Asbestos Awareness Asbestos & Bushfires Understanding Asbestos 20 Point Safety Check Dangers of Asbestos Asbestos Related Diseases Information Safety Facts Asbestos in the Home Disposal & Legalities

Asbestos Awareness

If you are thinking about renovating, you must be aware of asbestos. It is important for home owners and renovators to be aware of how to safely manage asbestos in and around the home.

Importantly, if you suspect you have asbestos in your home, Dont cut it! Don’t drill it! Don’t drop it! Don’t sand it! Don’t saw it! Don’t scrape it! Don’t scrub it! Don’t dismantle it! Don’t tip it! Don’t waterblast it! Don’t demolish it! And whatever you do… Don’t dump it!

Asbestos & Bushfires

Homes, commercial and non-residential structures burnt in bushfires can create potential health and safety hazards in the remaining rubble and ash. During bushfires, air quality is also diminished due to airborne ash and smoke which can also contain asbestos fibres if homes and other buildings and structures containing asbestos are damaged causing fibres to become airborne.

With Australia being among the highest consumers of asbestos-containing materials in the world, during this current bushfire crisis, it’s vital that those living in regions that are affected are aware that asbestos may cause an additional risk to health and take suitable precautions.

Precautions include wearing PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) including a suitable P2 Mask. However, a respirator is preferred as well as wearing disposable coveralls, shoe covers etc. that are disposed of in accordance with regulations.

Why does asbestos pose a risk during and after bushfires?

Asbestos dust and fibres have the potential to present a health risk during and after a fire if not properly managed. Asbestos fibres may be present in the dust and ash and may pose a risk to those disturbing the dust and ash if inhaled while searching for their lost belongings.

Homes and other structures that were built or refurbished prior to 1987 that are burnt during bushfires may cause the asbestos-containing materials to be disturbed or become friable and tiny fibres become airborne.

Asbestos may be in many forms including flat or corrugated sheets (fibro) used for walls, ceilings, roofing or in products such as pipes, electrical conduit, eaves, wall and floor tiles and other structures including garages and garden sheds.

Some key facts about asbestos and bushfires:

Asbestos dust and fibres have the potential to present a health risk during and after a fire if not properly managed.
Asbestos fibres may be present in the dust and ash and may pose a risk to those disturbing the dust and ash if inhaled while searching for their lost belongings.
Depending on the extent of the fire damage, the asbestos present can be classified as either friable (can be easily crumbled), or non-friable.
Asbestos sheets that are severely damaged or reduced to ash are likely to be friable.
Asbestos that is intact or has suffered smoke damage is likely to be classified as non-friable.

What do you do if your property has been damaged by bushfire?

DO NOT enter your property until you are advised that it is safe to do so by emergency services, utilities companies or your council.
Electrical hazards could exist such as live power lines that may be down or active solar panels.
Buildings and other structures may be unstable to enter or walk over.
Be aware that hot, smouldering coals and other potentially hazardous materials may be hidden under the rubble.
Building rubble should not be buried as it may contain hazardous materials including asbestos.
Don’t spread ash around your property, particularly if asbestos-containing materials were used in your home or other structures, or CCA-treated timber was burnt.
Moisten the ash with water to minimise dust and keep damp but DO NOT USE HIGH PRESSURE WATER SPRAYS

Understanding Asbestos

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a naturally-occurring fibrous silicate mineral. It was considered a versatile product, because it is able to withstand heat, erosion and decay and has fire and water resistant properties.

It becomes a health risk when asbestos fibres are released into the air and breathed in.

Asbestos building materials is described as either “non-friable” or “friable“.

Non-Friable asbestos: is any material (other than friable asbestos) that contains asbestos. Non- friable asbestos cannot be crumbled, pulverised or reduced to a powder by hand pressure when dry. Common uses for non-friable asbestos in buildings include: flat (fibro), corrugated or compressed asbestos cement sheets; water, drainage and flue pipes; and floor tiles. If fire, hail, or direct activities such as water blasting and drilling damages bonded asbestos, it may become friable asbestos material

Friable asbestos material is any material that contains asbestos and is in the form of a powder or can be crumbled, pulverised or reduced to powder by hand pressure when dry.

Friable asbestos was not commonly used in the home; it was mainly used in industrial applications such as pipe lagging, sprayed limpet and asbestos cloth and rope.

Friable asbestos can only be removed by a licenced asbestos removalist with a friable asbestos licence.

20 Point Safety Check

Get to know Asbestos – The 20 Point Asbestos Safety Check

At least 1 in 3 Australian homes contain asbestos including brick, weatherboard, fibro and clad homes and apartments.
Asbestos was widely used in building materials before 1987 so if your home was built or renovated before 1987 it most likely contains asbestos.
If asbestos is disturbed during renovations or mainenance your health and the health of your family could be at risk.
DIY is not recommended where asbestos is present.
When renovating or working in and around homes, if in doubt assume asbestos materials are present and take every precaution.
Dealing with asbestos is important and serious, but it’s not overwhelming – IT IS MANAGEABLE!
If you’re not sure if asbestos is in your home you can have it inspected by a licenced removalist or a licensed asbestos assessor.
Products made from asbestos cement include fibro sheeting (flat and corrugated), water, drainage and flue pipes, roofing shingles, guttering and floor and wall coverings. It could be anywhere!
If you find asbestos in your home; Don’t cut it! Don’t drill it! Don’t drop it! Don’t sand it! Don’t saw it! Don’t scrape it! Don’t scrub it! Don’t dismantle it! Don’t tip it! Don’t waterblast it! Don’t demolish it! And whatever you do… Don’t dump it!”
If left undisturbed asbestos materials in good, stable condition are unlikely to release dangerous fibres and pose a health risk. Generally, you don’t need to remove the asbestos. Paint it and leave it alone but remember to check it occasionally for any signs of wear and tear.
There are legal requirements regarding asbestos management, its removal and disposal.
While some might follow the regulations and safety requirements to remove small amounts of asbestos, the safest way to manage its removal is to retain a licenced professional asbestos removalist equipped to protect you and your family from the dangers of asbestos dust and fibres.
Where asbestos fibres are friable (loose and not bonded into building materials), ONLY licenced friable asbestos removalists are allowed to remove it.
Professional removal of asbestos is affordable. You can’t afford not to use a professional!
The cost of asbestos removal by a licenced professional is comparable to most licenced tradesmen including electricians, plumbers and tilers.
The cost of disposal at a lawful site is often included with the cost of removal by a licenced professional.
There are a number of safety precautions you will need to take including wearing specific protective clothing, the correct mask or breathing apparatus and ensure you minimise dust and dispose of it legally. Download Fact Sheet 1 or 2 for instructions on how to do this.
Never use tools on asbestos materials as they will make asbestos fibres airborne including: Power tools such as electric drills, angle grinders, circular saws and electric sanders. Never use high pressure water blasters or compressed air.
Don’t play renovation roulette! Think Smart. Think Safe. Think asbestosawareness.com.au – Because it’s not worth the risk!

Dangers of Asbestos

Why Can Asbestos Dust or Fibres be Dangerous to Your Health?

You must observe safety precautions when removing or working with asbestos, otherwise you risk exposing yourself and your family to long-term health risks
There is no safe level of exposure to asbestos fibres!
If asbestos is disturbed it can release dangerous fine particles of dust containing asbestos fibres
Breathing in dust containing asbestos fibres can cause asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a cancer which most often occurs in the lining of the lung. There is no cure
The risk of lung cancer from inhaling asbestos fibres is greatly increased if you smoke

Asbestos Related Diseases Information

Embedded asbestos fibres irritate lung tissue around them, causing a number of diseases. Asbestos related diseases can take many years to develop. Most diseases will not become apparent for at least 20 years after exposure to asbestos and more commonly 15-20 years. Some diseases, such as mesothelioma may take up to 40 or more years to develop.

Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a cancer arising from the lining (mesothelium) of the thoracic and abdominal cavities. The disease is usually advanced before symptoms appear, making an early diagnosis and effective treatment very difficult. The average survival time after diagnosis is only 10-11 months. A small exposure to asbestos can be enough to trigger the cancer, however a relatively small percentage of people exposed to asbestos develop mesothelioma. There usually is a lag of 30-40 years after the first asbestos exposure before the disease is diagnosed.

Pleural Disease

Inflammation of the outer lining of the lung, the pleura (where asbestos fibres are deposited). The pleura stiffens and thickens widely (diffuse thickening) or in patches (plaques), and can fill with fluid.

Asbestosis

This is scarring of the lungs by inhalation of large quantities of asbestos fibres: the lung becomes inflamed and scarred (stiff) making breathing progressively difficult. Symptoms include tightness in the chest, dry cough, and in the later stages, a bluish tinge to the skin caused by lack of oxygen. Asbestosis is usually seen in former asbestos miners, asbestos manufacturing workers and insulation workers, and usually takes a decade or more to develop.

Lung Cancer

Exposure to asbestos fibres greatly increases a person’s risk of developing lung cancer, particularly if they are also a smoker.

Safety Facts

The 20 Point Asbestos Safety Check

At least 1 in 3 Australian homes contain asbestos including brick, weatherboard, fibro and clad homes and apartments.
Asbestos was widely used in building materials before 1987 so if your home was built or renovated before 1987 it most likely contains asbestos.
If asbestos is disturbed during renovations or mainenance your health and the health of your family could be at risk.
DIY is not recommended where asbestos is present.
When renovating or working in and around homes, if in doubt assume asbestos materials are present and take every precaution.
Dealing with asbestos is important and serious, but it’s not overwhelming – IT IS MANAGEABLE!
If you’re not sure if asbestos is in your home you can have it inspected by a licenced removalist or a licensed asbestos assessor.
Products made from asbestos cement include fibro sheeting (flat and corrugated), water, drainage and flue pipes, roofing shingles, guttering and floor and wall coverings. It could be anywhere!
If you find asbestos in your home; Don’t cut it! Don’t drill it! Don’t drop it! Don’t sand it! Don’t saw it! Don’t scrape it! Don’t scrub it! Don’t dismantle it! Don’t tip it! Don’t waterblast it! Don’t demolish it! And whatever you do… Don’t dump it!”
If left undisturbed asbestos materials in good, stable condition are unlikely to release dangerous fibres and pose a health risk. Generally, you don’t need to remove the asbestos. Paint it and leave it alone but remember to check it occasionally for any signs of wear and tear.
There are legal requirements regarding asbestos management, its removal and disposal.
While some might follow the regulations and safety requirements to remove small amounts of asbestos, the safest way to manage its removal is to retain a licenced professional asbestos removalist equipped to protect you and your family from the dangers of asbestos dust and fibres.
Where asbestos fibres are friable (loose and not bonded into building materials), ONLY licenced friable asbestos removalists are allowed to remove it.
Professional removal of asbestos is affordable. You can’t afford not to use a professional!
The cost of asbestos removal by a licenced professional is comparable to most licenced tradesmen including electricians, plumbers and tilers.
The cost of disposal at a lawful site is often included with the cost of removal by a licenced professional.
There are a number of safety precautions you will need to take including wearing specific protective clothing, the correct mask or breathing apparatus and ensure you minimise dust and dispose of it legally. Download Fact Sheet 1 or 2 for instructions on how to do this.
Never use tools on asbestos materials as they will make asbestos fibres airborne including: Power tools such as electric drills, angle grinders, circular saws and electric sanders. Never use high pressure water blasters or compressed air.
Don’t play renovation roulette! Think Smart. Think Safe. Think asbestosawareness.com.au – Because it’s not worth the risk!

Asbestos in the Home

Asbestos fibres were used widely in building materials before the mid-1980s. If your house was built or renovated before the mid-1980s, it is likely to contain asbestos cement building materials.

You may be surprised at the various types of products that were made from bonded asbestos cement included fibro sheeting (flat and corrugated), water drainage and flue pipes, roofing shingles and guttering – even the backing of vinyl sheet floor coverings.

The Importance of Safely Managing Asbestos in and Around the Home

Most people can’t tell whether building materials contain asbestos just by looking at them.
Unless you take the required safety precautions and follow regulations, Don’t cut it! Don’t drill it! Don’t drop it! Don’t sand it! Don’t saw it! Don’t scrape it! Don’t scrub it! Don’t dismantle it! Don’t tip it! Don’t waterblast it! Don’t demolish it! And whatever you do… Don’t dump it!
If you do need to work with any material that may contain asbestos, always work so there is minimal dust or small particles released from the asbestos materials.
Asbestos materials that are in good condition are unlikely to release asbestos fibres if left undisturbed.
If asbestos materials are in good condition, paint them and leave them alone.

Disposal & Legalities

If you use the appropriate safety precautions, you are permitted to remove a maximum of 10 square metres of bonded asbestos in VIC. However, if removing more than 10 square metres, you MUST either hire a qualified asbestos removalist or obtain a SafeWork VIC bonded asbestos removal licence which requires you to attend an appropriate training course run by TAFE or a registered training organisation. Any loose or friable asbestos must be removed by an qualified asbestos removalist and cannot be removed by the homeowner.

Licenced Removalists

Asbestos Removal by a Licenced Professional

To ensure protection of you and your family we recommend using a licenced professional to remove asbestos from your home.

Be licenced from SafeWork VIC to remove any amount of friable asbestos
Have a licence from SafeWork VIC to remove 10 square metres or more of bonded asbestos
Obtain a site-specific permit from SafeWork VIC for removal of friable asbestos and notify for bonded asbestos

DIY Removal

It is recommended that you use a licenced asbestos removalist to remove asbestos from your home. However, in VIC as long as you take the appropriate safety precautions, you are permitted to remove a maximum of 10 square metres of bonded asbestos. If you are removing more than 10 square metres, you MUST either hire a qualified asbestos removalist or obtain a VIC SafeWork bonded asbestos removal licence which requires you to attend an appropriate training course run by TAFE or a registered training organisation. Any loose or friable asbestos must be removed by a qualified asbestos removalist and cannot be removed by the homeowner.

Is it Safe to Remove Asbestos Yourself?

If you must remove it yourself, you MUST take precautions! Removing asbestos can be a dangerous and complicated process. We recommend using licenced professional removalists who will also dispose of it in accordance with VIC Government regulations.

The important point is: if you need to work with materials that may contain asbestos, you must work so there is minimal release of fibres, dust or small particles from the asbestos materials. It is recommended that if you are considering removing or working with asbestos yourself, you undertake a training course to ensure you have the training to do it safely.

DIY Guide To Removing Asbestos

If you are thinking about removing even a small amount of asbestos yourself, at the very minimum you should meticulously follow ALL of the steps listed on this website and on in the WorkCover Guide Working with Asbestos (catalogue no WCO5484) to protect your health and the health of those around you including children.

Work Safely

Do not eat, drink or smoke in the work area as you may inhale or eat dust Wash your hands and face with soap and water before meal breaks and when finished work for the day.
Do not use power tools Asbestos fibres can be released if power tools are used for anything other than the removal of screws.
Do not waterblast or scrub with a stiff broom or brush. It is illegal to waterblast asbestos cement sheets. If the material has been accidentally waterblasted or has suddenly deteriorated in some way, you should call a licenced asbestos removal contractor.
Wet gently with water. When removing asbestos cement sheets, use a pump spray to lightly dampen the sheets and keep the dust down. Remember: it is illegal to waterblast asbestos cement materials.
Avoid drilling and cutting into asbestos products. Do not drill holes through eaves, flues or vents, as these may also be asbestos products. Never cut into an asbestos cement sheet. Instead remove the entire sheet and replace it with a non-asbestos product.
Don’t drop fibro sheets. Remove asbestos sheets carefully. Lower them to the ground, don’t drop them, to minimise breakage.

Cleaning Up

Stack & Wrap Stack asbestos cement material carefully on plastic sheets, double wrap and tape, while still in the work area. Use 200um thick plastic sheeting or bags; these must not be made from recycled materials or re-used for any other purpose. Clearly label as asbestos waste.
No Skidding When stacking sheets, do not skid one sheet over another, as this will release fibres.
Remove immediately. Do not leave sheets lying about where they may be further broken or crushed by people or traffic. Remove all asbestos waste as soon as you can.
Clean up everything. Make sure that no dust leaves the work area on shoes, clothing, tools etc. Put used disposable overalls and masks in bags for removal with other asbestos waste.
Avoid dry sweeping which stirs up dust. Dampen dust with a “mist” of water from a spray pump pack.

Other Things To Keep Your Eye On

Hail damage to your roof or any asbestos cement product can be as bad as waterblasting. Call a licenced asbestos removal contractor immediately if there has been heavy hail.
Watch for weathering Surface weathering can lead to the release of asbestos fibres from roofs. Weathered asbestos products can release fibres when disturbed, such as when asbestos roof or gutters are removed. All asbestos roofs should be sealed before they are removed to reduce the risk of asbestos fibres being disturbed.
Fire damage property containing asbestos product could result in loose asbestos fibres. A licenced asbestos removal contractor must be used for cleaning up.
Keep guttering (and downpipes) in good repair. As asbestos fibres collect in gutters after heavy rain, guttering and downpipes should be in good repair on buildings with asbestos roofing. Downpipes should not run into garden beds. Wet, clean and seal roof gutters before removing them.

Safety Wear – PPE Kit

WHAT IS AN ‘ASBESTOS PPE KIT’ – PERSONAL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT (PPE)
If you live in a property with large amounts of asbestos sheeting, it is recommended you put together your own Asbestos PPE Kit in case you need to make some emergency repairs. Download a Fact Sheet for full instructions.
WEAR all items listed in the PPE Kit whenever working with asbestos.
ALL items in a disposable PPE Kit must be disposed of as ASBESTOS WASTE after use.

Wear the PPE in the following order:

Disposable coveralls
Footwear
Shoe covers
Gloves
Mask
Protective eye-wear

DISPOSABLE COVERALLS

Should be rated Type 5, Category 3.
Be labelled for asbestos use.
Be one size too big to prevent breaking or tearing when worn.
Include a hood and elasticised cuffs.
Cuffs should be pulled over the edge of gloves.
If the cuffs of coverall arms are loose, seal them with tape to prevent fibres getting in.
After the shoe covers are fitted, ensure the coverall legs then go over the top of shoe covers.
After the mask and eye-wear are fitted, ensure the hood goes over the mask straps and arms of eye-wear, and covers all hair.

FOOTWEAR & SHOE COVERS TO BE WORN OVER SHOES

NEVER wear boots or shoes with laces as they can’t be decontaminated.
GUMBOOTS are the best option as they are easily wiped clean and have no laces. Once cleaned appropriately they can be re-used for non-asbestos work.
SHOE COVERS are worn OVER shoes and should cover all of the boot/shoe and be secured above the ankle.
WHEN shoe covers are secured, pull the cuffs of the coverall legs down to cover the top of shoe covers.

MASK (RESPIRATORY PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT)

Your mask should be worn at all times when working with asbestos containing materials.
Minimum P2 filter, half face disposable particulate respirator.
Half face non-disposable particulate respirator with cartridge is preferred but it must be decontaminated after each use.
Half face non-disposable particulate respirator with cartridge is a better option. (Silicon is better than rubber) as fits better and not as hot.
The wearer must be clean shaven in the area of the seal.
All respirators are different shapes and sizes so it’s important that the size is correct to properly fit to the wearer’s face.
Ensure your mask fits perfectly by conducting a respirator fit check.
Close off inlet to filter with hands
Inhale gently
Hold for 10 seconds
Ensure the face piece remains slightly collapsed

PROTECTIVE EYE-WEAR

ALWAYS wear protective eye-wear when working with materials that might produce dust.
AFTER fitting your mask, fit your eye-wear and place the hood over the top of the mask straps and eye-wear arms.