SWMS for non friable asbestos removal

1. Measure the area. Over 10 m2 of non-friable asbestos needs a Class B licensed removalist, who prepares an asbestos removal control plan and notifies the regulator at least 5 days before work (r.464, r.466). Tell neighbours
2. Set up the work area with barriers, signs and plastic sheeting, and close nearby windows
3. Set up a decontamination point and put on disposable coveralls and a fitted respirator
4. Have a licensed electrician isolate and disconnect power to anything fixed to the sheets, and check where the service line is attached
5. Use fall protection when removing from roofs, as sheets are fragile
6. Wet the sheets with a low pressure spray and undo fixings by hand, removing sheets whole. Never use compressed air or high pressure water on asbestos (r.446), and use no power tools or brooms
7. Lower sheets carefully; never drop or slide them
8. Wrap sheets in heavy plastic (200 micron), label as asbestos waste and take to a site licensed to accept asbestos, following your state EPA tracking rules (r.472)
9. Clean up with an H-class vacuum and wet wipes, then decontaminate
10. After licensed removal, an independent competent person does a clearance inspection and issues a clearance certificate before the area is used again (r.473, r.474). For small non-licensed jobs, do a visual check and record it

This example covers the job itself. Your site may add more. Add controls for any of these that apply (the builder asks you these as yes or no questions):

• Will anyone work more than 2 metres off the ground?
• Will anyone use a ladder or stepladder?
• Will anyone work on a roof?
• Will you use a scaffold or mobile tower?
• Will you use an EWP (scissor lift or boom lift)?

This task can involve these high risk construction work categories under the WHS Regulations:

• Risk of a person falling more than 2 metres
• Likely to involve disturbing asbestos

A SWMS must be prepared before any high risk construction work starts. It must list the high risk work, the hazards and risks, the control measures, and how those controls will be put in place, monitored and reviewed. It must be easy for the workers to read and understand.

Rules that apply: WHS Regulations, Chapter 8 (Asbestos); WHS Regulation 2011, Part 4.7 General electrical safety; WHS Regulation 2011, Part 4.4 Falls; WHS Regulation 2011, Part 4.2 Hazardous manual tasks; WHS Regulation 2011, Part 3.2 (falling objects).

Each state has its own regulator and some extra rules: New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia and Australian Capital Territory.

• It is generic: another site address, tasks that are not on this job, or no sign it was reviewed for this site. WorkSafe WA says a generic SWMS may not meet the regulations unless it is reviewed and amended for the workplace.
• The HRCW boxes are not ticked, or the ticks do not match the tasks (for example a roof job with no falls box ticked).
• Falls are controlled only by "be careful", training or a harness, with no edge protection or scaffold and no reason why higher controls are not reasonably practicable.
• Workers will clip on to a harness but there is no rescue plan for someone left hanging.
• The "how controls are implemented, monitored and reviewed" part is missing, or it says the same thing on every row.
• No worker sign-on, no person responsible for compliance, or a date given to the principal contractor that is before they actually received it.
• Licence or White Card details are missing for workers operating plant or doing licensed high risk work.