It's the biggest health hazard in the construction industry. In fact, it's the biggest workplace killer. When asbestos materials are disturbed, asbestos fibres are released. Inhaling these asbestos fibres can lead to lung cancer and mesothelioma, both painful, debilitating, and fatal diseases. To avoid releasing those deadly asbestos fibres, we need to know where to find asbestos, and how to identify it. There are three types of asbestos , known as blue, brown and white.
Or to give them their official names:. So, that's easy then. Blue asbestos must be blue, and brown asbestos must be brown. At least those two should be easy to spot, right? Unfortunately, it's not that simple. While they can be identified under a microscope, you can't actually see asbestos fibres.
They are tiny. Asbestos fibres are so small and light, once in the air, they can remain floating for days. Asbestos can be found in hundreds of building products and materials. Asbestos is found in cement products, paints, floor tiles, adhesive, artex, insulation, doors, partitions, cladding. It was used heavily in the UK before the full asbestos ban in It was very popular in the 50s - 70s and was used in a wide variety of building products.
Virtually any building product you can think of could contain asbestos. But cement that contains asbestos just looks like cement. Pipe lagging that contains asbestos just looks like insulation. Partitions containing asbestos just look like If you can't see asbestos, can you smell it? Many harmful substances have a certain smell or odour to help you know when they are about. For example, if you have a gas leak, you can't see it, but you can smell it.
Again, asbestos lets us down here. This includes work by builders and tradespersons working in a domestic home. For large quantities of asbestos more than 10 square metres or any quantity of friable asbestos the removal must be done by a licensed asbestos removalist. The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations also apply legal obligations, in relation to asbestos removal in a workplace, for transport and disposal of asbestos waste.
Homeowners need to follow reasonable precautions when dealing with asbestos including the transport and disposal of asbestos. If you have concerns that asbestos removal work is being carried out in a non-compliant or unsafe way, you should report this — see Find out who to call. You can't tell if a material contains asbestos just by looking at it.
Only scientific testing of a sample can confirm this. A competent person should collect the sample for you. Even older homes and properties built prior to the mass production of asbestos products might contain asbestos. In these properties asbestos may have been introduced when new floor coverings were laid, bathrooms re-tiled, insulation, hot water systems, electrical meter boards, roofing and plumbing were installed or replaced.
If you need to be certain, have it tested. The National Association of Testing Authorities NATA can provide details of an accredited laboratory in your area where asbestos can be identified accurately. Householders are strongly advised to engage experienced and licensed professionals to undertake home renovations where asbestos is likely to be present and where necessary undertake asbestos removal. The Australian Government enHealth publication 'Asbestos - A guide for householders and the general public' provides further information about asbestos in homes.
Skip to main content. Where could asbestos be located?
0コメント