Factory Asbestos Removal

Asbestos in factories is most commonly found in older building materials and high-heat areas, especially where the factory was built or refurbished before asbestos was banned in Australia. Common locations include asbestos cement roof sheeting, wall cladding, eaves, ceiling panels, vinyl floor tiles, pipe lagging, boiler insulation, fire doors, plant rooms, switch rooms and service ducts.

Asbestos may also be present in adhesives, gaskets, seals, brake components and older machinery parts. If these materials are damaged, ageing or disturbed during maintenance, renovation or demolition, asbestos factory workers and contractors may be exposed to airborne fibres. The safest first step is to organise asbestos testing before any work begins.

Yes, a factory may need an asbestos register if asbestos or asbestos-containing material has been identified, is assumed to be present, or is likely to be present at times. This is especially relevant for older industrial buildings, warehouses and manufacturing sites where asbestos materials may still be part of the structure.

An asbestos register should list the location, type and condition of known or assumed asbestos in the factory. It should also be supported by an asbestos management plan, which explains how the asbestos will be managed, monitored, labelled and safely handled. This helps protect factory employees, contractors, visitors and trades who may be working near asbestos-containing materials.

In some cases, asbestos can be removed from a factory while parts of the site continue operating, but it depends on the location, condition and type of asbestos. Factory asbestos removal often needs careful planning so work areas can be isolated, access can be controlled, and employees can be kept away from the removal zone.

For larger or higher-risk works, removal may need to be scheduled outside normal operating hours, during a shutdown period, or in stages across different areas of the factory. The priority is always safety. No production deadline is worth risking asbestos exposure, so the removal plan should be based on testing, risk assessment, safe work methods and clearance requirements.

Yes, licensed asbestos removalist is required for many factory asbestos removal projects, particularly where more than 10 square metres of non-friable asbestos is being removed. In Western Australia, a Class A licence is required for the removal of friable asbestos, while a Class A or Class B licence is required for licensed non-friable asbestos removal work. Rapid Asbestos Removals holds a Class B restricted asbestos removal licence and specialises in bonded, non-friable asbestos removal.

A licensed removalist has the training, equipment and systems required to remove asbestos safely and in line with WorkSafe WA requirements. Factory sites often need additional planning because asbestos may be located around machinery, roof spaces, service areas or other active trades. If suspected friable asbestos is identified, we can advise on the next step, but the removal itself must be completed by a suitably licensed Class A removalist.

Using a licensed asbestos removalist helps reduce the risk of fibre release, site contamination, project delays and compliance issues. It also means the removal process can be properly documented from start to finish.

Yes. A clearance inspection and written clearance certificate are required following licensed asbestos removal work before the removal area can be reoccupied or returned to normal use. For factory asbestos removal, this is especially important because employees, contractors and visitors may need to safely access the area soon after the work is complete.

For Class B non-friable asbestos removal, the clearance includes a thorough visual inspection by an independent competent person or licensed asbestos assessor. We can help coordinate this process, including organising the timing and working with the independent professional alongside your removal project. The clearance itself remains independent from our removal work. Air monitoring is not automatically required for every Class B project, but it may be appropriate depending on the level of risk, particularly for larger, higher-risk factory sites, or more complex works.

The person conducting a business or undertaking, often called the PCBU, is generally responsible for managing asbestos risks in a factory. This may include the business owner, site operator, employer, property manager, facility manager, landlord or another person with management or control of the workplace.

Responsibilities can include identifying asbestos, keeping an asbestos register, preparing an asbestos management plan, warning workers and contractors about asbestos risks, arranging safe removal when required and making sure asbestos is not disturbed during maintenance or renovation work. In practical terms, if you manage or control the factory site, you need to make sure asbestos risks are properly assessed and documented.

Yes, asbestos can sometimes be found in older factory machinery or equipment, particularly where heat resistance, friction control or insulation was needed. This may include gaskets, seals, brake pads, clutch components, furnace linings, boiler insulation, pipe lagging and heat shields.

This is one reason asbestos in factories is not always limited to walls, roofs or flooring. A site may look clear at first glance, while older plant and equipment still contains asbestos-containing parts. If machinery is being dismantled, repaired, upgraded or removed, it is important to check whether asbestos may be present before the work starts. Asbestos testing and professional advice can help prevent accidental exposure to asbestos factory workers, maintenance teams and contractors.