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

General requirements for all asbestos removal211. Asbestos sheeting needs to be bundled securely. These bundles and redundantasbestos lagged pipes and equipment need to be double wrapped in thepolythene sheeting and adhesive tape needs to be used to tape the entirelength of every overlap. Wrapped bundles of asbestos sheeting and redundantasbestos lagged pipes and equipment need be of a size that minimises the riskof the polythene sheeting tearing or splitting and/or a manual handling injuryoccurring.Disposal of asbestos waste212. Asbestos waste must be disposed of as soon as is reasonably practicable.Generally, this means the asbestos waste must be disposed of at the end ofthe removal job or when the waste containers are full. It must also be disposedof at the end of each day if waste on the removal site cannot be secured (thatis untrained/unprotected people can come into contact with the waste). Wherewaste can be secured, it also needs to be labelled to indicate that it containsasbestos waste.213. In some cases, very small quantities of waste may be brought back to a centrallocation where the waste is stored in a labelled, secure container. This containeris then taken to an EPA Victoria-licensed asbestos waste disposal site once it isfull. This approach may be appropriate where a company, such as a utilitiescompany, occasionally removes small quantities of ACM (eg electric metreboards) or a licensed removalist has removed a very small quantity of ACM(eg two square metres). EPA Victoria should be contacted to establish whethersuch storage, until disposal, is acceptable.214. Anyone removing asbestos needs to first establish the specific waste disposalsite’s requirements for packaging the asbestos waste otherwise it may not beaccepted. All asbestos waste must be removed from the workplace by acompetent person and transported and disposed of in accordance with theRegulations and EPA Victoria requirements. Asbestos waste must be disposedof at an EPA Victoria-licensed asbestos waste disposal site and disposal mustbe carried out in a manner that eliminates the release of airborne asbestosfibres, which means ensuring:• asbestos waste is securely packaged in containers• waste containers are secure during transport• the method of unloading the waste is safe.215. Contact EPA Victoria (epa.vic.gov.au) for more information about licensingof waste transport vehicles and licensed asbestos waste disposal sites.Medical examinations216. The employer performing asbestos removal work must arrange for appropriatemedical examinations by a registered medical practitioner for each employeeengaged in ongoing asbestos removal work if there is a risk of exposure toairborne asbestos fibres above one half of the exposure standard.217. ‘Ongoing asbestos removal work’ is where the activity is not a ‘one off’ and willcontinue as part of the employer’s work. Where an employer’s services includeactivities such as removal of non-friable ACM, it is regarded as being ongoing.If removal of non-friable ACM is a one-off job never to be repeated, it is notregarded as ongoing.WorkSafe Victoria Compliance code / Removing asbestos in workplaces 39