Get to kNOw Asbestos this NOvember

In the lead-up to Asbestos Awareness Day (Friday 28 November), Australians - especially home owners, renovators, tradies and handymen - are being encouraged to visit asbestosawareness.com.au and take the 20-point asbestos safety check to learn how to protect themselves and families from exposure to dangerous asbestos fibres.

Peter Dunphy, chair of the Asbestos Education Committee that conducts the national Asbestos Awareness campaign, said, “There is no safe level of exposure to asbestos fibres.

“With at least one in three Australian homes containing asbestos, many homeowners, renovators, tradies and handymen are putting their health and the health of families at risk when doing home renovations, maintenance and demolition if they release dangerous asbestos dust and fibres that can be inhaled and lead to asbestos-related diseases including mesothelioma.”*

Mesothelioma is a cancer that mostly affects the lining of the lungs and develops between 20-50 years after inhaling asbestos fibres. There is no cure and the average survival time after diagnosis is 10-12  months. Inhaling asbestos fibres may also cause other diseases such as lung cancer, asbestosis and benign pleural disease. In the past, Australians diagnosed with mesothelioma have primarily been men exposed to asbestos fibres in mines and asbestos factories (first wave) and in the workplace working with asbestos-containing materials (second wave). With the current wave of asbestos-related diseases, there is a growing body of evidence linking asbestos exposure to DIY and renovations with more people, specifically women, diagnosed as a result of inhaling fibres in a non-occupational setting.

“We know that Australia has one of the highest rates of asbestos-related diseases in the world because Australia was among the highest consumers of asbestos products until a complete ban of asbestos came into force in Australia in 2003,” Dunphy said.

“However, there is still a high volume of asbestos-containing building products used prior to 1987 which remain hidden dangers in homes and buildings such as garages and farm structures so it’s critical that all Australians become asbestos aware.

“Many Australians wrongly believe that only fibro homes contain asbestos. With asbestos products still commonly found in and around brick, weatherboard, clad and fibro homes built or renovated before 1987, it’s vital that homeowners, renovators, tradesmen and handymen ‘get to know asbestos this November’.

“Tradespeople who come into direct contact with products that may contain asbestos every day of their working life are particularly vulnerable and need to be doubly aware of the risks and safe management practices of working with asbestos.

“Visit www.asbestosawareness.com.au and take the 20-point safety check to learn where asbestos might be found in homes and on properties and how to manage it safely, because it’s not worth the risk to themselves or to their families,” he said.

During November, Australians are encouraged to host a Blue Lamington Drive morning or afternoon tea at home or at work to help raise awareness of the current dangers of asbestos while raising vital funds for medical research and support services for sufferers of asbestos-related diseases