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Don‘t Play Renovation Roulette’ & Asbestos Awareness Month
is a public awareness campaign to educate
homeowners about the dangers of asbestos.
THE ISSUE
Australia has one of the highest incidences of asbestos-related diseases in theworld.
Australia was among the highest consumers of asbestos cement products percapita.
Few homeowners understand ANY home built or renovated prior to 1987 mightcontain asbestos.
With cases of asbestos-related diseases increasing because of exposure toasbestos fibres during home renovations, unsafe practice during renovations isconsidered a significant health threat to Australians.
Renovating without knowing where asbestos products might be and how best tomanage it is likened to playing ‘Russian Roulette’.
THE ISSUE
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“Whether a home is constructed of brick, weatherboard, fibro or isclad, asbestos can be present in ANY home built or renovatedbefore 1987 – even apartments”
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What is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a naturally-occurring fibrous silicate mineral. It was considered a versatile product, because it is able to withstandheat, erosion and decay and has fire and water resistant properties. Asbestos is described as either “non-friable“ (bonded) or"friable".
Non-Friable (bonded) Asbestos fibres are mixed into another material which binds or bonds them within the materialand cannot be crumbled, pulverised or reduced to a powder by hand pressure when dry.
Common uses for bonded asbestos in buildings include: flat (fibro), corrugated (roofing) or compressed asbestoscement sheets; water, drainage and flue pipes; and floor tiles.
If fire, hail, or direct activities such as water blasting and drilling damages bonded asbestos, it may become friableasbestos material.
Friable Asbestos material is any material that contains asbestos and is in the form of a powder or can be crumbled,pulverised or reduced to powder by hand pressure when dry.
Friable asbestos was not commonly used in the home; it was mainly used in industrial applications such as pipelagging, sprayed limpet and asbestos cloth and rope.
Friable asbestos can only be removed by a licenced asbestos removalist with a friable asbestos licence.
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The Importance of Safe AsbestosMANAGEMENT in & Around the Home
1 in 3 Australian homes contain building materials with asbestos.
If your home was built or renovated before the mid 1980s, it most likely contains asbestos.
The risk to families is when building materials containing asbestos are disturbed or damaged and thiscan release dangerous dust and fibres that can be inhaled.
People put themselves and their children at risk if they are not aware of the hazards of working withasbestos materials including fibro.
There are legal and safety requirements for the management of asbestos which vary from state to state.Follow the regulations. It’s not worth the risk – to your health or your pocket.
The cost of asbestos removal by a licenced professional is comparable in price to most licencedtradesmen including electricians, plumbers and tilers. The cost of disposal at a lawful landfill site is usuallyincluded when using a licenced professional removalist.
Homeowners and renovators should visit asbestosawareness.com.au for information and regulations onsafe asbestos management.
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Considering renovating?
If your house was built or renovated before 1987, it is likely tocontain asbestos.
Most people can't tell whether building materials containasbestos just by looking at them.
If you are not sure if asbestos is in your home or if it is in good,stable condition, you can have your home inspected by alicenced removalist or occupational hygienist.
IMPORTANT: If fire, hail, or water blasting damages bondedasbestos, it may become friable asbestos material and must bemanaged and removed by a licenced Friable AsbestosRemovalist.
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Has Asbestos Exposure Been Linked toDIY Renovating?
A study published in the Medical Journal of Australian by Professor Anthony Johnsoninto ‘The prevalence of self-reported asbestos exposure during home renovation inNSW residents’ showed:
60.5% of do it yourself (DIY) renovators reported being exposed to asbestosduring home renovations.
53% reported their partner and 40% reported their children were also exposedto asbestos during home DIY home renovations.
Non DIY renovators were less likely to be exposed or have their familiesexposed.
58% of DIY renovators cut AC Fibro Sheeting – this was the most commonactivity resulting in asbestos exposure.
37% of DIY renovators reported using a power tool to cut asbestos products.
THUS ASBESTOS EXPOSURE IS COMMON DURING HOME RENOVATIONSTHUS ASBESTOS EXPOSURE IS COMMON DURING HOME RENOVATIONS
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Why Can Asbestos Dust or Fibres beDangerous to Your Health?
There is no safe level of exposure to asbestos fibres!
If asbestos is disturbed it can release dangerous fine particles of dust containingasbestos fibres.
If you don’t observe safety precautions when removing or working withasbestos, you risk exposing yourself and your family to long-term health risks.
Symptoms of asbestos-related diseases do not usually appear until about 20to 30 years after the first exposure to asbestos.
The risk of contracting asbestos-related diseases increases with the number offibres inhaled and the length of time (years) that asbestos fibres were inhaled.
Breathing in dust containing asbestos fibres can cause asbestosis, lung cancerand mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is an incurable cancer which most often occurs inthe lining of the lung. The rates of malignant mesothelioma are expected to rise inthe next 8-10 years.
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Studies have shown that asbestos products, if in sound condition and left undisturbed,are not a significant health risk.
If your home contains bonded asbestos products that are in good condition, leave themalone but remember to check them occasionally for any signs of wear and tear.
If asbestos materials are in good condition, paint them and leave them alone.
If the asbestos fibres remain firmly bound in a solid cement sheet or structure, generallyyou do not need to remove the asbestos.
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When Is Asbestos in the Home NOT aSignificant Health Risk?
Important Asbestos Facts
Don’t cut it!
Don’t drill it!
Don’t drop it!
Don’t sand it!
Don’t saw it!
Don’t scrape it!
Don’t scrub it!
Don’t dismantle it!
Don’t tip it!
Don’t waterblast it!
Don’t demolish it!
And whatever youdo...
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Don’t dump it!
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DISCLAIMER
The information contained in this presentation is provided as an education guide and it does not represent a comprehensive statement of the laws and regulations specific to each state,territory or council region. Although all care has been taken to ensure that the information is correct at the time of publication, the laws change over time and you need to ensure that you areaccessing the most current legislation to ensure that the information is up to date. You may use this presentation for educational purposes in your organisation for internal training anddevelopment however, you are not permitted to edit, change or add to this presentation in any way. You are not allowed to remove this disclaimer from the presentation and you are notallowed to charge any fees for using this presentation.