The legacy of asbestos in Australia is profound and tragic. Between 1920 and 2003, Australia produced 12.8 million tonnes of asbestos-containing material, much of which remains in our built environment.
Although banned in Australia in 2003, asbestos can still be found in our homes, workplaces and in the environment.
Any structure built before 1990 in Australia has a very high chance of containing asbestos in some form.
Before asbestos was banned, it was used in over 3,000 products including construction materials and vehicles. Many homes and buildings built or renovated before 1990 still contain asbestos. It is important to be asbestos aware if renovating, rebuilding, repairing, or working on older vehicles.
It is estimated that one third of Australian homes still contain asbestos in some form. You cannot tell if something contains asbestos just by looking at it. Scientific testing of a sample is the only way you can completely confirm this. However, you can become familiar with the materials that usually contain asbestos, and where asbestos is generally found. If you are unsure, you should take precautions and have it tested. There is no known safe level of exposure to asbestos.
Asbestos can contaminate the land through incorrect demolition or removal, illegal burial, storm damage, fire damage and former asbestos waste sites.
Asbestos in its natural form is in many areas of Australia as it is a naturally occurring mineral. Therefore, caution should be taken when performing work or activities that could disturb naturally occurring asbestos, as fibres can be released in the air and inhaled. A major problem is illegal dumping of asbestos and this should be reported immediately to the local council or Environmental Protection Authority.
Where in the environment is asbestos found?
It is the responsibility of the homeowner when it comes to dealing with asbestos. A residence or home becomes a workplace when a tradesperson performs work on the property. This includes any job whether painting or doing full home renovations and means that work health and safety (WHS) laws apply. This also applies if you do not own the property, and means the legal duties are placed on the contractor not the homeowner.
The law requires a licensed asbestos removalist to remove asbestos from workplaces. To protect the health and safety of workers, the WHS laws contain a series of steps that need to be followed if you manage a workplace or commercial property.
It is unlawful to dispose of asbestos in all states and territories across Australia. Transporting or disposing of asbestos must be carried out legally, and asbestos waste can only be disposed of at a licensed facility. Illegal disposing of asbestos includes putting it in a waste skip, or domestic rubbish bin, in the bush or on commercial property, and significant fines apply. There are guidelines for the safe wrapping, labelling and transporting of asbestos waste less than 10m².
If you have concerns about work being undertaken either on private or public area including illegal dumping or mishandling of asbestos head to the Asbestos Safety concerns page to find a contact near you.
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