Dealing with Asbestos in a Demolition Project
Requirements For Removing Asbestos Before Demolition
If you are planning to demolish a building in Western Australia that may contain asbestos, having the hazardous material professionally removed first is not only smart – it’s required by law. Asbestos fibres can cause lung diseases like mesothelioma if inhaled, so Australian standards mandate that asbestos must be removed before any demolition work can take place in order to minimise health risks.
If you are not sure whether asbestos is present in your structure, you should always assume that it is until you get it thoroughly inspected by your local licensed asbestos removal professionals.
What Happens If Asbestos Is Found?
If asbestos is found in your building, your asbestos removal company will need to prepare a detailed control plan for how the asbestos will be removed and disposed of before any demolition can take place. This plan is then submitted for approval to WorkSafe WA.
During asbestos removal leading up to demolition, technicians generally wear full protective gear and use high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtered vacuum equipment to control airborne asbestos fibres. Asbestos waste is carefully packaged and disposed of as hazardous material. Air quality is monitored throughout the process to ensure asbestos levels are below the threshold limits.
Does Asbestos Have to Be Professionally Removed Before Demolition?
Short answer, yes. There are very specific safety procedures that must be strictly followed during asbestos removal to minimise airborne fibres and properly dispose of hazardous waste. The risk of attempting any of this yourself is just not worth the serious dangers to your health and to the health of those around you, as well as the significant penalties for unsafe handling of asbestos.
Leading Asbestos Removalists for Commercial & Industrial Demolition Projects
Coordinating timelines and budgets across two different companies for your asbestos removal and your demolition work can be unnecessarily complicated.
At Focus Demolition, we specialise in both large scale demolition projects and safe commercial asbestos removal and can seamlessly manage projects involving both asbestos and demolition from start to finish.
This is because Focus Demolition holds an ‘Unrestricted’ Asbestos Removal Licence (WUA165), which allows us to remove all forms of asbestos safely. Our experienced, licensed team follows all regulations to protect the safety of workers and anyone nearby during the asbestos removal process. We also notify relevant authorities regarding upcoming demolition work.
Once asbestos has been fully removed per the control plan, our Class 1 ‘Unrestricted’ Demolition Licence (WAD 223) allows us to proceed with tearing down the asbestos-free structure. We can demolish a wide variety of commercial and industrial buildings while continuing to prioritise safety and environmental responsibility.
Contact our professional team today to organise an inspection and quote. We’d also be more than happy to answer any questions you might have about asbestos in your upcoming demolition project.