Asbestos is not just another building material. When asbestos containing materials are disturbed, they can release fine fibres that are too small to see. If these fibres are breathed in, they can lodge in the lungs and cause serious disease many years later.
Health authorities and asbestos information sites in Victoria and Melbourne are clear. There is no known safe level of asbestos fibre exposure, and diseases often appear decades after the initial exposure.
Major health conditions linked to asbestos
- Mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the lungs or abdomen, almost always linked to asbestos exposure
• Lung cancer, with risk increased in people exposed to asbestos, especially if they also smoke
• Asbestosis, a chronic lung disease caused by heavy long term exposure, leading to scarring and breathing problems
• Pleural plaques and thickening, changes in the lining of the lungs that can affect lung function
Bonded versus friable asbestos
It is important to understand the difference between bonded and friable asbestos.
- Bonded asbestos materials, for example cement sheeting and vinyl tiles, have asbestos fibres locked into a solid matrix. When intact and in good condition, they pose a much lower exposure risk.
• Friable asbestos materials crumble easily by hand, for example old pipe lagging, loose insulation and some fire damaged materials. These can release fibres far more easily.
Regulators focus heavily on friable asbestos and on any work that can turn bonded asbestos into a friable state, for example grinding, cutting or sanding sheeting.
WorkSafe Victoria +1.
Short and low-level exposures
Many people worry after a short or one-off possible exposure. While the risk from a single low-level event is generally lower than long term occupational exposure, it is still important to avoid all unnecessary exposure. The best approach is to prevent future exposure by managing and removing asbestos safely.
Protecting health on Victorian sites
To protect homeowners, trades and neighbours, you should
- Assume older materials contain asbestos until proven otherwise
• Use asbestos audits and testing where appropriate
• Plan works so asbestos is removed safely before other trades start
• Use licensed asbestos removalists and follow WorkSafe Victoria guidance on controls and PPE - Never use power tools or high pressure cleaning on suspected asbestos
• Ensure disposal is done correctly through licensed facilities so fibres are not released later
Good asbestos management is about preventing exposure today so that future disease risk is as low as possible.
