Can my renovation contractor remove asbestos ceiling boards?
Only if it is an approved asbestos-removal contractor. Regulation 13 says no person may undertake asbestos-removal work unless approved by MOM, and makes the occupier of the workplace responsible for ensuring that only an approved contractor does it. A general renovation contractor that is not approved must not break, cut or remove asbestos materials. It can carry out the rest of the works after the approved contractor has finished removal in the affected areas.
From the RRD Field Guide, checked against the sources cited in Asbestos in Renovation and Strip-Out in Singapore: Surveys, Approved Removal and Owner Duties. General information, not advice for your project.
The fuller picture
In Singapore, building works on a building whose completion certificate or TOP was issued before 1 January 1991 must not start until a competent person has surveyed for asbestos. Any asbestos found may only be removed by an MOM-approved asbestos-removal contractor, which must notify MOM at least 7 days ahead. The occupier must ensure no one else removes it, and the waste goes by licensed collector to Semakau Landfill.
More questions on this topic
- Does my building contain asbestos?
- Do I need an asbestos survey before renovating?
- How much notice does MOM need before asbestos removal?
- Is asbestos dangerous if I leave it alone?
- What happens to the asbestos waste?
- Who is responsible: the owner or the contractor?
- What are the health risks of asbestos exposure?
- What should I do if suspected asbestos is found halfway through the works?