National Asbestos Awareness Month

Published on 16 November 2023

One of our greatest challenges is teaching Australians to respect the dangers of asbestos to ensure it’s managed safely. Many continue to wrongly think that deaths caused from asbestos are a thing of the past. Sadly, deadly asbestos remains hidden in one third of Aussie homes including brick, weatherboard, clad and fibro homes as well as apartments that were built or renovated prior to 1990.

It was used everywhere - lurking under floor coverings including carpets, linoleum and vinyl tiles, behind wall and floor tiles, in cement floors, internal and external walls, ceilings and ceiling space (insulation), eaves, garages, roofs, around hot water pipes, fences, home extensions, garages, outdoor toilets, backyard and farm structures, chook sheds and even dog kennels.

So while the popularity of renovating continues to grow and homeowners are impacted by the unprecedented lack of tradespersons; the Asbestos Education Committee holds grave concerns that homeowners are taking unnecessary risks with asbestos, jeopardising their health and the health of families when doing DIY renovations.

Over 4,000 Australians die every year from asbestos-related diseases – 235% more than the annual national road toll of 2022.

So as long as asbestos-containing materials remain in homes built or renovated prior to 1990, it’s vital that DIYers, homeowners, renovators and tradies heed the warnings and learn to respect the serious dangers of asbestos to help save lives.

Disposing of Asbestos safely at the Burnie Waste Management Centre

But what is Asbestos ?

Asbestos is a fibrous mineral that resists heat, erosion, and decay, and is fire and water-resistant. Before the 1980s, Australia had one of the highest per capita uses of asbestos in the world, with asbestos cement being the most common form used for building due to its low cost, durability, and fire-resistant properties.