Removing asbestos in workplaces - Compliance ... - WorkSafe Victoria

General requirements for all asbestos removalWhat is an asbestos register and what must be in it?An asbestos register contains information about the asbestos that has beenidentified in the workplace. A person who manages or controls a workplacewhere asbestos is present must have an asbestos register. In addition,an employer in the workplace who has management or control over anystructures or plant that contain asbestos must also have an asbestos register.There is no mandatory format that the register must follow. However, it mustinclude the following:• information required as part of the identification of asbestos, including:– the location of the asbestos– the likely source of unfixed or uninstalled asbestos– the type of ACM– whether the asbestos is friable or non-friable– the condition of the ACM– whether the ACM is likely to be damaged or disturbed• details of all inaccessible areas likely to contain asbestos• detailed information about activities carried out in the workplacethat are likely to disturb the asbestos• dates when the identification and risk assessment were made.Further guidance on asbestos registers can be found in WorkSafe’s Managingasbestos in workplaces compliance code.Safe work method statements80. An employer or self-employed person must determine whether the asbestosremoval work falls within the meaning of high-risk construction work as definedby the Regulations. If it does, a safe work method statement is required. Forlicensed removal work the preparation of a control plan is taken to be theequivalent of a safe work method statement, therefore a safe work methodstatement is not required in relation to asbestos removal. However, if there areactivities other than asbestos removal that fall within the meaning of high-riskconstruction work, a safe work method statement addressing those otheractivities must be completed. A reference in the safe work method statementto the asbestos control plan would be useful.81. For further guidance on safe work method statements and asbestos removalrefer to paragraphs 237–239.Elimination of airborne asbestos fibres82. An employer or self-employed person performing asbestos removal work mustensure this work is performed in a manner that, so far as is reasonably practicable:• eliminates the release of airborne asbestos fibres• prevents the contamination of areas adjacent to the asbestos removal area.83. This requires planning to ensure methods of removal are used that minimisethe generation of airborne asbestos fibres whether or not the removal is to beperformed within an enclosure (refer to ‘Specific requirements for the removalof friable ACM’ on page 55). Such methods need to include:WorkSafe Victoria Compliance code / Removing asbestos in workplaces 23