Asbestos was commonly used in many building materials between the 1940s and late 1980s.
Generally the presence of asbestos in home building materials does not pose a risk to health unless the material is broken, deteriorating, or disturbed in such a way that dust containing asbestos fibres is produced.
The presence of asbestos is very difficult to determine with the naked eye. The only way to be sure is to have the material identified by a qualified professional or analyst approved to identify asbestos types. This should be carried out before any work such as general maintenance, renovations or demolition, proceeds.
Removing asbestos
It is not advisable for residents to remove loosely-bound asbestos-containing materials such as insulation themselves due to the increased health risks of handling such material.
For a list of licensed asbestos removalists, contact WorkSafe Victoria on 1800 136 089 or visit WorkSafe.
If residents are considering removing asbestos-containing building materials from their properties, precautions should be taken.
Watch an instructional video on how to remove asbestos from your home produced by the Asbestos Council of Victoria Gippsland Asbestos Related Diseases Support (GARDS).
Disposing of asbestos
Asbestos must only be disposed of at an approved site licensed by Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Victoria. To obtain a list of licensed asbestos disposal sites in your area, contact the EPA on 9695 2722 or visit the EPA website.
Asbestos complaints
If you have a complaint regarding the removal of asbestos by a licensed removalist or asbestos in the workplace you should contact WorkSafe on 1800 136 089 or visit WorkSafe.