National Asbestos Awareness Month

The Shire of East Pilbara is proud to support National Asbestos Awareness Month.

Did you know 1 in 3 Australian homes contain asbestos building materials?

Asbestos Awareness Month aims to educate as many Australians as possible about the dangers of asbestos and how best to manage it.

With asbestos-related diseases continuing to increase among Australians as a direct result of exposure to asbestos fibres during home renovations and maintenance, the importance of raising awareness about the dangers of asbestos and how best to manage it in and around homes, cannot be overstated!

Many wrongly believe that ONLY fibro homes contain asbestos. Asbestos products can most likely be found in ANY Australian home built or renovated before 1987 even brick, weatherboard, fibro and clad homes.

Asbestos can be found under floor coverings such as carpets, linoleum and vinyl tiles, behind wall and floor tiles, in cement floors, internal and external walls, ceilings, eaves, garages, around hot water pipes, fences, extensions to homes, outdoor toilets, dog kennels, chook yards and backyard sheds – it could be anywhere!

It’s vital that Australians take the warnings seriously, that they stop playing ‘renovation roulette’ and protect themselves and their families from exposure to asbestos fibres during renovations and maintenance.

Visit asbestosawareness.com.au to access factsheets, checklists and the absestos product database to learn where asbestos might be found and how to manage it safely.