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Asbestos Removal SWMS Template — Class A Friable and Class B Non-Friable Licensed Removal

A Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) for asbestos work is a mandatory safety planning document required under the Work Health and Safety (WHS) Regulation 2025 before any high risk construction work involving the disturbance of asbestos or asbestos-containing materials (ACM) commences on an Australian site. Asbestos kills more Australians than any other workplace hazard. Mesothelioma alone claims over 700 lives per year in Australia, and the latency period between exposure and diagnosis is typically 20 to 50 years — meaning workers exposed today may not develop symptoms until the 2050s. Asbestosis, lung cancer, and asbestos-related pleural disease add further to the burden.

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SWMS variants reference your state’s WHS legislation. Instant download after payment.

Legal Requirements

regulation

WHS Regulation 2025 Part 6.1 Division 3 — High Risk Construction Work; Part 8.7 — Asbestos; Part 8.8 — Asbestos Removal Licences

hrcw category

Work involving the removal of asbestos or asbestos-containing material; work involving the disturbance of asbestos where there is a risk of release of airborne fibres (WHS Regulation 2025, Schedule 1)

code of practice

Code of Practice: How to Safely Remove Asbestos (2020); Code of Practice: How to Manage and Control Asbestos in the Workplace (2020); Code of Practice: Construction Work (2019); AS 2601 Demolition of structures

section 26a binding

Binding under Section 26A — the principal contractor must obtain, review, and keep the SWMS on site for the duration of the HRCW

hrwl required

Class A licensed asbestos removal for any quantity of friable asbestos; Class B licensed asbestos removal for more than 10 square metres of non-friable asbestos. Workers must hold CPCCDE3015 for friable removal or CPCCDE3014 for non-friable removal, and the supervisor units where applicable. A licensed asbestos assessor independent of the removalist is required for Class A air monitoring. Five-day regulator notification is mandatory for all licensed removal

Hazards

HazardConsequenceLikelihood
Inhalation of respirable asbestos fibres during removal, handling or disturbance of asbestos-containing materialInhalation of respirable asbestos fibres causes mesothelioma (an incurable cancer of the lining of the lung, chest wall, or abdomen), asbestosis (progressive fibrosis of the lung), lung cancer, and asbestos-related pleural disease.Likely (B)
Uncontrolled fibre release from breakage, dry removal, abrasion or high pressure water cleaning of ACMAsbestos cement sheet is non-friable when intact but can release significant fibre when broken, cut, drilled, sanded or pressure washed.Possible (C)
Cross-contamination of clean areas from clothing, skin, hair, tools and equipmentWorkers exiting the work area without decontamination carry fibres out of the enclosure on overalls, boots, skin, hair and tools.Possible (C)
Failure to identify ACM before work commences causing unknowing disturbanceBuildings built before 2003 in Australia are presumed to contain ACM unless inspected and cleared by a competent person.Possible (C)
Incorrect waste disposal leading to environmental contamination and regulatory breachAsbestos waste must be double-bagged in 200 micron polythene, labelled in accordance with the Code of Practice, transported in covered vehicles, and disposed of at an EPA-licensed landfill site cleared to receive asbestos.Unlikely (D)
Falls from height during roof, ceiling or eave line ACM removal and risk of falling through fragile asbestos cement sheetAsbestos cement roof sheeting is a fragile roof material under the Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces.Possible (C)
Decontamination failure leaving residual fibres on skin, hair, clothing or personal belongingsWorkers who skip steps in the decontamination sequence, who use inadequate wash facilities, or who exit through the wrong route carry fibres out of the enclosure.Possible (C)
Heat stress inside full enclosure wearing respiratory protection and disposable coverallsFull disposable coveralls sealed at the wrists, ankles, and hood combined with respiratory protection in a sealed enclosure reduce the body's ability to dissipate heat.Likely (B)
Manual handling injury from lifting and positioning heavy ACM sheets and waste bagsAsbestos cement sheets are rigid, heavy and awkward.Likely (B)
Unlicensed removal of friable asbestos by workers without Class A licensing or competencyRemoval of pipe lagging, sprayed coatings, boiler insulation, millboard, or other friable material by workers who are not Class A licensed, who lack CPCCDE3015 competency, and who work without the required enclosure and air monitoring causes catastrophic uncontrolled fibre release.Unlikely (D)
Inadequate air monitoring failing to detect fibre levels above the workplace exposure standardAir monitoring conducted by inappropriate methods, unqualified personnel, at inadequate frequency, or at the wrong locations can fail to detect elevated fibre concentrations and may permit site release when contamination remains.Possible (C)

Controls (Hierarchy of Controls)

[Elimination] Eliminate the need to disturb asbestos by maintaining the material in place under an asbestos management plan where the material is stable and accessible for monitoring
[Elimination] Remove all non-essential workers and building occupants from the work area before any disturbance commences, establishing an exclusion zone with signage and barricades
[Substitution] Substitute destructive removal with intact-removal techniques — whole-sheet removal rather than breaking, drilling out fixings rather than cutting through sheets, and lowering rather than dropping
[Isolation] Establish a sealed plastic enclosure around the work area using 200 micron polythene sheeting, taped and battened at all joints, with a three-stage decontamination unit at the entry
[Isolation] Establish and maintain continuous negative pressure inside the enclosure using a HEPA filtered negative air pressure unit, monitored with a differential pressure gauge and alarm
[Isolation] Isolate the work area from other site activities and from public access with fencing, signage and time-based scheduling
[Engineering] Use wet removal methods throughout — fine water mist, low pressure spray, or PVA solution — to suppress fibre release during handling
[Engineering] Use HEPA-filtered vacuum (H-class to AS/NZS 60335.2.69) for all surface decontamination and spill recovery; prohibit dry sweeping and compressed air blowing
[Engineering] Fit fragile roof controls for any work on asbestos cement roof sheets including safety mesh, crawl boards, and fall arrest harness systems
[Engineering] Install mechanical ventilation and temperature monitoring inside the enclosure to manage heat stress
+ 13 more controls included in the full template

Recent Prosecutions

SafeWork NSW — unlicensed removal of asbestos cement sheetingFines of the order of $400,000 and a prohibition notice

A demolition contractor carried out unlicensed removal of asbestos cement sheeting from a commercial building without a SWMS, without an enclosure, without respiratory protection, and left asbestos debris on the ground accessible to members of the public. SafeWork NSW prosecuted the corporate PCBU under the WHS Act and the asbestos provisions of the WHS Regulation. A prohibition notice was issued preventing further work until a safety management system was implemented.

2023 — SafeWork NSW Prosecution Register

WorkSafe Victoria — demolition commenced before asbestos removal completeFines of the order of $350,000 and an enforceable undertaking

A demolition commenced while asbestos removal was still in progress. A mechanical excavator broke through a wall containing asbestos cement sheeting and exposed approximately 12 workers to airborne fibres. WorkSafe Victoria prosecuted the principal contractor under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 and the Regulation. The matter resulted in a significant penalty and an enforceable undertaking requiring an independent asbestos management audit.

2022 — WorkSafe Victoria Prosecution Register

Safe Work Australia asbestos compliance priorityMultiple prohibition notices and financial penalties

Safe Work Australia and the state regulators continue to identify asbestos management and removal as a national compliance priority. Enforcement action covers failure to maintain an asbestos register, failure to notify the regulator before removal, inadequate enclosures and decontamination, and failure to engage independent licensed assessors. Improvement and prohibition notices are issued routinely, and prosecutions follow for serious breaches.

2024 — Safe Work Australia and state regulator compliance data

What Your SWMS Must Include

✓A description of the asbestos work including the specific task, the material type, the estimated quantity and the expected duration
✓Identification of every hazard associated with the work, assessed using a risk matrix
✓Control measures documented in the order of the hierarchy of controls
✓How each control measure will be implemented, supervised, monitored and reviewed
✓The name and position of the licensed removal supervisor on site
✓Evidence of consultation with the workers and any HSR
✓Training and licence records — CPCCDE3015 or CPCCDE3014 for workers and the supervisor unit for the supervisor, plus the removal licence number
✓Emergency procedures including first aid, containment breach response and notifiable incident reporting
✓PPE requirements specified by type and Australian Standard
✓Plant and equipment including NAPU, decontamination unit and HEPA vacuum
+ 10 more requirements covered in the full template

Get Your Asbestos Removal SWMS Template

This SWMS template pre-loads asbestos hazards, fibre suppression controls, decontamination procedures, licensing references, and disposal requirements so licensed removalists and competent persons can customise the document for the specific scope. Select the removal type, review the controls, and produce a site-ready SWMS before work commences.

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