Cleaning up after floods and storms

Information for home renovators, businesses and volunteers who are involved with a clean up and recovery of buildings damaged by floods, storms and other natural disasters.

Employers and workers involved in the flood and storm recovery efforts must still remember their obligations under Queensland's health and safety laws.

These laws are in place to protect Queenslanders. By being vigilant and maintaining safety during this difficult time, you can help reduce the risk of death, injury and illness to yourself, your workers and others involved in the clean up and repair effort.

Further information

Safe work procedures explaining how to clean up storm - damaged asbestos containing materials from around the home.

Class exemption—notification of licensed asbestos removal work due to flooding or severe weather conditions

The regulator has granted a class exemption to remove the requirement for licensed asbestos removalists to notify the regulator before carrying out licensed asbestos removal work if the work is necessary due to flooding or severe weather conditions (section 466, WHS Regulation).

The exemption assists to minimise the community’s risk of exposure to asbestos fibres by allowing asbestos containing material that is damaged during severe weather events and poses an imminent risk to the community if it is not immediately removed, to be removed without the delay of waiting five days after providing written notice of the removal.

The ability to rely on the exemption does not continue indefinitely after a flood or severe weather event and work undertaken months after the severe weather event (i.e. through insurance claims) does not benefit from the exemption, as it is expected that providing five days written notice is practicable in those circumstances.

Where asbestos is removed urgently under the exemption and the licensed asbestos removalist is unable to notify the regulator before carrying out licensed asbestos removal work, written notification should be provided using Form 65 – Notification of licensed asbestos removal work/demolition work/emergency demolition as soon as practicable afterwards.

To complete Form 65, you will need to:

• register an account to access the Workplace Health and Safety Forms.
• provide an email address and create a password.

This class exemption took effect on 16 March 2023 and is in effect until 15 March 2028 unless amended or cancelled sooner.

Read more information on demolition and asbestos, including training, personal protective equipment, decontamination and disposal of asbestos waste.

View the film Asbestos - safe work procedure - storm and wind damage cleanup.