Elements and Performance Criteria

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.
Information to ensure the safe and correct completion of the job may include:
ARCP
licensed asbestos assessor’s report
asbestos register
company policies and procedures, including:
accessing toilets and other amenities
managing work hours to minimise risk from tiredness
working in heat and avoiding heat stress
operating manuals and specifications for materials and equipment
SWMS or JSA for construction as required
diagrams or sketches
instructions issued by authorised organisational or external personnel
manufacturer specifications and instructions, where specified
SDS
regulatory and legislative requirements for enclosing and removing asbestos
relevant Australian standards and codes
safe work procedures relating to enclosing and removing asbestos
memos, verbal and written instructions, and diagrams
work bulletins
work schedules, plans and specifications.
Safety procedures are to be according to state and territory legislation and regulations and project safety plan, and may include:
emergency procedures, including extinguishing fires and evacuation
handling activities that may require the assistance of others or the use of manual or mechanical lifting devices where size, weight or other issues, such as a disability, are a factor
hazard control
hazardous materials and substances
organisational first aid requirements
PPE prescribed under legislation, regulations and workplace policies and practices
safe operating procedures according to WHS management system, including the conduct of operational risk assessment and treatments associated with:
deactivating or securing utilities, including electrical, air conditioning and water services
earth leakage boxes
falling objects
lighting
plant movement
power cables, including overhead service trays, cables and conduits
restricted access barriers
surrounding structures
traffic control
trip hazards
work site visitors and the public
working at heights
working in confined spaces
working in proximity to others
use of firefighting equipment
use of tools and equipment
workplace environmental requirements and safety.
Materials may include:
acrylic paint to seal ACM
approved and branded or labelled plastic bags
duct tape
foam infill spray
gaffer tape
plastic sheeting
polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) adhesive as spray / spray tack glue
rags or other material wipes
heavy-duty polythene bags (200 μm minimum thickness)
200 μm unused (not recycled) plastic sheeting or drop sheet
signs
timber frames, nails, aluminium poles and other materials required for enclosures
glove bag material.
Quality requirements may include:
internal company quality policy and standards
manufacturer specifications
relevant regulations, including Australian standards
workplace operations and procedures.
Environmental requirements must fully reflect legislation and the Code of Practice for the Safe Removal of Asbestos, including:
clean-up management
dust and noise management
sedimentation control
vibration management
waste management, including the safe disposal of asbestos containing materials, including waste water from decontamination unit (DCU).
Preparation may include:
assessing conditions and hazards
determining work requirements, and safety plans and policies
identifying equipment defects
identifying, preparing for enclosing, and removing asbestos from a work site according to an ARCP work site inspection.
Plant and equipment may require separate licensing for use and may include:
high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) vacuum cleaners to comply with AS3544-1988 and AS4260-1997 as amended from time to time
anchorage points for the enclosure
negative air pressure enclosures or bubbles
enclosure equipment
atomiser and water bottles (not pressurised)
barricades, including barricade tape, para-webbing, hoarding or fencing
bars (crow and pinch)
decontamination unit and remote decontamination unit
decontamination facilities
excavators
hammers
ladders to comply with construction regulations if required
hoses and spray fittings
flame retardant polythene
hardboard / corex
scaffolds
scrapers
shovels and spades
smoke-testing equipment
static lines.
Personal protective equipment will be specified to the requirements of the job andmay include:
protective clothing, such as:
disposable coveralls with fitted hood and cuffs
safety footwear (pull-on, not lace-up)
protective eye wear, such as safety glasses
full body safety harness
disposable protective gloves
correct respiratory protection class P3, full face respirators and airline respirators for negative air enclosures
correct face fitting and use of respiratory protective equipment (RPE)
spare sets of PPE.
Friable asbestos containing materials are easily crumbled or reduced to powder by hand, and may include:
asbestos backing on vinyl flooring
material in degraded condition that has rendered the material friable, including:
asbestos cement
asbestos cement moulded guttering
asbestos cement sheets
corrugated asbestos cement roofing sheets in degraded condition
asbestos in matrix of sprayed vermiculite
low density board
sprayed on fireproofing, soundproofing and thermal insulation
acoustic plaster soundproofing
thermal insulation
gaskets that have become friable
sealants that have become friable
pipe lagging
woven textiles, ropes, tapes and braids
decorative coatings.
Project sites may include:
residential, commercial, industrial and public buildings
plant, equipment and fire boards (e.g. friction plant and gaskets)
demolition sites
fences
ships and other forms of transport
sites for new building development.
Utilities may include:
air conditioning
electricity
water services.
Requirements to enclose the removal site:
will reflect the nature of the site and must comply with legislative and company requirements
may include the use of:
negative pressure exhaust units to prevent the escape of asbestos fibres from contained asbestos work areas
enclosures for large-scale asbestos removal work, including:
design and installation considerations
testing of enclosures
decontamination
mini-enclosures for small-scale asbestos removal work
glove bag and wrap and cut removal method
decontamination unit
waste water and filtration or handling unit.
Removal processes may include the following methods:
dry
wet
saturation.
Asbestos is removed from work site in a manner that complies with legislative and company requirements, and may include:
wet method, including:
saturate material by gently spraying with water and surfactant mixture (PVA in water ratio of 5:1)
remove materials in sections with the minimum amount of cutting and separation, using hand tools as appropriate
place removed sections in appropriate containers or packaging
Note: The application of the wet asbestos removal method requires the disconnection of the building’s power supply and use of a temporary power source fitted with earth leakage and residual current device (RCD)
dry method if required due to electrical safety issue
saturation method.
Safe work methods may include:
compliant set-up of the asbestos work area, including set-up of negative air, lighting, water and emergency supplies
placing adequate signage around friable asbestos work site
fire and emergency system requirements
enclosure of the asbestos removal area and the plant, equipment and fixtures remaining in the area
testing the asbestos enclosure in the work area
procedures for entering and leaving the enclosure in the asbestos work area
safe techniques for removing friable asbestos
packaging and removing contaminated plant, tools and equipment
cleaning and decontaminating tools, equipment and the asbestos work area
decontaminating and demobilising the asbestos work site
final decontamination of personnel
disposing of asbestos waste.
Asbestos iscontained and sealed before removing from the work area and work site using a range of techniques, including:
double-bagging
using heavy-duty polythene bags (200 μm minimum thickness) labelled with an appropriate warning
using drums or bins in good condition with well-fitting lids labelled with appropriate warning signs or labels
mini enclosures, such as glove bag and wrap and cut methods (suitable for friable ACM removal from small areas).

Notes:
For larger-scale disposal, the supplier of a waste removal bin must be informed of the usage to ensure appropriate and legal disposal.
If too large for a bin or bag, a skip or vehicle tray may be used provided it is double-lined with heavy-duty thick plastic sheeting. When ACMs are loaded on a truck tray the ACMs must be wetted down and then fully wrapped and sealed with a layer of 200 μm sheeting or bagged. Labelling must occur.
Decontamination of asbestos removal workers is carried out using:
‘buddy’ vacuuming
decontamination unit for large non-friable removals in certain circumstances
wet wiping.
Documentation may include:
ARCP
air-monitoring plans for control air monitoring
air-monitoring results
asbestos register
notification of asbestos removal work to the regulator
clearance certificates
knowledge of the procedures in the certified SMS
emergency plan development
equipment test certificates
health-monitoring program
RPE face fits
competency training certificates.

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.
Overview of assessment
This unit of competency could be assessed in the workplace or a close simulation of the workplace environment, providing that simulated or project-based assessment techniques fully replicate workplace conditions, materials, activities, responsibilities and procedures.
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
A person should demonstrate the ability to:
obtain and apply work instructions for the safe and correct removal of friable asbestos
set up the work area and test equipment for use in the removal process of friable asbestos
isolate the site prior to removal, complying with regulatory requirements
remove friable asbestos safely, complying with regulatory requirements
contain the asbestos containing material and ensure its handling and disposal are safe and comply with requirements
decontaminate self, work equipment and work site safely and correctly
complete documentation that supports the removal process within limits of own responsibility.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
This unit is to be assessed using standard and authorised work practices, safety requirements and environmental constraints.
Assessment of essential underpinning knowledge will usually be conducted in an off-site context.
Assessment is to comply with relevant regulatory or Australian standards’ requirements.
Resource implications for assessment include:
an induction procedure and requirement
realistic tasks or simulated tasks covering the mandatory task requirements
relevant specifications and work instructions
tools and equipment appropriate to applying safe work practices
support materials appropriate to activity
workplace instructions relating to safe work practices and addressing hazards and emergencies
research resources, including industry-related systems information
safety data sheets.
Reasonable adjustments for people with disabilities must be made to assessment processes where required. This could include access to modified equipment and other physical resources, and the provision of appropriate assessment support.
Method of assessment
Assessment methods must:
satisfy the endorsed Assessment Guidelines of the Construction, Plumbing and Services Training Package
include direct observation of tasks in real or simulated work conditions, with questioning to confirm the ability to consistently identify and correctly interpret the essential underpinning knowledge required for practical application
reinforce the integration of employability skills with workplace tasks and job roles
confirm that competency is verified and able to be transferred to other circumstances and environments.
Validity and sufficiency of evidence requires that:
competency will need to be demonstrated over a period of time reflecting the scope of the role and the practical requirements of the workplace
where the assessment is part of a structured learning experience the evidence collected must relate to a number of performances assessed at different points in time and separated by further learning and practice, with a decision on competency only taken at the point when the assessor has complete confidence in the person’s demonstrated ability and applied knowledge
all assessment that is part of a structured learning experience must include a combination of direct, indirect and supplementary evidence.
Assessment processes and techniques should as far as is practical take into account the language, literacy and numeracy capacity of the candidate in relation to the competency being assessed.
Supplementary evidence of competency may be obtained from relevant authenticated documentation from third parties, such as existing supervisors, team leaders or specialist training staff.