Make clearance part of the programme from the start
If a roofer, builder or tenant is waiting to return, clearance belongs in the programme before a removal date is agreed. Ask who books the inspection, who pays for it and who receives the certificate. Finishing the physical removal is one stage; releasing the removal area is another decision.
SafeWork NSW requires an independent clearance inspection and certificate before reoccupation after licensed removal. Keep access restricted while clearance is outstanding and confirm the next trade’s arrival with the project team.
Check who can perform the clearance
Class A clearance requires an independent licensed asbestos assessor; non-friable work requires an independent competent person or licensed assessor. Independence means they did not do the removal and are not part of the removal business.
Class A work also requires air monitoring by an independent licensed assessor. Ask the project team which monitoring applies, who undertakes it and how results reach you. Keep monitoring results with the clearance certificate.
Keep assessment, clearance and disposal records
Agree the handover pack in writing and make sure the address and removal area match your project. A disposal record does not replace a clearance certificate, and a clearance certificate does not describe every material elsewhere on the property.
Ask who will provide the waste transport and disposal records agreed in the scope. NSW Government says asbestos waste must go to a facility licensed to accept it. Retain the relevant records with the quote, accepted scope and any agreed changes.
| Record | What it helps you establish |
|---|---|
| Assessment and laboratory results | What was identified and the locations and limits of the original assessment. |
| Removal scope and agreed changes | The material and areas included, plus anything retained or excluded. |
| Clearance certificate | The completed clearance for the identified removal area before reoccupation. |
| Air-monitoring results, where applicable | The monitoring undertaken for the work; these accompany rather than replace clearance. |
| Waste and disposal records | The documented waste arrangements and lawful disposal destination. |
Confirm the cleared area with the next trade
For a roof job, identify the removed sheets, retained components and any areas outside the removal boundary. Give the roofer the relevant clearance records and confirm responsibility for temporary weather protection, structural checks and repairs. Clearance does not establish that the retained structure is ready for replacement roofing.
For a garage demolition or renovation, share the same boundary with the builder. A clearance for one work area does not establish that the entire building or site contains no asbestos. Later works affecting a different lining, outbuilding or previously inaccessible area may need further assessment.
Leave room to resolve an incomplete handover
Ask before booking the job what happens if the area cannot be cleared at the first inspection. Confirm who coordinates further work and reinspection, how changes are agreed and who tells the next trade about a revised date. Keep access restrictions in place while the required work and clearance remain outstanding.
NextPhase can discuss removal, specialist coordination and the agreed handover for a standalone job or a wider demolition. Send Jason the existing reports, removal brief and your next trade’s requirements. Confirm the independent clearance provider and the records included in the written scope.
Common questions
Can the removal contractor clear their own licensed removal work?
No. Agree an independent clearance provider before the job starts; see the role requirements above.
Does a clearance certificate mean the whole property is asbestos-free?
It relates to the identified removal area and completed work. Check the removal boundary, exclusions and retained materials. A later renovation in another area may need its own assessment.
Can my builder start as soon as the sheets are removed?
Wait for the required clearance and certificate, then confirm release of the area and any remaining structural or site requirements with the project team.