If you work in construction, maintenance, demolition, electrical, plumbing or property management, there is a good chance asbestos is part of the environment you work in.
Many Australian homes and commercial buildings built before 1990 still contain asbestos-containing material (ACM), and buildings constructed before 2004 remain a common risk point for trades and maintenance workers. For workers and PCBUs (Persons Conducting a Business or Undertaking), understanding the difference between asbestos awareness training and a Class B asbestos removal licence is not just about compliance. It is about protecting people’s health, avoiding serious penalties and making sure work is done safely.
One of the biggest points of confusion for workers and employers is knowing whether asbestos awareness training is enough, or whether a Class B asbestos removal licence is required.
The answer depends on the type of work involved. If you may come across asbestos but are not removing it, asbestos awareness training is usually the right step. If your business is carrying out non-friable asbestos removal above the legal threshold, a Class B asbestos removal licence is required.
Knowing where that line sits matters. A tradie renovating an old school bathroom faces a very different legal obligation from a property manager organising routine maintenance in a 1980s office building. Both need to understand asbestos risk, but only one may need licensed removal.
What is asbestos awareness training?
Asbestos awareness training is designed for workers who may encounter asbestos-containing material during their normal duties but are not licensed to remove it.
This commonly includes electricians, plumbers, carpenters, painters, maintenance teams, HVAC technicians, facility managers and supervisors working in older buildings. For example, an electrician drilling into an old switchboard wall or a plumber accessing pipework in a pre-2004 commercial building could unknowingly disturb ACM if they are not properly trained.
The nationally recognised 11084NAT – Course in Asbestos Awareness helps workers identify potential asbestos risks before work begins. It covers:
- what asbestos is and why it is dangerous
- where asbestos is commonly found
- how to recognise potential ACM
- health risks from exposure
- legal responsibilities under WHS legislation
- what to do if asbestos is suspected onsite
The goal is prevention. Workers learn how to stop work, isolate the area and escalate concerns rather than accidentally creating exposure.
For example, if a maintenance worker lifts old vinyl flooring during a tenancy fit-out and notices suspicious backing material, awareness training helps them recognise the risk, stop immediately and report it instead of continuing and creating airborne exposure for everyone onsite.
This training supports compliance with model Work Health and Safety (WHS) Regulations and Safe Work Australia guidance, particularly for PCBUs who must ensure workers are properly informed about workplace hazards and risks.
If your team regularly works in buildings built before 2004, asbestos awareness training is often the practical minimum.
It is important to understand that an asbestos awareness course does not allow someone to remove asbestos. It prepares them to recognise the risk and respond safely.
For PCBUs, understanding asbestos duty of care obligations is an important part of managing workplace safety and meeting compliance responsibilities.
What is a Class B asbestos removal licence?
A Class B asbestos removal licence is required for businesses or contractors carrying out non-friable asbestos removal above the legal threshold.
Non friable asbestos, sometimes called bonded asbestos, is asbestos that is firmly bound in another material such as cement sheeting, fencing, roofing or vinyl floor tiles. While it is less likely to release fibres when left undisturbed, cutting, breaking, drilling or demolition can release dangerous fibres.
A Class B asbestos removal licence allows licensed operators to remove:
- more than 10 square metres of non friable asbestos
- associated asbestos-contaminated dust or debris
- asbestos-containing materials during demolition, refurbishment or major maintenance works
This licensing requirement sits under the model WHS Regulations and is enforced by state and territory regulators such as SafeWork NSW, WorkSafe Victoria and Workplace Health and Safety Queensland.
It is important not to confuse Class B with Class A licensing.
A Class B asbestos removal licence covers non friable asbestos only. Friable asbestos, material that can be crumbled by hand pressure and releases fibres more easily, requires a Class A licence and much stricter controls.
To obtain a Class B asbestos removal licence, contractors typically complete training in non-friable asbestos removal units such as CPCCDE3014A, along with competency requirements set by their state or territory regulator.
This is not awareness-level learning. It involves controlled removal procedures, decontamination, PPE, site preparation, air monitoring processes and lawful disposal requirements.
For example, a contractor removing old asbestos cement sheeting from a factory wall during renovations would require a Class B asbestos removal licence. The same applies to a roofing team replacing large sections of bonded asbestos roof sheeting on an older warehouse.
If your work involves physically removing asbestos rather than simply identifying risk, awareness training alone is not enough, and understanding how to get a licence to remove asbestos becomes an important next step.
How much asbestos can you remove without a licence?
One of the most searched questions is: do you need a licence to remove asbestos?
For non-friable asbestos, the general rule is that more than 10 square metres requires a Class B asbestos removal licence.
This means a small job like removing a limited section of bonded asbestos sheeting from an old bathroom wall may fall below the licensing threshold, while removing asbestos fencing around a warehouse or multiple cement wall panels during renovation would require licensed removal.
Even under the 10m² rule, the work is not low risk.
Workers still need proper controls, PPE, safe handling procedures and lawful disposal methods. Dumping asbestos waste incorrectly or disturbing material without proper controls can trigger major penalties and serious health consequences.
A homeowner replacing a small backyard shed wall, for example, may assume it is a quick DIY job. But if that sheeting contains asbestos and is broken up without proper handling, the risk extends well beyond the person doing the work and can affect neighbours, family members and anyone exposed to the dust.
Friable asbestos is different. Because it releases fibres much more easily, it requires a Class A licence and must never be treated under the same threshold rules.
State and territory requirements can also vary. Notification rules, licensing interpretations and regulator expectations may differ depending on where the work is being carried out.
That is why this section should be treated as a guide only. Before starting any asbestos-related work, confirm the current rules with your local regulator.
If there is any uncertainty onsite, the safest decision is always to stop work and seek professional advice.
Choosing the right training for your role
The difference between asbestos awareness training and a Class B asbestos removal licence comes down to one question: are you identifying asbestos risk, or are you removing it?
If your job involves working around asbestos-containing material, an asbestos awareness course helps protect you and the people around you.
If your business carries out non-friable asbestos removal above the legal threshold, a Class B asbestos removal licence is a legal requirement.
Both matter, but they serve very different purposes.
Understanding that difference helps workers stay compliant, helps businesses meet their WHS obligations and most importantly, helps prevent exposure to one of Australia’s most serious workplace hazards.
Key differences: awareness training vs Class B licence
This is where many workers get confused.
Someone might complete an asbestos awareness course and assume they are qualified for removal work. They are not.
The difference comes down to purpose, legal authority and risk level.
| Area | Asbestos awareness training | Class B asbestos removal licence |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Recognise and avoid asbestos risks | Legally remove non friable asbestos |
| Who needs it | Workers likely to encounter ACM | Licensed asbestos removal businesses and contractors |
| Qualification | 11084NAT – Course in Asbestos Awareness | Licensing pathway including non friable removal competency units |
| Authorises removal | No | Yes |
| Typical industries | Trades, maintenance, facilities management | Demolition, specialist asbestos removal |
| Legal focus | Hazard awareness and compliance | Licensed asbestos removal work |
A good way to think about it is this:
Awareness training helps you know when to stop.
A Class B asbestos removal licence gives your business the legal authority and competency to proceed.
For PCBUs, getting this wrong can mean serious consequences. Allowing unlicensed asbestos removal can lead to prosecution, significant fines and exposure risks for workers, occupants and the wider community.
This is why many employers ensure all frontline staff complete asbestos awareness training, while only specialist teams hold the asbestos removal licence needed for removal work. It protects not only the workers doing the job, but also tenants, homeowners, school communities and anyone else nearby.
