November 20th-26th is National Asbestos Awareness Week with this year’s theme ‘Think Twice about Asbestos’. The week aims to remind people of the prevalence and danger of asbestos in homes and workplaces and provides simple messages on avoiding exposure. This year marks 20 years since asbestos was banned entirely in Australia. However, people need to remain aware of what could be hidden in their homes, with a third of residences still containing the deadly fibres.
Asbestos related diseases are increasing among young Australians, raising the importance of awareness and education on how to manage asbestos safely and in accordance with regulations.
Chair of the Asbestos Education Committee and Advocacy Australia Clare Collins said people should take proper precautions when work is being undertaken, whether during home renovations or in the workplace. "While Australia faces the serious wave of silicosis disease, a preventable occupational lung disease predominantly impacting workers from a wide range of industries, Australians must never forget that asbestos lurking in homes continues to pose serious health risks to anyone exposed to fibres when asbestos is not managed safely during renovations, maintenance or demolition, including mums, dads and children," she said. "There is no known safe level of exposure to asbestos fibres, and with interest rates rising and a shortage of tradies putting pressure on homeowners to do their own renovations, we hold serious concerns that DIYers might risk their lives and the lives of loved ones if they fail to respect the life-threatening risks when asbestos is not managed safely and in line with regulations."
Classic asbestos fibre cement sheet house
Many homeowners are unaware of the asbestos risks and believe only tradespeople are at risk of asbestos-related diseases. According to the most recent Australian Mesothelioma Registry Report in April 2023, 83 per cent of respondents were assessed as having had 'possible or probable' exposure to asbestos fibres in non-occupational settings. Of the patients surveyed, the dominant non-occupational exposure to asbestos fibres was 51 per cent and occurred when undertaking major home renovations. Additionally, 38 per cent said they'd lived in a house undergoing renovations, 20 per cent said they'd lived in the same home as someone who was exposed to asbestos at work and brought the fibres home in dust, while 12 per cent said they'd lived in a house made of fibro that was built between 1947 and 1987.
Asbestos Awareness ambassador and renovation expert Cherie Barber lost her grandfather to asbestos-related disease and said agencies like the Asbestos Education Committee were vital in raising awareness of the potential dangers in homes. "Australia was one of the highest consumers of ACMs [asbestos-containing materials] globally, which is why asbestos will remain an ever-present danger embedded in every corner of Australian life for generations to come," she said. "The only way we can help prevent deaths caused by asbestos exposure is to continue our campaign to increase awareness of the risks and ensure the community has access to vital information that just may save their life or the life of a loved one."
With interest rates and cost of living increasing, home renovators looking to save money by doing jobs themselves are being warned not to take any risks with asbestos. Asbestos Safety and Eradication Council chair Paul Bastian warns that renovators who forgo a professional asbestos assessment could put themselves and their families particularly at risk. “We often hear about renovators discovering asbestos after starting a project, which means they may already have exposed themselves, their family and their neighbours, as well as then having to deal with unexpected delays and costs,” he said. “We’re calling on tradies, homeowners and anyone planning renovations, repairs, or other work on older buildings to think twice about asbestos and don’t cut corners. “Just like plumbing and electrical work, asbestos removal is a job best left to the experts.”
For more information, visit asbestosawareness.com.au.
References:
Take the time to think twice about asbestos this November
National Asbestos Awareness Week: Grandad’s plea to DIY renovators over ‘invisible’ threat