Asbestos and Silica Work: PPE Checklist
Asbestos fibres and respirable crystalline silica are both dust hazards, and both codes of practice rely on PPE alongside other controls. Safe Work Australia's asbestos removal code calls removal a high hazard activity where appropriate PPE should be worn regardless of other control measures, and its silica code notes that respirable crystalline silica can be invisible to the naked eye.
Licensing comes first
The asbestos removal code says a PCBU who commissions asbestos removal must ensure it is done by a licensed asbestos removalist, unless the WHS Regulations say a licence is not required. A Class A licence is needed to remove friable asbestos, and a Class B licence covers non-friable asbestos of more than 10 m2.
The code says a person without a licence can remove 10 m2 or less of non-friable asbestos, and that where there is uncertainty about the amount, a Class A or Class B licensed removalist should be engaged.
A model code of practice has legal effect in a state or territory only once it is approved there, so check with your regulator.
The checklist
The table sums up what the two model codes say about each item. The sections below give the detail and the exceptions.
| Item | What the codes say |
|---|---|
| Respirator | Conforms to AS/NZS 1716:2012, type chosen by a competent person, fit tested, and fit checked before each use |
| Coveralls | Disposable, rated type 5, category 3 (EN ISO 13982-1), one size too big, hood worn over the respirator straps |
| Gloves | Single-use disposable nitrile gloves where significant quantities of asbestos fibres may be present |
| Footwear | Laceless safety footwear or gumboots that stay inside the work area |
| Decontamination | PPE decontaminated or sealed before leaving the area, respirator taken off last |
| Waste bags | New heavy duty polyethylene, minimum 200 µm thick, no more than 1200 mm long and 900 mm wide, filled no more than half full |
| Silica dust on clothing | M- or H-class vacuum to remove dust, no compressed air or dry sweeping, dusty work wear not taken home |
Respirators
The asbestos removal code says all workers doing asbestos removal should wear respiratory protective equipment conforming to AS/NZS 1716:2012. The type should be decided by a competent person, based on the work, the likely maximum fibre levels and anything about the wearer that affects facial fit, such as facial hair and glasses.
The code says disposable respirators may be used but are not preferred, as they give little protection after short-term use, and that a non-disposable half-face respirator should be considered because fitting a disposable one can be difficult.
For silica, the silica code says respiratory protective equipment must comply with AS/NZS 1716:2012 and AS/NZS 1715:2009, incorporate a P1, P2 or P3 particulate filter depending on the type selected and the level of airborne contamination, and provide the required minimum protection factor.
Our STS TS01 kit with P3 filter is a reusable half mask. STS lists its YP3R filter as class P3 to AS/NZS 1716:2012, and replacement P3 filters are sold separately. The 3M 8322 P2 masks are a disposable option.
Both codes call for a fit test and a fit check before use. Our page on respirator filter types covers how filter classes, fit tests and fit checks work.
| Work (asbestos code, Table 5) | Respirator | Filter |
|---|---|---|
| Removal of non-friable asbestos, such as asbestos cement sheets, ceiling tiles and vinyl tiles | Disposable half-face particulate respirator, or half-face particulate filter (cartridge) respirator | P1 or P2 |
| Sampling material to identify asbestos | Disposable half-face particulate respirator, or half-face particulate filter (cartridge) respirator | P1 or P2 |
| Maintenance work removing small quantities of friable asbestos, such as gaskets and insulation | Full-face particulate filter (cartridge) respirator | P3 |
| Certain forms of dry stripping, and dry stripping in confined areas | Full-face powered air-purifying respirator, or full-face positive pressure demand air-line respirator | P3 |
Coveralls
The asbestos removal code says disposable coveralls rated type 5, category 3 (EN ISO 13982-1) would meet its standard. They should be one size too big to help stop seams ripping, with a hood and cuffs, the legs worn over footwear and the hood worn over the respirator straps.
The code says coveralls should have no external pockets or velcro, should never be taken home or reused, and should be disposed of as asbestos waste after a single use. For particularly dusty jobs it suggests double coveralls. See our page on chemical coverall types for how coverall types are rated.
Gloves and footwear
Gloves should be worn for asbestos removal. The code says single-use disposable nitrile gloves should be worn if significant quantities of asbestos fibres may be present, and used gloves disposed of as asbestos waste. See our chemical gloves range.
For footwear, the code suggests safety footwear such as steel-capped, rubber-soled work shoes or gumboots. It should be laceless, stay inside the barricaded area or dirty decontamination area for the job, and not be shared. It says to avoid disposable overshoes unless they have an anti-slip sole.
The silica code lists providing workers with rubber boots and aprons among the ways to cut exposure to dust carried on clothing.
Decontamination
For asbestos, the code says PPE must be decontaminated before it leaves the asbestos removal area, or kept in a sealed container. The respirator is worn until the right stage of personal decontamination is complete and is taken off last.
For silica, the code suggests an industrial M- or H-class vacuum at the exits of dusty areas so workers can vacuum their clothes, and says compressed air, dry sweeping and general-purpose vacuum cleaners should not be used on surfaces or clothing. Dusty PPE and work wear should not be taken home, and clothes going to a commercial laundry should be dampened and sealed in a labelled plastic bag.
Asbestos waste bags
The asbestos removal code says new heavy duty polyethylene bags (minimum 200 µm thickness) that are no more than 1200 mm long and 900 mm wide should be used. Bags should be filled no more than half full, twisted and sealed with adhesive tape (goose-necking), labelled to show they contain asbestos, and double bagged outside the removal area.
Our printed asbestos waste bags are made by Pakaflex in Melbourne, 700 x 1100 mm and 0.2 mm thick, printed CAUTION ASBESTOS DO NOT INHALE DUST.
The gear we stock
Signs for the same area
Common questions
What respirator is required for asbestos removal?
Safe Work Australia's code says it should conform to AS/NZS 1716:2012 and be chosen by a competent person. Its Table 5 lists P1 or P2 half-face respirators for removing non-friable asbestos such as cement sheets, and P3 full-face, powered or air-line respirators for the friable asbestos tasks it lists.
What type of coverall is needed for asbestos removal?
The code says disposable coveralls rated type 5, category 3 (EN ISO 13982-1) would meet its standard, worn one size too big with the hood over the respirator straps.
Can asbestos be removed without a licence?
The asbestos removal code says a person without a licence can remove 10 m2 or less of non-friable asbestos. Friable asbestos needs a Class A licence, and non-friable asbestos of more than 10 m2 needs a Class B licence.
How thick should asbestos waste bags be?
The code says new heavy duty polyethylene bags with a minimum thickness of 200 µm, no more than 1200 mm long and 900 mm wide, should be used.
Which filter does the silica code call for?
The silica code says respirators must have a P1, P2 or P3 particulate filter, depending on the type of respirator and the level of airborne contamination, and must give the required minimum protection factor under AS/NZS 1715:2009.
Do workers need to be clean-shaven to wear a respirator?
For tight-fitting respirators, the silica code says there can be no facial hair where the mask seals to the face, and the asbestos code says workers with beards, stubble or facial hair should use a continuous-flow positive pressure respirator.
Related guides
Sources
- Safe Work Australia, Model Code of Practice: How to safely remove asbestos
- Safe Work Australia, Model Code of Practice: Managing risks of respirable crystalline silica in the workplace (November 2025)
- Safe Work Australia, Model Code of Practice: How to safely remove asbestos (publication page)
- STS (Shigematsu), TS01 half mask
- STS (Shigematsu), YP3R particle filter
- 3M Australia, 3M Particulate Respirator 8322, P2, Valved
- Pakaflex, Asbestos removal products
Checked against the sources above on 2026-10-21.
General information, not advice for your site. What protection a job needs comes from the Safety Data Sheet, the task and your risk assessment. The statements on this page are taken from the sources listed below and were checked on the date shown. Check the source, or ask your regulator.
Track the PPE each job on site calls for
ChemMan, from Lupin Systems, keeps your safety data sheets in one place and works out the signage and the PPE from what you store.