tools should be avoided and pressure spray isn't recommended because the exposure can't be controlled.
• Don't sweep. Damp rags and a Class H vacuum only.

If you still want to remove asbestos yourself

If, having read all that, you still plan to remove asbestos yourself, read the state's homeowner guidance first and follow it to the letter: wet it, don't break it, don't use power tools, wear a fitted P2 respirator and disposable coveralls, double wrap and label it, and confirm the tip will take it before you load the trailer. Then reconsider the quote.

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