What is asbestos
Asbestos is the name for a group of minerals that were used to manufacture a wide range of products including many that were used in Australian buildings until the mid-late 1980s. Exposure to asbestos fibres may cause diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis.
Managing asbestos in the workplace
Buildings and products from before 2004 may still contain asbestos. Until the 1980s it was manufactured, sold, and used in various forms like:
- vinyl floor tiles
- cement roof sheeting and wall lining
- lagging and jointing material
- fire blankets
How can Asbestos affect your health?
When asbestos is disturbed these fibres can become airborne and are easy to inhale. The fibres can become trapped in your lungs.
Scientific studies reviewed by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC, 2012) show that asbestos can also cause cancer of the larynx and ovaries and is also associated with pharynx, stomach, and colorectal cancer. Due to these health risks Australia imposed a total ban on mining manufacture and use of asbestos on 21st December 2003.
State Contacts for more information
New South Wales
Queensland
Western Australia
South Australia
Northern Territory
Victoria
Tasmania