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It’s easy to forget that asbestos is still present in millions of Australian properties,.
If a house was built or renovated before 1990, there’s a good chance it has asbestos.
National Asbestos Awareness Week November 20–26 is a good time to remember that asbestos lurks in more places than you’d think. It’s still commonly found in bathrooms, laundries and kitchens, behind tiles, under flooring and in outbuildings such as sheds, garages and fencing.
Asbestos can be easily disturbed when doing renovations, home improvements or regular maintenance.
Every year in Australia, an estimated 4000 people die from asbestos-related diseases because of past exposure to asbestos.
To keep yourself and your family safe around asbestos, take these simple steps:
1. Get in the know – plan ahead before starting any renovations and find out where asbestos is likely to be in your home.
2. Take it slow – to avoid damaging or disturbing asbestos materials.
3. Get a pro – know your limits. Contact a licensed asbestos professional for advice on where it’s located, and on how to manage or remove it.
As part of a regional program aimed at reducing the unsafe removal of asbestos by home renovators, residents across the Northern Rivers are eligible for a subsidised Household Asbestos Testing kit (while stocks last), available from their local council.
The kit includes instructions on how to take samples safely and send to a certified testing laboratory. The results are then emailed back to residents. If asbestos is identified and requires removal, residents are urged to use a licensed asbestos removal contractor to remove and dispose of it safely.
For further information on household testing or disposal kits, contact your local council or visit here.
For information on asbestos safety, visit here.
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