November is National Asbestos Awareness month and many councils are helping to raise the profile of the potentially deadly building material.
Chair of the Asbestos Education Committee, Peter Dunphy, said local government participation in the annual campaign is important.
“While many Australians believe that only fibro homes contain asbestos, this couldn’t be further from the truth.
“Because Australia was among the highest consumers of asbestos products in the world, asbestos-containing materials are common in many homes built or renovated before 1987 with a broad range of products still commonly found in and around any brick, weatherboard, fibro or clad home,” Dunphy said.
Councillor Laurence Bonaventura, who holds the Health and Regulatory portfolio at Mackay Regional Council, said any house built or renovated before 1987 was likely to contain the now banned building material.
“If asbestos is disturbed during renovations or demolition work, fibres can be released into the air and inhaled.
“Exposure to fibres can increase a person’s risk of developing malignant mesothelioma or lung cancer.
“As more and more people undertake their own renovations asbestos exposure is becoming more common among DIY home renovators.”
As part of the awareness campaign, a model house affectionately named Betty is touring through Queensland in November.
The first of her kind in Australia and the world, Betty is a purpose-built, mobile model house the size of a caravan designed to demonstrate where asbestos might be found in the home.
In Victoria, Councillor Carl Marsich of Hobsons Bay City Council said that the municipality has partnered with the State Government’s Metropolitan Waste and Resource Recovery Group to educate home handymen and women on how to legally and safely identify, remove and dispose of asbestos.
“One in three Australian homes still contain asbestos in one form or another, whether that be under floor coverings, in cement, walls, ceilings, insulation, garages, fences or even dog kennels – asbestos can be found almost anywhere,” Cr Marsich said.
“Another valuable resource is the 20 Point Asbestos Safety Check at asbestosawareness.com.au, which helps homeowners to identify products that may contain asbestos, where they might be found and how to manage and dispose of it safely and legally.
“Council fields many calls about asbestos each week, but we have only limited authority over its removal and regulation and often have to refer residents on to WorkSafe, the Department of Health or the Environment Protection Authority (EPA).
“That’s why the www.asbestos.vic.gov.au website is such as a great tool for our community, as it brings together information from all these government agencies to provide one comprehensive guide to dealing with asbestos.”
