Sunbury residents are being urged to take asbestos risks seriously, with Australia’s national safety agency warning that millions of tonnes of the deadly material are still present in homes and buildings across the country.
During National Asbestos Awareness Week (24-28 November), the Asbestos and Silica Safety and Eradication Agency said many Australians remain unaware they may be living with ageing, deteriorating asbestos.
CEO Jodie Deakes says an estimated 6.2 million tonnes of asbestos remain in homes, businesses and workplaces.
“Asbestos is still in many homes built before 1990,” Ms Deakes said. “In older buildings it can be up to 100 years old, and as it deteriorates the risk of exposure rises.”
With summer renovation season approaching, ASSEA is urging homeowners to think twice before drilling, sanding or upgrading older sections of their property. Even small jobs like installing security cameras, sanding painted walls or repairing damaged sheds can release fibres that cause fatal illnesses, including mesothelioma and lung cancer.
More than 3,000 asbestos-containing products were used in Australian homes prior to 1990, found in floors, walls, ceilings, eaves, fences and roofs, many now well past their intended lifespan.
Ms Deakes says safe, proactive removal by qualified professionals costs roughly half as much as unplanned removal after an accident or natural disaster. With bushfires, storms and floods posing added risks over summer, she says prevention is critical.
“It protects your family, your neighbours and those on the frontline,” she said.
More information is available at https://asbestossafety.gov.au