National Asbestos Awareness Week (22-28 November) is encouraging Australians to consider the danger of asbestos before taking on home renovations.
Think Twice About Asbestos is the slogan of the campaign which challenges complacency by reminding home renovators and tradespeople that the danger of asbestos is far from over.
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral made up of tiny, microscopic fibres. When asbestos is disturbed, either in its natural form or in an asbestos-containing product, these fibres can become airborne and be easily inhaled. Asbestos fibres may become trapped in the lungs, potentially causing a number of life-threatening diseases like cancer.
Asbestos is still present in millions of homes, as well as public and commercial buildings, across Australia.
In homes built before 1990 – about 1 in 3 nationwide – asbestos can still be found anywhere.
Bayside City Council is one of hundreds of organisations working towards an Australia free of asbestos-related diseases.
According to the Global Burden of Disease Collaborative Network 2016 asbestos-related diseases contribute to approximately 4000 deaths in Australia each year – one of the highest death rates of asbestos-related diseases in the world.
By preventing exposure to asbestos fibres, asbestos-related diseases can be eliminated.
Anyone working on homes built before 1990 can stay safe if they know where asbestos is, if they don’t disturb or damage it, and if they seek professional help to locate, manage or remove it.
The National Asbestos Awareness Week campaign and Bayside City Council promotes the role of licensed asbestos professionals for both home renovators and tradespeople.
Find out how to stay safe at Asbestos Safety.
