In the ACT, if your house was built before 1985, there's a good chance that it contains asbestos (though this date may vary slightly in some cases). Therefore, before carrying out any constructions or renovations, it is important to know which materials might contain asbestos so that you can take the proper precautions when building, renovating, or making repairs.
DIY renovators and tradespeople are the ones most at risk of exposure to asbestos fibres as they are more likely to frequently undertake repairs, renovations and other work which can generate the release of asbestos fibres into the air. However, asbestos is only a risk to health when asbestos fibres are inhaled or ingested. While the risk to health increases with the number of fibres inhaled and with frequency of exposure, no safe level of asbestos exposure for lung cancer or mesothelioma has been identified. All types of asbestos can break into fibres so small that once they get into the air, they can remain airborne and be inhaled into the lungs, making it difficult for the body to remove them. This has been known to cause asbestosis, mesothelioma, pleural plaques and lung cancer.
Whether you're planning to do something as minor as putting up a new towel rail in the bathroom or undertaking a major extension in your home, before you get started it's important you get the facts; it's an investment in your health, your family's health and the health of others.
While, for residential buildings, the majority of building products containing asbestos were phased out in the 1980s, other materials containing asbestos continued to be used in plant rooms and other equipment until more recently. These materials can also be found internally and externally, and in wet and dry areas. However, the age of a product or material does not always indicate whether it may contain asbestos. In addition, given the range of generic products that were once manufactured using asbestos fibres, it can be difficult to tell whether a product or material contains asbestos just by looking at it. The most accurate way to detect whether or not asbestos is present is to have a licensed asbestos assessor inspect and test the product or material. Attempting to sample the material or product yourself, can be more hazardous than leaving it alone.
If you're not sure whether a product or material contains asbestos, it's safest to treat it as though it does and take the necessary precautions. There are some areas of a building where materials containing asbestos were more commonly used. Asbestos is commonly found under eaves and in wet areas.
If you plan on carrying out an extention or a renovation, you may be required to apply for building approval. If your house was built before 1985 (or building work started before 1985), an application for building approval must be accompanied by an asbestos removal control plan. In addition, if there is an asbestos assessment report for your premises, this also needs to accompany your application.
DO NOT attempt to work with, handle, remove or dispose of asbestos yourself; it is illegal.
When renovating or repairing property where asbestos is present and may be disturbed, you need to employ an asbestos removalist. Removing, breaking, cleaning, cutting, drilling, filing, grinding, sanding or smashing materials that contain asbestos can potentially release very fine and dangerous asbestos fibres into the air where they can be easily inhaled. People in the trades, maintenance and service sector may work with and remove up to 10 square metres of bonded asbestos as part of their daily work activities if they have received appropriate training for working with asbestos through an approved course. However, these people are not licensed asbestos removalists and should not engage in removing asbestos as an occupation or be engaged as asbestos removalists. An asbestos removalist should be used if the material is in poor condition. Friable asbestos can only be removed by someone who has a an A class asbestos removal license.
Materials containing asbestos should not be left lying about where they may be further broken or crushed by people or traffic. Once disturbed, all materials containing asbestos should be appropriately removed and disposed of as soon as practicable. Asbestos waste should not be disposed of in domestic bins or normal skips. Asbestos is a hazardous material and there are strict guidelines about how it should be packaged, transported and where it can be disposed of. All asbestos waste must be double wrapped in heavy duty (minimum 0.2mm or 200 microns thick) plastic (polythene) bags (available at most hardware shops) and disposed of at an appropriate waste facility.
Click here for information on how to safely work with asbestos.
Click here for information on how to safely remove asbestos.
Click here for information on how to safely dispose of asbestos.
