Asbestos
Asbestos materials were commonly used in the building industry from 1940 to 1980. There is now a ban on using asbestos products.
The most commonly found household building material containing asbestos are asbestos cement products, also called 'fibro' and 'AC sheeting.'
Other asbestos cement products that may be found around the home include:
- flat or corrugated sheeting
- water or flue pipes
- roof shingles
- flexible building boards
- imitation brick cladding
- vinyl floor tiles, and
- backing of linoleum floor covering.
Health risks of asbestos
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.
Special precautions should be taken by anyone needing to disturb asbestos, including wetting down the area, wearing special filtered respirators, disposal coveralls and gloves and correctly packing and labeling for appropriate disposal at a licensed site.
The publication Asbestos in the home has detailed information on precautions.
Asbestos can be a health risk when you remove, package, transport and dispose of it.
It is important that it asbestos is handled safely at these times. The best way to do this is to use a licensed professional.
Disposing of waste asbestos
There are specific requirements regarding how waste asbestos is packaged and labelled and where it can be disposed of. See the EPA Publication 364.1 – The Transport and Disposal of Waste Asbestos.
A list of premises licensed to accept waste asbestos is on the EPA website's Prescribed Industrial Waste Database by selecting N220 Asbestos as the waste type, or contact the EPA Information Centre.
Permit to handle asbestos
According to Moreland General Local Law (DOC 901Kb), you need a permit to handle or allow someone else to handle asbestos. You do not need a permit if you use a licensed asbestos removalist. Council highly recommends you use a licensed asbestos removalist in all cases.
For list of licensed asbestos removalist check here
Handling includes:- removal from a structure
- transport
- disposal, and
- any activity that may release asbestos fibres into the air including chipping, crushing, fracturing, sawing, drilling, grinding and machining.
If you believe asbestos is being mishandled report it to Council.
If you see a worksite where asbestos is being mishandled contact WorkSafe.
