Asbestos, problem in Australia?
 

Hi

I've just been informed by someone who works with asbestos in the UK that there is a big problem in Australia with asbestos.

I don't know much about asbestos but know that the dust can be lethal. I have done a general search on this site which tells you about making sure you have mask on when renovating/using professionals etc but what scared me more was that the dust from asbestos is evident from air monitoring of cities. I know that you can inhale the dust from the fibres but thought the risk would be to people renovating their houses/specialists, not to the person just walking down the street!

I've tried googling this but can't find information that shows that this is an airborne problem in the cities.

To the experts out there, is this a problem? I know that you have to balance risk but am just trying to guage if this is true or not.

Many thanks

Re: Asbestos, problem in Australia?
 

LOL lovely thread !!

Dust from the fibres is released when Asbestos material is cut sawn or delaminated.

Im not aware of ASBESTOS alerts

I think you need to be worried more about the flies and mozzies :)

Re: Asbestos, problem in Australia?
 

I'd rather be worried about the flies and mozzies ;)

I think my general point is when this dust is released that this then becomes airborne. If asbestos is being removed illegally/in an improper way, then this becomes a general hazard. I'm not trying to scaremonger or give an impression that the cities have an asbestos cloud over them that we're all breathing in, just want to see whether anyone knows whether this is a problem.

Thanks

Re: Asbestos, problem in Australia?
 

http://www.amwu.asn.au/default.asp?a...Article&ID=144
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2...08/1341523.htm
http://mesothelioma.dalekozor.com/be...d_history.html

Google is your friend!

Re: Asbestos, problem in Australia?
 

My daughters' school classrooms in Adelaide have it within their walls and are not allowed to attach anything to them so as not to disturb the material. I try not to think about this too much as I hate to think about them breathing in the toxic dust.
Our roof is also asbestos and the tv antennae guy refused to touch it, so we've had to have foxtel......every cloud....

Re: Asbestos, problem in Australia?
 

Its fine. the majority of fences around OZ is asbestos. If your not cutting it up then you have no problems with it.

Re: Asbestos, problem in Australia?
 

When they re-did the roof at work this year they told us not to worry, because although the roof contained asbestos they would turn off the aircon during its removal....the fact that as we walked in and out of the building bits of roof were in open skips and lying on the ground around us seemed irrelevant.

Some tradies that worked on demolition jobs after Cyclone Larry reportedly insisted on asbestos protection before they would touch a lot of the buildings......

The subject has come up before too, a search will probably unearth the threads......
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=449131
for starters.

Re: Asbestos, problem in Australia?
 

Asbestos was used widely as a house construction material here in Australia pre 1980. Many reports conclude that any home built prior to 1980 will have had asbestos used at some stage of the construction.
It is now banned and it's main manufacturer The James Hardy Group have been subject to many law suits seeking compensation for victims of asbestoses or Mesothelioma. It has set up a fund to pay compensation though there are constant problems here in the press. The company recently relocated to the Netherlands and this has been the subject of much tabloid conjecture. A quick google on the name will give you a rough idea of the problems.
As someone who's father is dying of Mesothelioma I'm quite obviously more than aware of safety issues concerning asbestos, the fact that it's banned in most of the developed world is testament to it's deadly properties. Many tradies here have a very complacent attitude to it, a "she'll be right mate no worries" is exactly how many became affected.
While painted asbestos is reasonably safe as a construction medium you really need to be vary wary of any dust during reno work in homes containing asbestos.
Asbestos use in construction was not limited to Australia it was used widely in the U.K it's use was restricted & it was also banned there in the early 80's.

Re: Asbestos, problem in Australia?
 

Most of the schools in Qld have had asbestos removed over the past couple of years-cost millions.

Re: Asbestos, problem in Australia?
 

Huh?:confused:

Me thought asbestos was more prelevant in roofs, walls and ceilings, instead of wire or wood fences?

Re: Asbestos, problem in Australia?
 

Different states have different rules. In Qld businesses have to use a licensed contractor to deal with asbestos. No employees can be around only the licenced contractor during work. Skips are lined with plastic sheet and the sheet has to seal the abestos in before transport... to stop it spreading through suburbs during transport to the disposal point.

The problem is you or your neighbour as a private citizen can just work on the asbestos without any precautions or safeguards... I think that's about to change but few people will know that and some simply won't care.

But to keep it all in perspective its no different in the UK, many Outhouse and Leanto roofs are made from asbestos sheet also. Whilst its left alone there's no problem... removal, repair and modifications are better done by someone with the knowledge and facilities to control the dust release. If your neighbour is doing reno keep the windows closed in your house and stay inside.

Re: Asbestos, problem in Australia?
 

Super 6 fencing.

Re: Asbestos, problem in Australia?
 

Yes, but they are, or never have been the "majority" - your word - type of fence used in Australia. Super 6 is, or was, used primarily as a roofing sheet, although could be adapted for a panel fence, but it was never a majority style of fence.