Minor routine maintenance and other minor work
From 1 January 2015 the removal of asbestos and asbestos containing material (ACM) from a premises, both workplaces and non-workplaces, is not permitted unless it is undertaken by an appropriately licensed asbestos removalist. An exception is if the removal is incidental to minor routine maintenance work, or other minor work.
Minor routine and maintenance work
Minor maintenance work includes routine work that is small scale, often short in duration and may be unscheduled. This work may require the partial dismantling of a structure or plant and may include the removal of asbestos or asbestos containing material (ACM) such as gaskets or brake components for example a piece of plant to remove an asbestos containing gasket, a passenger lift or press machine to remove an asbestos containing brake component, or a piece of plant for the purpose of cleaning or repair.
Additional examples of minor routine maintenance work would include the following tasks, and like activities, relating to non-friable asbestos or ACM:
- Sealing, painting and coating for the purpose of maintaining the condition of the non-friable asbestos or non-friable ACM.
- Cleaning leaf litter from gutters of asbestos cement roofs.
- Removing and disposing of small, isolated pieces of ACM found at a premises.
The following activities, and any other like activities, would not be considered minor routine maintenance work:
- Disturbing loose fill asbestos insulation (for example in 'Mr Fluffy' homes).
- Cleaning a medium to large premises which has surfaces covered in asbestos contaminated dust (for example where clean-up will take at least 4 hours) - Class A licensed removalist required.
- Cleaning any ACM with high pressure air or water devices.
- Unless otherwise prescribed in legislation, undertaking any maintenance work on friable asbestos or ACM.
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