Why Asbestos Awareness Matters

Even though asbestos was banned more than 20 years ago, it remains one of the most common hidden hazards in Australian buildings. With one in three homes built before 1990 likely to contain it, understanding how to identify and manage asbestos safely is key to protecting workers, clients, and communities.

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a material made of silicate mineral that is found in nature and shown to be composed of thin, flexible, fibers when viewed under a microscope. The properties of asbestos include resistance to fire and chemical corrosion. A durable material, the properties of asbestos proves most useful when combined with other materials and is utilized in multiple industries such as construction, manufacturing, automotive, and cosmetics.

A Brief History

From ancient times up to the present, asbestos has been widely utilized primarily as fire retardant, insulator, and strengthening material. During the industrial revolution, asbestos production and use in the US increased when it became more readily available due to the opening of commercial asbestos mines in the northern US and in Quebec, Canada.

Until a connection was made between exposure to asbestos and ill health, particularly among workers and miners who regularly handled asbestos or materials that included asbestos, it was handled with little to no protection.

It was in the 1930s when it was scientifically established that prolonged exposure to asbestos is harmful and causes illnesses such as lung cancer and a chronic disease of the lungs called “asbestosis.” Higher risk of early death among asbestos workers had been documented and by the 1940s and 1950s, more connection was found between asbestos and certain types of occupational cancers such as mesothelioma.

The hazard of asbestos exposure remains because asbestos is commonly found in buildings and structures built before the year 2000. Older homes and buildings in particular included materials that incorporated different forms of asbestos before the banning of its use began in the 1970s among around 50 countries. While some countries imposed a total ban on all forms of asbestos before the turn of the century, others like the US and the UK implemented regulations to control its continued use and reinforce safe handling.

Wasn’t asbestos banned in Australia? So why is it still an issue?

Although asbestos is banned in Australia, it’s still a risk in older buildings and infrastructure. Many asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) were left sealed during the phase-out, which can become hazardous during renovations, demolitions, or natural disasters.