National Asbestos Awareness Week 2018

The week of 25 November – 1 December is National Asbestos Awareness Week. The Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency encourages you to take time this week to focus on finding out more about the significant health risks and dangers posed by exposure to asbestos fibres.

Australia has one of the highest rates of reported asbestos-related diseases of any country in the world. 4,000 Australians currently die each year from past exposures to asbestos, more than double that of annual Australian road deaths.

While a total ban on the mining, manufacture and use of asbestos in Australia was imposed in 2003, many of our homes and public and commercial buildings and infrastructure still contain large amounts of asbestos-containing materials (ACMs).

Approximately one third of all homes in Australia contain asbestos products.

If your house was built before 1990, it is likely that it would have some asbestos-containing materials. With more and more home owners carrying out DIY home renovations, it is important for all Australians to be aware of asbestos in our surrounding environment and to know what to do in order to stay safe if you come across it.

Our website has a wealth of useful resources and information relating to asbestos and advice on what to do if you think you have ACMs in your home or workplace.

Take some time out this week to become asbestos aware and learn about how you can keep yourself and your family safe from exposure to asbestos fibres.