PropertyHelp Ltd – Safe Work Procedure: Removal of Asbestos Fencing

SAFE WORK PROCEDURE

Removal of Asbestos Fencing

PropertyHelp Ltd - Class B Asbestos Removalist Moving towards a Class A Licence

Document Number	SWP - Asbestos Fencing Removal
Business	PropertyHelp Ltd
Work Activity	Class B removal of non-friable asbestos cement fencing
Applicable Area	Auckland / Waikato and other approved project sites
Prepared By	John Kerr - Director / Asbestos Supervisor
Workers Covered	PropertyHelp Ltd workers, subcontractors, visitors entering controlled work areas
Issue Date	May 2026
Review Period	12 monthly, after incident/near miss, or when legislation/work method changes

Important Class B Limitation: This procedure applies to non-friable asbestos cement fencing only. If the material is friable, fire damaged, badly degraded, pulverised, contaminated with loose asbestos dust/debris beyond Class B limits, or cannot be removed without significant breakage, the work must stop and be reassessed. Class A controls and/or a Class A licensed removalist may be required.

1. Purpose

The purpose of this Safe Work Procedure (SWP) is to set out a safe, controlled and compliant method for removing asbestos-containing fencing panels by PropertyHelp Ltd as a Class B asbestos removalist. The procedure is designed to protect workers, occupants, neighbours, other contractors and the public from exposure to airborne asbestos fibres.

2. Scope

Removal of non-friable asbestos cement fencing sheets/panels and associated asbestos-contaminated dust/debris generated during the removal.
Establishment of exclusion zones, wet removal techniques, controlled handling, waste wrapping and labelling, decontamination and clearance readiness.
This procedure does not cover friable asbestos removal, asbestos fire damage, high-pressure water blasting, dry cutting, grinding or uncontrolled demolition.
Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 - primary duty of care, worker engagement, risk management and due diligence duties.
Health and Safety at Work (Asbestos) Regulations 2016 - asbestos identification, licensed asbestos removal, notification, asbestos removal control plan, PPE/RPE, decontamination, waste and clearance requirements.
WorkSafe New Zealand Approved Code of Practice: Management and Removal of Asbestos and current asbestos guidance.
ISO 45001:2018 - hazard identification, operational control, competence, consultation, emergency preparedness, performance evaluation and continual improvement.
Class B asbestos removal work must be supervised by a nominated competent asbestos supervisor as required by the asbestos licence and project ARCP.
Workers must have asbestos awareness and asbestos removal training appropriate to the task and must be instructed in this SWP before work starts.
Workers required to wear tight-fitting RPE must be clean shaven where the mask seals and have current fit testing for the mask type used.
Any plant, tool or height access equipment must only be operated by competent and authorised persons.
Disposable Type 5/6 coveralls with hood, cuffs taped where required.
P2/P3 half-face respirator or other RPE selected through risk assessment and fit testing; filters suitable for asbestos dust.
Disposable nitrile or cut-resistant gloves as appropriate; gloves to be treated as asbestos waste if contaminated.
Safety boots or gumboots that can be decontaminated; boot covers where required.
Safety glasses where splash or impact risk exists.
Hard hat, hi-vis and hearing protection where required by the task or site conditions.
200-micron polythene sheeting, asbestos waste bags, asbestos warning labels, tape and cable ties.
Low-pressure garden sprayer or misting equipment with wetting agent/surfactant.
H-Class asbestos vacuum with HEPA filtration, where required for clean-up and decontamination.
Hand tools only where practicable: screwdrivers, spanners, nail pullers, pliers, bolt cutters and pry bars used carefully.
Barricades, cones, warning signage and lockable temporary waste storage area.
First aid kit, emergency spill/waste kit, disposable wipes and decontamination supplies.
Do not use high-pressure water blasting on asbestos fencing.
Do not dry cut, grind, sand, saw, drill or break panels unless specifically controlled and authorised in the ARCP.
Do not use brooms, compressed air or domestic vacuums.
Do not drop, throw or smash asbestos panels.
Do not allow unauthorised persons, occupants, neighbours, children or pets into the asbestos removal area.
Do not mix asbestos waste with general demolition waste.
Maintain separation between dirty and clean areas.
Workers must remove gross contamination from coveralls before leaving the work area.
Disposable PPE must be removed carefully and treated as asbestos waste.
RPE must remain on until contaminated clothing has been removed and bagged.
Reusable tools and equipment must be wet wiped or H-Class vacuumed before removal from the area.
Waste packages must be wiped clean before loading or temporary storage.
Asbestos waste must be double wrapped or double bagged in suitable heavy-duty polythene, sealed and labelled.
Waste must be moved by the shortest controlled route and secured to prevent damage in transit.
Waste must be transported to an approved facility able to receive asbestos waste.
Disposal dockets and waste tracking records must be retained in the job file.
Any contaminated disposable PPE, wipes, small fragments and dust/debris are asbestos waste.
Prevent contaminated water, dust or fragments from entering stormwater drains, gardens or neighbouring properties.
Use drop sheets where ground contamination risk exists.
Pick up all fragments immediately and treat as asbestos waste.
Secure waste against wind, rain, pets and unauthorised access.
Leave site clean and ready for clearance/handback.
At least annually.
Before each new asbestos fencing project where site conditions differ.
After any incident, near miss, fibre release or failed control.
When WorkSafe guidance, legislation, licence conditions or company procedures change.
When worker feedback identifies a better or safer method.

3. Legal and Standard References

4. Roles and Responsibilities

Role	Responsibilities	Records/Evidence
Director / PCBU - John Kerr	Ensure safe systems of work, workers are competent, required notifications are completed, resources are provided, and work is undertaken within Class B licence limits.	Licence details, SWP approval, ARCP, consultation records, close-out records.
Asbestos Supervisor / Leading Hand	Brief workers, check controls, monitor work, stop unsafe work, manage exclusion zones, decontamination, waste and emergency response.	Daily pre-start, toolbox, risk assessment, site photos, inspection records.
Workers	Follow this SWP, wear PPE/RPE, use wet methods, avoid breakage, report hazards, stop work if conditions change or unexpected asbestos is found.	Training records, fit test records, sign-on sheet.
Client / Other PCBUs	Cooperate and coordinate with PropertyHelp Ltd, keep occupants and other trades out of exclusion zones, provide known asbestos information.	Site induction, consultation notes, handover records.

5. Competency Requirements

6. PPE and RPE

7. Plant, Tools and Materials

8. Prohibited Activities

9. Risk Assessment

Task / Hazard	Possible Harm	Initial Risk	Controls	Residual Risk	Responsible
Disturbing asbestos cement fence panels	Inhalation of airborne asbestos fibres	High	Use Class B licensed controls, ARCP/SWP, wet methods, minimise breakage, PPE/RPE, exclusion zone, competent supervision.	Low-Med	Supervisor / Workers
Friable or badly degraded material discovered	Uncontrolled fibre release; work outside Class B scope	High	Stop work, isolate area, notify John Kerr/client, obtain reassessment, Class A controls/removalist if required.	Low	Supervisor
Breaking panels during removal	Fibre release and contamination	High	Remove fixings first, support panels, work slowly, lower by hand, wrap broken pieces immediately, wet debris.	Med	Workers
Manual handling of heavy panels	Strains, crush injuries, cuts	Med-High	Team lift, reduce panel size only where controlled, use trolleys, clear path, gloves, staged work.	Low-Med	Workers
Public/occupant exposure	Unauthorised access to contaminated area	High	Barrier tape, signs, spotter as needed, client communication, secure gates, keep neighbours informed if required.	Low	Supervisor
Contaminated waste handling	Secondary contamination, exposure during transport/disposal	High	Double wrap/bag, label, wipe outer wrapping, secure load, use approved disposal facility, keep waste records.	Low	Supervisor
Use of tools	Cuts, punctures, dust generation	Med	Use hand tools, maintain tools, no power grinding/cutting, wet fixings and panel surfaces, wear gloves/eye protection.	Low	Workers
Work near services/structures	Electric shock, property damage	Med	Identify services, isolate where required, protect plants/windows, maintain clear work area.	Low	Supervisor
Weather conditions	Slips, loss of containment, wind-blown dust/waste	Med	Stop work in high wind/heavy rain; secure waste and polythene; wet surfaces as required.	Low	Supervisor

10. Step-by-Step Safe Work Procedure

Step	Activity	Required Controls
1	Pre-start planning	Confirm scope, asbestos sample/survey information, Class B non-friable status, disposal facility, access, services, neighbouring exposure risk and project ARCP requirements. Notify WorkSafe where required for licensed asbestos removal work.
2	Site induction and toolbox talk	Brief all workers on the ARCP, this SWP, PPE/RPE, exclusion zones, emergency response, decontamination and stop-work triggers. Record attendance.
3	Establish asbestos removal area	Install warning signage, cones/barriers and controlled access. Keep occupants, neighbours, visitors and other trades away. Establish clean and dirty zones.
4	Set up decontamination and waste area	Set up wet wipes, disposable bags, waste wrapping area and temporary asbestos waste storage. Ensure waste path is clear and controlled.
5	PPE/RPE check	Inspect coveralls, gloves, boots and respirators. Confirm fit checks are completed before entering the work area.
6	Wet down fencing	Apply low-pressure mist/wetting agent to panels, fixings and any visible dust/debris. Keep material damp but avoid run-off that could spread contamination.
7	Remove fixings carefully	Remove screws, nails or bolts using hand tools. Avoid drilling, grinding or snapping panels. Wet fixings and panel edges while working.
8	Remove panels whole where practicable	Support each panel before final fixings are removed. Lower panels carefully by hand or controlled team lift. Do not drop or drag panels across the ground.
9	Manage damaged/broken material	If breakage occurs, stop and wet the affected material. Place fragments immediately into labelled asbestos waste bags or wrap in polythene. Clean debris with wet wiping/H-Class vacuum.
10	Wrap and label asbestos waste	Double wrap panels in 200-micron polythene or double bag smaller pieces. Seal with tape, label as asbestos waste and wipe the outer surface before moving to storage/transport.
11	Clean work area	Use wet wiping and/or H-Class asbestos vacuum to clean ground, tools and any affected surfaces. Do not dry sweep or use compressed air.
12	Decontaminate workers and equipment	Remove visible contamination, wipe tools, remove disposable PPE in correct order and dispose of it as asbestos waste. Keep respirator on until contaminated coveralls are removed.
13	Clearance and handover	Complete supervisor inspection. Arrange competent person/licensed assessor clearance as required. Do not return area to normal use until clearance/handback is complete.
14	Close-out records	Retain photos, waste disposal dockets, inspection notes, toolbox records, worker sign-on, risk assessment and any clearance documents.

11. Decontamination Requirements

12. Waste Handling and Disposal

13. Emergency Response

Emergency / Event	Immediate Action	Follow-up
Unexpected fibre release or panel shattering	Stop work, keep RPE on, wet the area, isolate and prevent access.	Notify John Kerr/client, reassess controls, clean up using wet methods/H-Class vacuum, record incident/near miss.
Friable asbestos discovered	Stop work immediately and secure the area.	Seek competent reassessment; Class A controls/removalist may be required before restart.
Worker contamination	Keep worker in controlled area, wet wipe/decontaminate, remove PPE correctly.	Review PPE/RPE, record event, improve controls before restarting.
Public enters exclusion zone	Stop work, direct person away safely, assess possible exposure/contamination.	Record event, improve barriers/signage/spotter controls.
Serious injury	Stop work, call 111, provide first aid if safe.	Notify relevant parties; preserve scene if notifiable; complete investigation.

14. Environmental Controls

15. Inspection and Monitoring Checklist

Checklist Item	Before Work	During Work	After Work
ARCP/SWP reviewed and signed onto by workers	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]
Asbestos material confirmed as non-friable/Class B scope	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]
WorkSafe notification completed where required	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]
Exclusion zone, signage and barriers installed	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]
PPE/RPE inspected and fit checks completed	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]
Panels wetted and kept damp	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]
Panels removed whole where practicable	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]
Waste double wrapped/bagged and labelled	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]
Tools/equipment decontaminated	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]
Work area cleaned and visually inspected	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]
Clearance/handback completed where required	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]
Waste disposal records filed	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]

16. ISO 45001 Alignment

ISO 45001 Element	How this SWP Supports the Requirement
Leadership and worker participation	Defines PCBU, supervisor and worker responsibilities and requires pre-start consultation.
Planning	Identifies hazards, assesses risks and establishes controls before work starts.
Support and competence	Requires trained workers, PPE/RPE, fit testing and documented instruction.
Operation	Sets out step-by-step operational controls for Class B asbestos fencing removal.
Emergency preparedness	Includes fibre release, contamination, public access and injury response steps.
Performance evaluation	Requires inspections, records, clearance evidence and close-out documentation.
Improvement	Requires review after incidents, near misses, failed controls or changes in work method/legislation.

17. Review Requirements

This SWP must be reviewed:

18. Worker Sign-Off

By signing below, workers confirm they have read and understood this Safe Work Procedure and agree to follow the controls listed. Workers also confirm they will stop work and notify the supervisor if the work changes, if material becomes friable, or if they believe the work cannot be completed safely.

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