Asbestos Removalist
What the work is
Identifies, safely removes and disposes of asbestos found in buildings, building materials such as tiles, flooring panels and ceiling sheets, and other structures through the use of containment enclosures and specialised equipment such as airless sprayers and injection equipment.
Would you enjoy the work?
These are the main tasks in the official description. Mark how each one sounds to you.
- Identifies the presence and type of asbestos in buildings and in building materials, pipes, boilers and other structures
- Sets up containment enclosures and safety measures to prevent the spread of asbestos fibres during removal
- Operates specialised equipment such as airless sprayers and injection equipment, to safely remove and seal asbestos in secure containers for safe disposal, ensuring no leakage of asbestos fibres
- Cleans the site after asbestos removal using specialised vacuum cleaners and other cleaning tools to ensure that there are no residual asbestos fibres
- Conducts air monitoring and clearance testing to ensure the area is safe for reoccupation after asbestos removal
Try it
A simulation and a case study from this kind of work, set in a residential building site where an old house is being renovated and a new extension is going up. They are fictional.
The kind of days you could have
Good days
- The slab is poured and finished, and everyone stands back to look at a perfectly flat surface
- A site that is clean and tidy at the end of the day because you cleared it as you went
- A tradie tells the foreman that having you on the crew makes their job easier
Hard days
- A hot day carrying materials up a ramp for hours with little shade
- Work that looks routine until someone cuts a corner and the site becomes dangerous
- Being the newest on site, and being sent for everything
Written by Career Calling as a general guide. Real roles vary by employer and place.
Work a mission
Step into a simulated workplace in this field, with a brief from your manager.
Description and tasks: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Occupation Standard Classification for Australia, 2024, Version 1.0 (opens another site), occupation 821131, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. The skill guide above is our plain English summary.