The Home Renovator’s Guide to Asbestos

Why worry about asbestos now?

Presented by The Renovator aka Zoë Croft, www.nocrumbs.com.au

We’d appreciate your help!The following presentation is a draft version of a 10 minute presentation we’ll be using to reach home renovators to give some basic information on recognising and dealing with asbestos in and around the home.

It has been created using independently verified information from the Australian Asbestos Network’s online resource.

The final presentation will have a voice-over recorded by yours truly. We are inviting you as our facebook friend to view the text only presentation (this draft) and tell us what you think before we complete it. Thanks so much, sincerely, The Renovator

“”Click on the slides

to advance the info…

Presented by “The Renovator”

https://www.facebook.com/the.renovator.1

Why are we talking about it now - surely the asbestos issue is old news?Recent research conducted by highly respected health and medical practitioners, based

right here in Western Australia, has discovered an alarming new trend. This trend shows

home renovators are now the group most at risk of developing asbestos related illnesses.

This is why we have we created this presentation?It is designed to give you important information about how to identify and treat asbestos

products that may remain in and around your home today.

Who will benefit from the information?Everyone, but especially people with older houses built prior to the 1990s who are

undertaking renovations or thinking about renovating.

What do you mean saying the home renovator is now most at risk?

Asbestos-related illnesses have appeared in “waves”…

The FIRST WAVE of illness and death occurred among asbestos mine,

mill and transport workers who handled the raw asbestos fibre.

The SECOND WAVE began as asbestos-related diseases spread to

building and construction workers, rail workers, power station workers,

shipbuilders and tradespersons – such as plumbers, boilermakers and

electrical installers.

And now a THIRD WAVE of disease is affecting all of society as

people are environmentally exposed in their workplaces, homes and the

whole built landscape.

Here is what one of Australia’s most respected researches said…

“Australia has one of the highest rates of mesothelioma in the

world, with the number of reported cases caused by exposure

to asbestos fibres steadily increasing since the 1990s. And it is

the home renovators who are most at risk.”

Clinical Professor Bill Musk, physician and epidemiologist from the Sir

Charles Gairdner Hospital and the University of Western Australia (UWA).

Asbestos was mined from the ground

as a naturally occurring mineral.

Possessing incredibly versatile and

resilient properties it was ideal for all

manner of products, particularly in the

building and construction industry.

This is why it was once dubbed the

“magic mineral”.The picture shows an asbestos fibre. Picture source:

Western Australian Department of Health

So what is asbestos?

Asbestos is widely know to have been used in external cement sheeting,

fencing, roof tiles, break pad linings, carpet underlay, pipe lagging, vinyl

flooring and more…

Where would we find it?

It is estimated that more than 3,000 products were made with asbestos at one time

Fibres were even woven into fabrics and made into fire resistant suits like these in this 1973 photo.

So what went wrong?

Modern asbestos mining industry began 1880s

First Australian case of asbestosis diagnosed in 1933

First cases of asbestosis (fibrosis of the lungs) diagnosed in British factory workers in the 1890s

1900

s

A 1955 report established conclusively that asbestos causes lung cancer

1950

s

Mesothelioma, an even more aggressive form of cancer is linked directly to asbestos

exposure in 1958

Finally, only as recently as 2003, Australia bans the importation of any product containing asbestos

2000

s

1990

s

Homes, office buildings and schools continue to use asbestos products well into the late 1980s

1980

s

1970s sees growing public concern about this “silent killer”

1970

s

In 1964 asbestos is shown to affect workers

handling products (tradesmen) containing

asbestos – not just factory workers and miners handling raw

product

1960

s

Asbestosis given a

name in 1927

1910

s

1920

s

US Public Health Service established a standard limit* on dust exposure, 1938

1940

s

During the 1930s it is discovered that

asbestos is a carcinogen (known

to cause cancer)

1930

s

*It was soon discovered that there is no such thing as a safe exposure level to asbestos fibres

But they don’t make asbestos products anymore - so why are we still talking about it?

Asbestos remains in our environment in many homes (including brick homes) built between the 1940s and late 1980s.

Asbestos fencing also surrounds us - more so in some suburbs than others.

These products are fine if left untouched and well-maintained, but many of them are starting to decay with age and lack of proper maintenance.

This is why we must exercise caution and sense.

So how do we ensure our families are protected?

1. Learn to recognise asbestos and take the proper precautions when working near it.

2. Never sand it, nail into it, break it into pieces or do anything to expose the fibres that can be breathed into your lungs and re-surface as severe health issues many years later.

3. If you want it removed, seek out an experienced and licensed asbestos removalist to do it for you.

4. Don’t try to remove it yourself without contacting your State Government authority to check on regulations for removal and disposal.

You will find links to these resources on our website

www.australianasbestosnetwork.org.au

What is the right level of Personal Protective Equipment?

1. Trained and licensed removalists wear

specially rated dust masks, and

2. disposable overalls to trap fibres.

3. They also follow procedures to prevent as

many fibres as possible from being released

into the environment, and

4. Use specialised equipment to ensure a

removal site is cleaned and decontaminated

What do we do with asbestos if we want to get rid of it?

1. Asbestos is disposed of in thick industrial

black pvc sheeting and sealed.

2. It is transported to a specialist disposal site.

3. You should check with your local council for

arrangements to collect or deposit smaller

amounts yourself.

4. Remember – anything containing asbestos is

classed as hazardous waste.

Don’t ever let

an asbestos

removalist

leave asbestos

cement

sheeting in this

state!

This was

my

home.

It should be

sealed

properly

to be

safe.

Dangerous

fibres left

exposed after

a cement

panel has

been removed.

Here are some more picture of asbestos in the home that might help you begin to recognise it…

Here are some more picture of asbestos in the home…

Photographed in Perth, Western Australia - June 2011

This shows the back of asbestos cement sheeting behind the cooker during renovations

Here are some more picture of asbestos in the home…

This is a typical unrenovated sleepout area at the back of

a fibro home in Western Australia.

Asbestos cement sheeting (fibro) was used for outside

and inside walls.

Here are some more picture of asbestos in the home…

This is the original bathroom built in 1955. All the walls were asbestos sheeting behind the tiles.

Here are some more picture of asbestos in the home…

This gas fire vent was clad in asbestos

As a general rule if you don’t intend

removing asbestos from your home or garden

Treat it with respect…

Most experts seem to agree

on the following….

DON’THammer it

Drill it

Sand it

Break it up

….or PRESSURE WASH IT!

Contact your local authority for the latest

advice on dealing with asbestos.

You will find links to all Australian State

Authorities in the resources section of the

www.australianasbestosnetwork.org.au

Don’t let your fencing get into this

condition…this is a typical sight in

Western Australia

Photographed in Perth, Western Australia November 2012

Fibres are exposed where this fencing has broken off

Fence capping also contained asbestos and often looks like this

Photographed in Perth, Western Australia November 2012

Photographed in Perth, Western Australia November 2012

Exposed fibres on fence capping

Photographed in Perth, Western Australia November 2012

Photographed in Perth, Western Australia November 2012

Broken old sheeting dumped in a residential area…

Paint it

Seal it

Protect it

DO

Here are some better examples

This resident has helped seal the fibres by applying good thick coats of paint to lock them in…

Especially where parts of this fence have been previously broken

All of these photos were taken the same day in the same street in Carlisle, Western Australia in November 2012

www.australianasbestosnetwork.org.auAll this information came from this fantastic resource:

Thanks for reviewing the content of this

presentation. I’d love to know what you

think on my facebook page right now!