Things Every Australian

Must Know About

Asbestos

Kwik Skips

Address: Rockingham WA

Australia

Telephone: (08) 9528 2272

The Australian government is keen to policies regarding asbestos and its

disposal. Here are the things everyone

must learn about this deadly chemical.

Asbestos the Killer

Asbestos refers to a group of naturally

occurring mineral fibres used in many

products because of its versatility,

strength, fire resistance and insulating

properties. As such, many industries

used asbestos in their products until studies exposed its extent of toxicity in

the 1990s.

Health problems

Asbestos fibres are associated with a number of diseases, including asbestos

is, pleural disease, lung cancer and mesothelioma from prolonged asbestos

exposure. Meanwhile, limited exposure to asbestos fibres is every bit

dangerous and may still end with asbestos related disease (ARD).

Asbestos in homes

About a third of all homes in Australia contain asbestos products. A house

built before the mid-1980s is likely to

contain asbestos materials. If it were built

in the 1990s, the chance of having

asbestos is much lower since this is the

time asbestos production was banned.

Asbestos appears as whitish powder or

fibres, which can be anything. The only

way to be sure is to have a sample tested

by the laboratories accredited by the

National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA).

Disposal procedure

A suspected asbestos dust must be wiped with a damp cloth or paper towel.

This will be placed in a plastic bag that will be secured shut and placed again

in another plastic before thrown into the rubbish bin. A normal vacuum

cleaner is not a safe way to clean

asbestos dust as it may only blow

these and release more fibres into

the air.

If a homeowner wants to remove

asbestos in their homes without

professional help, they may need

to check state and territory

policies. A building renovation

work that involves removal of asbestos requires a building licence, or in the

case of the removal of a building, a demolition licence.

Resources:

http://www.kwikskips.com.au

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/causes-

prevention/risk/substances/asbestos/asbestos-fact-sheet

http://asbestossafety.gov. au/top-5-questions-asbestos