Asbestos around the home

[pharmaboy2]

Hi Pharmaboy, unfortunately due to new laws in QLD, see post #52 above or https://www.woodworkforums.com/showpo...4&postcount=52, you will see that there is new regulations in place, in QLD anyhow. Ignorance is a great defence, but Brisbane City Council is making it harder to dispose of Asbestos, so for me it will be easier to do the 3 hour, $195 course.

ausyuppy, I just read those posts and the linkies, and the prescribed penalties etc are under workplace health and safety provisions (of the links that worked). From that it is clearly the householders responsibility to ensure that remonalists are licensed for overe 20m2 of bonded asbestos - HOWEVER, I cant see anything in your posts to suggest that your household is a workplace.

If you are in the middle of a building contract, then it is, if you are oaying someone to carry out and remove then it is. IF however, you are going to remove it yourself and place it in a skip with the prescribed regulation plastic etc, then it is still your business by my reading of those statutes.

Do not employ anyone, and you arent a workplace. Ring a skip person who advertises for asbestos removal and they can explain the exact procedure for a private person to dispose of - they do it all the ime (except of course for all the other times whensuspect sheet goes out in the wizbin - the general method these days it seems ;\ )

[ausdesign]

Homeowners doing the removal [not employing anyone & not a workplace etc] come under the health act administered by local gov.
Transportation of the material comes under the EPA
I assume this is aust. wide.

[rodp]

Shannon,
It depends what part of brissy, I'm in a neighbour shire just had to wrap in plastic and tape up. (was advised to break it up a bit to make it easier to handle!!!! ) then take to refuse point where I was charged $340 (I think) a tonne. It was as simple as that did it last Fri / Sat.

[some_one]

I had Cladding removed from our place, the guys left broken pieces which a lady from the companies office came and just picked them up and left. They were supposed to take it all away. Now when I consider the removal of rest of the cladding the problem I will face is adjusting windows frmes and outside plumbing including an AC fitting! How difficult or expensive is it going to get the windows fixed any ideas?

[dzcook]

so my old hse was moved in the 30s and i think at that stage was renovated it has all fibro inside ands lots outside stuff inside is hard and heavy as all get out and has a smooth surface one side other side resembles a golf ball and cant nail through it it just cracks need to cut a hole 18in x 12 ins in it for a air duct any suggestions on how ? and i will treat it as asbestos anyway but its the cutting i need info on ? angle grinder or what ?

know some of the outside stuff is newer and is very likely to contain the stuff but dont intend to remove it just keep it painted and not touch it

[pharmaboy2]

making a hole in brittle material will require a hundred or so pilot holes. Dust is reduced by keeping the speed of the drill down and a sharp bit (a pack of a few might be a good idea) - decent dust mask is also a good idea - something denied the blokes down at JH et al factories!

The closer the holes the more guaranteed the result is when tapping out with a hammer.

[Barry_White]

The best way is as Pharmaboy says is to drill a series of small hole around the perimeter of the hole. But you should use a about a 1/4" or 3/8" Tungsten Carbide drill bit sharpened with a single angle on each side of the tip and no hammer action on the drill.

Only leave about an 1/8" between each hole and break it out a bit at a time with a pair of multigrips and break out the little 1/8" bits first and then clean the hole up with the multigrips.

This is how I used to make 8" holes in old fibro houses when I used to install oil heater flues.

One other thing to cut down the dust have a spray bottle of water and spray as you are drilling.

[LotteBum]

For those wanting to know what asbestos removal costs, I have been quoted $4,600 including GST to have asbestos removed (walls & ceiling) from my study, bathroom, laundry, walk in pantry and toilet.

Having done some research, my partner and I have decided to remove it ourselves, but not without proper training. Axiom college in Brisbane do an "Asbestos B Certificate Course" which costs $150 (including licence) and takes 4 hours. It is run every second Wednesday. For more information, visit http://www.axiomcollege.com.au/

We will remove all the internal asbestos ourselves, obviously following safety procedures dilligently, and leave the roof to the guys who are putting the new roof on, so that it gets done in one go.

Hope this helps.

Lotte

[blairis]

Hi all,

I was wondering what the consensus ended up being on self removal in Qld?
I was about to remove a quantity greater than 10m2 of bonded asbestos (fibro sheeting) from my house but have just come across these posts about the law changes.
I have read the WHS information but like others cannot clearly determine if it applies to homeowners not performing this work commercially.
The use of the word 'workers' all through the WHS information leads me to think it applies only to commercial removal of asbestos, but I wanted to check incase someone had gotten clarification.

I guess worst case I'll have to spend $150 and do the course.
Never fail to be amazed how over regulated everything continues to get.

Cheers

[soundman]

I think you'll find in QLD the WHS legeslation mostly applies to everyone.

cheers

[manoftalent]

ok first off ...it is illegal to remove asbestos and dispose of it without using the correct measures and sites ....not to mention dangerous ...hopefully these areas are painted surfaces or wallpapered even .....to avoid huge costs I would remove door jams, skirting, and architraves and fit battens to walls to support the plaster, you may decide to use insulation while your at it, in this method you will loose about 30-35mm of space on each wall but its a whole lot cheaper than a full refit ......and pls be safe enough to use a dust mask at all times and wear disposable clothing ....there is no such thing as being too "safe".

[Rodt68]

In regards to the Qld WH&S legislation. If it doesn't mention an exemption there isn't one.

Even if you are doing the job yourself it is classed as a workplace because work is being performed. You don't have to be employing anyone because payment doesn't come into it. To be classed as an employer or not all revolves around the terms "contract of service" and "contract for service" and this isn't restricted by payment only how the work is structured.

Bear in mind if the asbestos is friable (unbonded or can be reduced to powder by hand) the 10m2 rule doesn't apply as it has to be removed by a removalist with an "A" class licence anyway.

It's very hard to interpret the WH&S rules (in Qld anyway) unless you are experienced with it as more often than not it is what it doesn't say rather than what it does that is the key.

Cheers

Rod

[LotteBum]

On that note, my partner did the course and found it very helpful. I've also done some research into the vaccum cleaner required. Nilfisk do one for under $1000 that is approved for Asbestos disposal. Also, the 'PVC solution' to be sprayed onto surrounding areas in order to seal them is just PVC (ie. wood) glue and water...

Go and do the course. It's run at Axiom College once a fortnight - can't go wrong.

[pharmaboy2]

In regards to the Qld WH&S legislation. If it doesn't mention an exemption there isn't one.

Even if you are doing the job yourself it is classed as a workplace because work is being performed. You don't have to be employing anyone because payment doesn't come into it. To be classed as an employer or not all revolves around the terms "contract of service" and "contract for service" and this isn't restricted by payment only how the work is structured.

Rod, an employemeent contract has a number of tests, principaly to determine whether duty of care exists - in the past these tests have become wide and varied because employers have structured things to get around them on occassions. I can categorically gurantee you that a householder picking up a dishcloth in his house does not constitue a workplace.

If it was, then the next person that cuts his finger off with a circular saw while installing a door in his own house would be able to sue himself for damages (or wife ). If the cse of removing asbestos realted product was covered under OH&S law, then ALL activities at a home could be construed on the basis that "work" is anything productive. Employment law comes from within contract law, and so has the basic same tests for a relationship, consideration of some sort been a key measure.

For anybody who is still doubtful, either call your solicitor, or go and visit the chamber magistrate - he is free, and can advise quite succintly on who in your house is covered by laws pertaining to a "workplace"

sorry for the rant.

[journeyman Mick]

Rant mode on:
Under new(ish) legislation in Qld all asbestos removal comes under WH&S legislation, no ifs, buts or "I'm only a householder". Want to remove some asbestos sheeting or lagging/cladding/fencing/flooring/whatever in your own house/on your own property? You need to do a course and get a license so that you will know how to do it without endangering anyone else's life and you can legally get rid of the stuff.
Don't tell me the stuff isn't that bad. I'm currently in hospital in the palliative care area (dying people ) and there's a lady at the end of the corridor who's dying of that unpronounceable lung disease you get from having asbestos in your lungs. She never worked with the stuff and they worked out that the way she probably contracted it was from her dad (a chippie) bringing fibres home in his clothes.
I agree, there seems to be more and more legislation ruling our lives everyday, but do you really want to be watching one of your loved ones die a slow death because you didn't take enough precautions when you renovated your house twenty years previous?

End Rant

Mick