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

General requirements for all asbestos removalFigure 2: A warning sign informing peopleof asbestos work in the area.120. Signs need to be weatherproof, lightweight and securely situated so theyremain in prominent locations such as entry points to the asbestos work area.They need to be in accordance with AS 1319-1994 Safety signs for theoccupational environment (refer to Appendix D for examples).121. In addition to signs, barricades need to be used to indicate the area where theremoval work is being performed. Barricades also need to be used to assist inpreventing access to the asbestos removal area (refer to ‘Signs and barricades’on page 48).122. Employers have a legal duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, thatpersons other than employees are not exposed to risks to their health or safetyarising from the conduct of the undertaking of the employer. The use of bothsigns and barricades would assist in ensuring this.123. Reliance on signs and barricades alone to prevent access to the removal areais not sufficient. The removalist’s system of work for ensuring access to theremoval area is prevented needs to include regular checking of areas whereaccess is possible. In some cases, such checking may need to be continuous.124. All barriers and warning signs must remain in place until the removal work hasbeen completed. For licensed removal work of friable asbestos or non-friableACM greater than 10 square metres, all barriers and signs must remain inplace until a clearance to re-occupy has been granted (refer to ‘Clearance tore-occupy an asbestos removal area’ on page 68).Tools and equipment125. Tools and equipment include asbestos vacuum cleaners, manually operatedhand tools (such as chisels, spatulas, brooms and brushes), power tools andspray equipment to suppress airborne dust.Figure 3: Barrier formed using tape(appropriate for small non-friable removaljobs or as part of system using otherbarriers such as hoarding).Asbestos vacuum cleaners126. Asbestos vacuum cleaners must conform to the requirements of AS/NZS60335.2.69:2003 Household and similar electrical appliances – Safety– Particular requirements for wet and dry vacuum cleaners, includingpower brush, for industrial and commercial use or its equivalent. Filters forthese vacuum cleaners must conform to the requirements of AS 4260-1997High efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters – Classification, construction andperformance or its equivalent.Warning: In any removal job, domestic vacuum cleaners are unsuitable andshould never be used even if they have a HEPA filter.127. Asbestos vacuum cleaners can only be used for collecting small pieces ofasbestos dust and debris. Larger pieces need to be picked up and placed insuitable waste containers. They should never be broken into smaller sizes forvacuuming.128. Asbestos vacuum cleaners should not be used for vacuuming wet materialsbecause this can damage the HEPA filter.129. The correct attachment to the asbestos vacuum cleaner for the type of surfacebeing cleaned needs to be used. Note that brush attachments are difficult toclean properly.WorkSafe Victoria Compliance code / Removing asbestos in workplaces 29