Information for trades / contractors

If you are a tradesperson or contractor and you carry out maintenance on a pre-1990 building you could be exposed to asbestos. Before carrying out any work: Stop. Think Asbestos. Seek Advice.

Common work situations involving the use of asbestos cement (A-C) sheeting and other asbestos-contained materials include tradespeople such as electricians and plumbers installing or shifting services; installation or removal of A-C sheeting; and taking samples to check if a material contains asbestos.

If it is unknown whether the material you will be working with is asbestos, check to see if the owner of the building has an asbestos register which lists those areas with asbestos materials. If there is no register, there are two options:

• Have the material tested for asbestos, or
• Treat the material as if it contains asbestos until you know otherwise.

A licensed asbestos removalist should be contacted to remove friable asbestos or any asbestos material greater than 10 metres square.

Information booklet

Fact Sheet

NT WorkSafe notification of work form

In any situation where there is more than the legally allowed 10 square metres of asbestos containing material or any situation in which maintenance is being conducted with one metre of friable asbestos, a licensed asbestos removalist must be employed to remove it.

Under the Northern Territory Work Health (Occupational Health and Safety) Regulations a person shall not commence work involving the removal of asbestos unless they have notified NT WorkSafe seven days prior to the commencement of work on the approved form.