Who is responsible: the owner or the contractor?
Both, in different roles. The employer or principal directing the works must obtain the survey before work starts and ensure asbestos is removed before demolition. The occupier must ensure only an approved contractor removes asbestos. The approved contractor must notify MOM, appoint a competent person, prepare and follow a plan of work, and control, decontaminate and dispose of the waste. An owner who commissions works can be the principal or the occupier, so the duties cannot simply be passed to the contractor.
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?
- Can my renovation contractor remove asbestos ceiling boards?
- How much notice does MOM need before asbestos removal?
- Is asbestos dangerous if I leave it alone?
- What happens to the asbestos waste?
- What are the health risks of asbestos exposure?
- What should I do if suspected asbestos is found halfway through the works?