WA

Dangers of Asbestos

Asbesto Awareness DEC 248

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral made up of microscopic fibres that was first used in product manufacturing in the 1920s. Between the mid-1940s until the mid-1980s asbestos was commonly used in the manufacture of thousands of products including building materials.

Although a complete ban on all asbestos-containing materials came into force on 31 December 2003, Australia’s asbestos legacy will continue to cause asbestos-related diseases if fibres are inhaled when asbestos is not managed safely.

When asbestos is disturbed in its natural form (in rural landscapes) or in asbestos-containing products, fibres can be released and become airborne. If inhaled the fibres can cause asbestos-related diseases that can be life-threatening.  

Why Can Asbestos Dust or Fibres be Dangerous to Your Health?

  • You must observe safety precautions when removing or working with asbestos, otherwise you risk exposing yourself and your family to long-term health risks
  • There is no safe level of exposure to asbestos fibres!
  • If asbestos is disturbed it can release dangerous fine particles of dust containing asbestos fibres
  • Breathing in dust containing asbestos fibres can cause asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma
  • Mesothelioma is a cancer which most often occurs in the lining of the lung. There is no cure
  • It is anticipated that incidences of malignant mesothelioma (an incurable cancer) will continue to increase in Australia as a result of Australia’s wide-spread use of asbestos-containing materials
  • The risk of contracting asbestos related diseases increases with the number of fibres inhaled and the length of time that you inhaled asbestos fibres (number of years exposed)
  • The risk of lung cancer from inhaling asbestos fibres is greatly increased if you smoke
  • Symptoms of asbestos dust related diseases do not usually appear until about 20 to 30 years after the first exposure to asbestos
  • The average time between exposure and developing mesothelioma is about 45 years

Contacts

FOR REGULATIONS PLEASE CONTACT

National: Asbestos Safety & Eradication Agency

For details about the regulations in your state visit:

 

ASBESTOS AWARENESS WEBSITE, MEDIA & CAMPAIGN ENQUIRIES PLEASE CONTACT:

Insight Communications
P: +61 2 9518 4744 
M: PO Box 944, Strawberry Hills, NSW, 2012
E: For email enquiries please complete the below form.

To register for Asbestos Awareness Month click here

Note: Asbestos Awareness is not an asbestos removalist or assessment company. We cannot provide specific advice regarding whether your property contains asbestos.

Fill out my online form.

 

Useful Links

PRACTICAL GUIDES

IDENTIFYING ASBESTOS

The most accurate way to find out if your fibro building product contains asbestos is to have it tested at a NATA laboratory approved for asbestos identification. You can’t tell by looking at it. If in doubt, assume asbestos is present and take the necessary precautions.

Any inquiries for analysis of suspected asbestos should be directed to NATA – The National Association of Testing Authorities. For a NATA Lab List call 1800 621 666 or refer to their website at www.nata.com.au. When searching for an asbestos testing facility use a capital A in Asbestos.

MR FLUFFY & LOOSE FILL ASBESTOS

For information on loose-fill asbestos ceiling insulation material installed by Mr Fluffy during the 1960s and 1970s in the ACT visit asbestostaskforce.act.gov.au or in NSW please contact Service NSW on 13 77 88 or visit NSW Fair Trading Loose Fill Asbestos Task Force.

ASBESTOS IMPORTS

Asbestos is still widely used in some countries. Despite being a prohibited import in Australia, goods containing asbestos are still being located at the Australian border. For more information visit

ASBESTOS HEALTH & ENVIRONMENT RELATED

STATE & TERRITORY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION & LEGISLATION

Every state and local government has their own legislation and policy in relation to asbestos in the home. Be sure to familiarise yourself with the regulations that effect you.

RESEARCH & SUPPORT GROUPS

LICENCED ASBESTOS REMOVALISTS

WHO TO CONTACT?

Safe Management of Asbestos in Your Home:

  • General asbestos safety issues – Local Council
  • Derelict properties – Local Council

FURTHER INFORMATION

Partners

 

AMBASSADORS

Cherie Barber

Cherie Barber is well known as Australia’s Renovation Queen™ and is Australia’s foremost expert on renovating.  Cherie is widely respected for her expertise, knowledge and skills in property renovations. With her own unique, down-to-earth natural style, Cherie has featured extensively in the media across all television networks, radio programs, print and online media throughout Australia and internationally.   With her renovating for profit career spanning more than 30 years, Cherie is a highly sought-after public speaker, author and award-winning businesswoman.

Cherie lost her grandfather to asbestos-related disease and is passionate about raising community awareness about the dangers of asbestos when renovating. Cherie has been a dedicated Ambassador for the National Asbestos Awareness campaign to educate homeowners and DIYers on how to renovate homes with asbestos safely since 2013.

“Australians have a love affair with renovating. But many do it in a gunho approach, demolishing walls and the like, in Rambo renovator style, oblivious to the fact that asbestos could be present. I’ve seen it first hand – inexperienced renovators and homeowners unknowingly exposing themselves and their children to asbestos fibres.  And our Aussie attitude of “she’ll be right”, won’t be right, when it comes to asbestos. I personally lost my grandfather to asbestos poisoning and I can tell you, it’s a horrible way to go. It’s my role as an ambassador to help spread the word, that through proper handling and awareness, no Australian in the future, needs to fall victim to this disease. We can put a stop to it. It’s an absolute honour to be involved in such an important cause”.

Scott Cam

AAW12 Scott Cam & Betty 530Scott Cam another of Australia’s most loved television personalities and host of The Block said, “You can’t muck about with asbestos. It’s dangerous stuff. And because most people can’t tell if a material is made of asbestos just by looking at it, before starting a DIY job or a renovation, we want them to visit asbestosawareness.com.au so they have a better understanding of how to go about things to protect themselves and their families.”

Barry Du Bois

Barry Du Bois is an Interior Designer and Master Builder with over 30 years experience. As one of Australia’s best-loved TV personalities, Barry possesses the unique ability to communicate his professional knowledge on design, architecture, renovations and DIY to homeowners who are outside the building industry and features across the resources developed for Tradies.

“The Asbestos Awareness Checklists for Tradies will help save lives.  The easy to follow step-by-step instructions across a broad range of trades gives Tradies the know-how they need to locate possible asbestos-containing materials in any home built or renovated before 1990 so they know what to look for and can manage it safely”

His skill set encompasses everything in the home, from the kitchen bench to the garage, and he has a passion for educating and empowering people to transform their living spaces into something truly special.

Before appearing on TV, Barry had a hugely successful building career. Starting out as an apprentice carpenter, he soon progressed to owning and running his own building company before graduating onto renovating multi-million dollar waterfront homes.

Scott McGregor

124-AAW-Launch-2012Scott McGregor popular for his 30 years in the business and his roles in Better Homes and Gardens and as host of the hugely popular Room For Improvement said, “Many years of renovations on houses great and small has made me very aware of how toxic they can be and asbestos is on top of the list!”

“Too many Australian’s are suffering and dying young through the simple act of handling asbestos around the home. It’s time to get smart with DIY so when it comes to asbestos it’s a definite case of D-DIY, that is, Don’t do it yourself”

 

 

 

About

 

The Asbestos Awareness Campaign was launched in NSW in 2011. Working closely with stakeholders including local and state governments, not-for-profits, research organisations and businesses; in 2013 the campaign was rolled out Australia-wide as the National Asbestos Awareness Month Campaign.

With the serious health risks associated with exposure to asbestos fibres being of national concern and with 1 in every 3 Australian homes containing asbestos, the principle focus of the national campaign was to alert home renovators and tradespersons about the dangers of asbestos; provide information to assist in identifying asbestos-containing materials in and around homes built or renovated prior to 1990; and, provide information and resources on how to manage and dispose of asbestos safely.

In 2017, asbestosawareness.com.au increased its extensive suite of resources to include Asbestos Management Plan guides to assist in the safe management of asbestos-containing materials in commercial and non-residential properties and to assist rural workers in safely managing naturally occurring asbestos (NOA) in accordance with regulations.

Until 2017, the world-leading and internationally award winning Asbestos Awareness Campaign and many of the world-first resources featured on the asbestosawareness.com.au website were funded by the James Hardie Education Fund administered by the Government run Asbestos Education Committee chaired by SafeWork NSW with various NSW and Federal Government agencies contributing additional funding.

In April 2018, the Government managed Asbestos Education Committee was disbanded and funding of the Asbestos Awareness Campaign and the asbestosawareness.com.au website ceased.

In 2021 Asbestos Awareness partnered with a new independent Asbestos Education Committee comprised of experts across health, government, industry and victims of asbestos-related diseases and are seeking ongoing funding.

The Asbestos Awareness Campaign and the majority of the content featured on the asbestosawareness.com.au website was researched, developed and managed by Insight Communications in consultation with stakeholders, health, work and safety representatives, and relevant authority from State and Federal governments.

The Asbestos Awareness Campaign has focused on home renovators and tradesman by:

  • Alerting those people to the dangers of asbestos;
  • Alerting those people as to what products may contain asbestos and where those products may be found in existing households or other environments; and
  • Advising those people as to the steps that ought to be taken by people planning home renovations or who otherwise identify asbestos products in their home or other.

 

 

Asbestos Products Database

The Asbestos Products Database is Australia’s first comprehensive online database to assist homeowners, renovators, tradespeople and some industries to identify asbestos-containing materials so they can be managed safely. The database provides  multiple search options for products commonly used in residential and commercial properties, in agriculture, automotive, industrial, plant and marine products and features over 60 different product types and more than 550 product photographs with descriptions and locations where these products might be found in homes built or renovated prior to 1990. 

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Actinolite Amosite (brown asbestos) Anthophyllite Chrysotile (white asbestos) Crocidolite (blue asbestos) Tremolite

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Search Results

- 8 results for "commercial"
Vinyl floor tiles and covering
Floor Covering

Solid, brittle material in a variety of colours used in control rooms, bathrooms, common rooms andamenities rooms of zone substations and Field Service Centres. Sometimes used in bigger distribution substations. Can also be referred to as lino o...


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Flue pipes and fittings
Cement - sheets, moulded product

Includes socketed pipes, bends (all angles), tees, loose sockets, blank caps, cone cap cowls, Chinaman hat cowls, H piece, T piece, Smith cowl, west cowl, mushroom cowl, double Chinaman hat, torpedo cowl and tapered reducers.


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Asbestos Cement Sheet
Cement - sheets, moulded product

Smooth, flat fibre cement sheet that is painted on-site to create a flat panel look. Tough, flexible sheeting suitable for external cladding and internal lining. Flat cement sheets were made of asbestos fibres and cement mix, commonly in the ratio of...


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Cement sheeting - Versilux
Cement - sheets, moulded product

Fibro asbestos cement sheeting, typically used as an internal wall and ceiling lining in laundries, kitchens and high-traffic areas in residential, medium-density and commercial buildings,


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Downpipe and accessories
Drainage

Includes downpipe bends, downpipe shoes, downpipe junctions, downpipe spreaders


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Fire Doors
Fire Doors

By the fire regulation substation entrance and internal doors must be fire rated. Asbestos was widely used in the internal construction or backing of fire doors due to its excellent fire resistance properties. That includes switchroom fire doors (woo...


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Loose fill asbestos insulation
Asbestos fibres - loose

Thermal insulation materials in the form of granules, fibres, or other types of pieces that can be poured, pumped, or placed by hand.


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Low Density Asbestos Fibre Boards (LDB) - Asbestolux
Cement - sheets, moulded product

Asbestolux was typically used as wall and ceiling panels, often in high humidity applications. It has been used for fire protection, thermal and acoustic insulation and for general building work in industrial and commercial buildings, education facil...


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