Asbestos Awareness
Asbestos Awareness aims to alert Australians of the dangers of working with asbestos during home renovations and maintenance and educate them about where asbestos might be found in and around the home.
Did you know that if your house or apartment was built or renovated before the mid 1980s (even if it is brick) that your home will most likely contain asbestos in some form?
- One in three Australian homes contain asbestos
- Nearly all homes built or renovated before the mid 1980s will contain asbestos in some form
- Asbestos is not restricted to fibro homes – it can also be found in brick, weatherboard or cladded homes in bathrooms, kitchens, laundries, garages and ceilings, behind tiles and under carpet or lino(among other locations)
- Australia has one of the highest incidences of asbestos related cancers in the world
- With one in three Australian homes containing asbestos, the acknowledged ‘Third Wave’ of victims will be homeowners and families exposed to asbestos fibres during home renovations or maintenance
With Australia having one of the highest incidences of asbestos related cancers in the world, and with confirmed cases of asbestos related cancers continuing to increase as a result of home maintenance and renovation, exposure to asbestos fibres is considered a major threat to the health of Australians.
Having been ranked among the top consumers of asbestos cement products per capita in the world, almost every home built or renovated before the mid 1980s is likely to contain asbestos in one form or another.
In the past, those affected by asbestos related diseases were exposed to raw fibres in the mining and manufacturing process (first wave) followed by workers who used asbestos products in the workplace (second wave). The third wave of asbestos-related diseases predominantly affects people exposed to fibres during home renovations and maintenance specifically handymen and DIYers as well as family members present at the time.
If left undisturbed asbestos generally does not pose a health risk however, with DIY renovations on the increase, if you are considering doing renovations or home maintenance, you must visit asbestosawareness.com.au to learn where asbestos can be found in the home and how best to manage it.
Most people can’t tell whether building materials contain asbestos just by looking at them. Asbestos can be under floor coverings such as carpets, linoleum and vinyl tiles, behind wall and floor tiles, in cement floors, internal and external walls, ceilings, eaves, garages, around hot water pipes, fences, extensions to homes, outdoor toilets and backyard sheds – it could be anywhere.
Before commencing any home maintenance or renovation work, homeowners and renovators, particularly young couples and first home buyers excited about renovating their homes, must learn about where they might find asbestos in the home and how best to manage it so they can protect themselves and their families from asbestos fibres.
Don’t play renovation roulette, think smart, think safe, think www.asbestosawarenss.com.au – it’s not worth the risk!
