Asbestos

Asbestos was added to building products to increase their strength, durability, fire resistance and insulation properties. It is commonly used in:

Exterior

• Roof sheeting
• Gutters
• Downpipes
• Ridge capping
• Lining under eaves

Interiors

• Wall and ceiling panels
• Vinyl floor tiles
• Backing for wall tiles and splashbacks
• Backing of linoleum flooring
• Insulation in stoves and domestic heaters

Backyard

• Fences
• Garden sheds
• Garages
• Carports
• Outdoor toilets
• Dog kennels
• Buried and dumped construction waste materials

Other areas

• Backing of electrical switchboards
• Textured paint

Asbestos cement products were commonly manufactured in WA from 1921 to 1987.

The manufacture, importation and installation of products containing asbestos was being phased out during the 1980s and was not used in building materials by the end of that decade.

However, chrysotile was still found in a number of products, such as brake linings and industrial products until 2003 when there was a total ban on the manufacture, use, reuse, import, transport, storage or sale of all forms of asbestos.

Generally, you can’t tell whether a material contains asbestos by looking at it.

If the product is one that could contain asbestos, and was installed prior to 1990 (when asbestos had stopped being used in building materials) you should treat the suspect material as though it does contain asbestos.

If you need to verify whether the product is free of asbestos, this can only be done with the use of a microscope. If you need to confirm the presence of asbestos in a product you will need to contact a National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) accredited laboratory (external site).

Asbestos can cause a number of diseases, including lung cancer, mesothelioma (a cancer of the lining of the lung or abdomen) and asbestosis (stiffening of the lungs).

The risk of developing an asbestos-related disease from exposure to asbestos products in and around the home is extremely small. The risk depends on the total number of fibres inhaled, the length of time of exposure and how often you are exposed. Most people who have developed asbestos-related diseases have had high exposures from working with asbestos and/or asbestos products but not all people who worked with asbestos have developed disease.

Some people have developed an asbestos-related disease after renovating a home containing asbestos. In most of these cases renovations were done when asbestos was a legal product and few precautions were taken. For information on the recommended precautions refer to the information below. Precautions should always be used when removing asbestos products or renovating a house containing asbestos.

All efforts should be made to keep any asbestos products in or around your home in good condition or remove them safely.

Just because you have been exposed to asbestos does not mean you will get an asbestos-related disease. In fact it is very unlikely that a single exposure will result in disease.

There is no action you need to take if you have been exposed to asbestos, other than making sure that future exposure is minimised. There is quite a long period (20 to 50 years) between exposure and the development of disease, even for people who have had high exposures in the workplace. Currently there is no ‘test’ for asbestos exposure or the risk of developing an asbestos-related disease.

There is a National Asbestos Exposure Register (external site) for members of the community who have been exposed to asbestos. The register is for anyone who has had a significant exposure (for example, breathing in fine dust from cutting or sawing into a product you later found out contained asbestos).

It is illegal to dump asbestos anywhere but in a licensed landfill or waste site. If you are caught dumping asbestos you can be prosecuted.

If you find or witness the illegal dumping of asbestos, contact Environmental Health Services at your local government (external site).

Asbestos is regulated by a number of agencies, including WorkSafe, Department of Environment Regulation and Department of Health. Read more about the agencies, their role in asbestos regulation and contact details.

The Department of Health regulates asbestos through the Health (Asbestos) Regulations 1992 (HAR). Important features of the HAR include:

• prohibition (with exemptions) of the sale, supply or use of asbestos cement products
• requiring reasonable measures be used for the storage, maintenance, repair, removal, and disposal of material containing asbestos (reasonable measures are defined)
• prohibition (with exemptions) of moving a house built, wholly or partly, with asbestos cement products
• duty to notify others of the presence of asbestos when being disposed of.

Under the regulations you can be directed by an authorised person (which includes local government environmental health officer) to maintain, repair, remove, move, or dispose of the material containing asbestos

Penalties apply for not complying with these regulations. As of January 2017 penalties of up to $10,000 (for individuals) can be imposed if a person is convicted of an offence against the regulations. Infringement notices and fines, which don’t require a conviction, can also be imposed.