Master Builders Australia has warned construction workers involved in renovation work, as well as DIY enthusiasts, about the dangers associated with asbestos fibres especially when home improvement projects disturb fibres causing them to be released into the air.
Although the use of asbestos in construction has been banned for decades in Australia, older buildings which still have asbestos containing materials in them can present a hazard if these materials are affected by the renovation and the asbestos fibres released into the air. Actually a third of all homes in Oz contains asbestos and could be hazardous to worker health unless properly managed.
Read this post on SafetyCulture.com.au that explains further:
“In good condition, asbestos in a home does not pose a serious health risk. However, issues arise when asbestos containing materials are disturbed during home renovations or DIY projects,” he said.
Mr Calver said asbestos is difficult to identify and, once disturbed and airborne, it can pose serious health implications. He advises people to seek professional advice before starting home projects.
Master Builders offer the following tips for all renovators and DIY enthusiasts to protect themselves from asbestos exposure.
• Check with building experts regarding the age of your home and the possibility of having asbestos- containing material in your home.
• Never start any renovation work unless you are certain that you won’t disturb asbestos. When in doubt, always assume that your house has asbestos.
• Engage a licensed professional to handle and dispose of any asbestos containing materials, regardless of the quantity.
Master Builders also said asbestos can usually be found in roofs, floors, kitchens and bathrooms, wall and ceiling products, and even outside the house (gutters, downpipes and fences).
http://www.safetyculture.com.au/news/index.php/01/renovators-warned-of-asbestos-risk/
Renovation sites are particularly problematic because asbestos fibres are often released during the construction work. If left undisturbed the asbestos materials pose no significant threat, but when torn or cracked the asbestos fibres that are released can cause permanent damage to human tissue.
The reason that builders or anyone involved in renovation work are so vulnerable to asbestos fibres is because a number of building materialsin the past contained it. Asbestos makes materials more strong, flexible and resistant to chemical and thermal breakdown. Also it is used in insulation, fireproofing materials, automotive brakes, cement and wallboard materials, floor tiles and roofing materials.It was also used in heater register tape, joint compounds, fire protection panels, artificial fireplace logs or ashes, fuse box liners, gypsum wallboard, textured paints, sheet vinyl or floor tiles, underlayment for flooring and carpets and textured ceilings.
Other than DIY enthusiasts, the construction trades most at risk from asbestos are insulators, plumbers, pipefitters, electricians, sheet metal workers, roofers, bricklayers, painters, and steel workers, although any construction worker may be exposed during maintenance, remodelling, renovation or demolition of older buildings.
Employers should assess any site beforehand and determine whether there are asbestos containing materials that may become disturbed during the renovation and warn workers accordingly, as well as equip them with the protection needed. In order to avoid significant health risks, its best to identify the presence of asbestos beforehand. Employers should attempt to detect possible contamination before work on site even begins to minimise the risk of harm to workers if the fibres are disturbed and become airborne.
