The Process Of Bathroom Asbestos Removal Without A License
The process of bathroom asbestos removal may require class A or B licenses or none at all. The particular steps in a removal project will depend on the licensing requirement. Here is an overview of the steps involved in a removal project that doesn't require licensing (based on guidelines provided by Safe Work Australia):
Removal Process That Doesn't Require Licensing
The steps involved in this process are quite simple, since the scope of such a project is small. In such a situation, you're only dealing with a small size bathroom with a maximum of 10 m2 of non-friable products (solid asbestos containing material). Take note that, as much as no license requirement exists for this type of work, all workers must be properly trained on how to identify and safely handle asbestos.
The process in such a project should include the following aspects (based on requirements by the Australian Work Health and Safety Regulations (WHS Regulations)):
(i) Unless the work is carried out at domestic premises, a copy of the workplace's asbestos register must be obtained beforehand. Persons with managerial control of the workplace are required to provide this document.
(ii) Workers can then proceed to identify specific hazards within the workplace. This isn't just limited to the particular hazardous materials that need to be removed. The removal team must also take into consideration various hazards that may arise due to the removal process, as well as the surrounding environment.
Several potential hazards include:
- Heat stress: working in confined spaces is likely to cause heat-related hazards. This is especially so due to the personal protective equipment (PPE) worn by workers. Therefore, proper assessment must be made of the intensity of work, temperature, air movement, humidity, exposure to heat sources and physical aspects of the workers. Moreover, the risk of heat stress can be alleviated through: job rotation, providing cool drinks, appropriately scheduled work-breaks, properly fitting PPE and demarcating shaded rest areas.
- Exposure to airborne asbestos: Removal of friable products (asbestos containing material in form of dust) can disperse the harmful material into the air. To control this risk, special enclosures may be used to curb airborne dust particles.
(iii) Once the specific work area has been identified, signs and barricades must be erected around it. This will prevent intrusion by unqualified persons.
(iv) During the actual removal, it's highly recommended that wet spray or saturation and water injection methods are utilized. These two methods are effective in suppressing asbestos fibers, unlike the dry method. However, the dry method may be used in case the work area has live electrical conductors.
(v) Only the correct equipment, tools and PPE must be used during this process.
(vi) Decontamination facilities must be readily available.
(vii) After removal, all asbestos waste must be properly labeled and disposed of, as soon as possible.
(viii) Eventually, all PPE used during this process must also be disposed of in a similar manner to the asbestos waste. Alternatively, it may be decontaminated, packed into sealed double bags and laundered in a facility that can launder asbestos-contaminated material.
(iii) Once the specific work area has been identified, signs and barricades must be erected around it. This will prevent intrusion by unqualified persons.
(iv) During the actual removal, it's highly recommended that wet spray or saturation and water injection methods are utilized. These two methods are effective in suppressing asbestos fibers, unlike the dry method. However, the dry method may be used in case the work area has live electrical conductors.
(v) Only the correct equipment, tools and PPE must be used during this process.
(vi) Decontamination facilities must be readily available.
(vii) After removal, all asbestos waste must be properly labeled and disposed of, as soon as possible.
(viii) Eventually, all PPE used during this process must also be disposed of in a similar manner to the asbestos waste. Alternatively, it may be decontaminated, packed into sealed double bags and laundered in a facility that can launder asbestos-contaminated material.
