National Asbestos Awareness Week is back from Monday 23 November to Sunday 29 November to remind everyone to be asbestos aware before starting any works around the house.
Asbestos is still present in millions of homes across the country and there’s a good chance houses built or renovated prior to 1990 have some asbestos.
With the population spending extra time at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s likely more people are carrying out house renovations, improvements and maintenance jobs.
Asbestos can be easily disturbed when carrying out these works, so it’s vital that an asbestos check forms part of your DIY checklist before launching into projects.
A key message in this year’s National Asbestos Awareness Week campaign is that asbestos “lurks in more places than you think” including behind tiling, under flooring and in ceilings.
If you’re planning a project around the home, be aware of where asbestos might be found before starting and call a professional for advice and help.
Asbestos is a known carcinogen and inhaling asbestos fibres can cause life-threatening diseases including pleural disease, asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung cancer.
Asbestos-related diseases cause approximately 4,000 deaths a year – three times the annual road toll.
National Asbestos Awareness Week is run by the Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency (ASEA) – Australia's national agency responsible for asbestos policy and coordination.
Visit the ASEA website for more information.
Social Media Share this articleLinks below open in a new window