About Asbestos & Its Uses In Sydney:

If you are building a house, renovating an old one, or simply doing some remodelling work at home, you may come across materials that contain asbestos.

Asbestos is a fibrous mineral popular in construction insulation and certain structural products due to its excellent heat resistance. It wasn’t until later that it was found to be a highly hazardous material capable of causing serious illnesses such as cancer and asbestosis.

The dangers posed by asbestos became much more apparent during World War II when munitions factories were using asbestos to protect against fire and explosions. Asbestos was later banned for use in building materials in much of the western world. However, this led to a hazardous mess where building owners and demolition companies had to dispose of their asbestos waste by burning it. This was a dangerous practice because it produced very toxic smoke that caused severe illnesses and damaged property.

For asbestos removal, Sydney has a newer form of asbestos remediation called Shot Blasting. Shot Blasting is a process used to remove the majority of the asbestos from a structure in Australia. 

Necessity Of the Removal of Asbestos

The problem is that, if disturbed, it can release fibres into the air, and these fibres can be inhaled. Over time, breathing in this fibrous material has been linked to severe health risks such as mesothelioma (cancer that occurs in the lung’s lining), lung cancer, asbestosis (fibrosis of the lungs), and goitre. It’s considered one of Australia’s most significant public health emergencies, with at least 3000 deaths per year caused by asbestos exposure. Therefore, Asbestos removal in Sydney is a necessity and is to be done only by professionals. 

Most of the asbestos in NSW is located in older buildings, older water pipes, and old electricity lines. It can also be found in products made from asbestos, such as textured paints, gaskets, and insulation. Asbestos is found everywhere in NSW, but by far, the majority is located in Sydney’s west at levels 4-5. 

Most of the work for asbestos removal should be conducted by trained tradespeople. However, if you are unsure, please contact your local council or local Asbestos Management Committee (AMC) for information on your area(s). The AMC may offer tutoring/training courses to help with any skills required to undertake this work safely. 

Choosing an Asbestos Removal

The importance of asbestos removal in Sydney is quite understandable, and if someone wants to get it removed from their property, they might need the help of a well-established contractor or an expert.

Asbestos Removalists hold licenses and must be accredited to work with asbestos. Contact the Workers Compensation Board (State Government) to check if a person or business is licensed. Call your local council and ask for advice on where to find a licensed contractor in your area. 

Asbestos has been used since the 1880s. However, the use of asbestos in Australia decreased drastically after the early 1900s due to health issues associated with asbestos usage. As of 2008, around 10,000 people die each year in Australia from mesothelioma caused by asbestos exposure.

Summary 

Suppose you are unsure about whether asbestos is present in your property. In that case, it is recommended that you get in touch with your local council or local Asbestos Management Committee (AMC) before undertaking any work that may expose you or people around you to asbestos fibres.