Class A (friable) Supervision
Friable (Class A) asbestos refers to any material found beneath ground level. It also refers to certain older kinds of insulation found in home stoves and heaters and also in ceiling insulation. Commercial buildings are where asbestos-containing ceiling insulation was generally used. In recent generations of insulation products, the asbestos has been replaced by glass fibres.
As per the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011, particular functions in regards to Class A asbestos removal work must be undertaken by an independent and licensed assessor.
These functions are:
- Air monitoring during removal
- Clearance inspections
- Clearance certificate issuing
Removal Work
When licensed asbestos removal work is being carried out at a workplace, an asbestos removal supervisor must oversee the work. The licensed asbestos supervisor must have a certification appropriate to the type of licensed asbestos work.
If the asbestos removal work requires a Class A licence, for example removing friable asbestos, the asbestos removal supervisor must be present at the asbestos removal area whenever the work is being carried out.
However, if the asbestos removal work requires a Class B licence, for example non-friable asbestos that is more than 10 m², then the asbestos removal supervisor must be readily available to a worker who is carrying out the work whenever it is being carried out. For example, if the supervisor is contactable by phone and able to arrive at the workplace within 20 minutes, this would be regarded as accessible.
Where the asbestos removal work requires a Class B licence and it is being carried out by a self-employed person working alone, for example a plumber removing more than 10 m² of AC sheeting, the person must hold the competency of a worker for non-friable asbestos removal and the competency of a supervisor for non-friable asbestos removal.