What should I do if I find asbestos in my home or workplace?
Up to 1 in 3 houses in Australia may contain asbestos. Many workplaces may also contain asbestos.
Home owner
You should treat materials in your home as if they contain asbestos unless you have confirmed that they don’t. A licensed asbestos removalist or occupational hygienist can take a sample for testing.
You must assess the condition of asbestos materials that you have in your home. If materials are in good condition, they pose minimal risk because they are unlikely to release fibres into the air. If damaged or in poor condition they may need to be removed. It is recommended that you contact a licensed asbestos removalist or occupational hygienist to determine if removal is the best choice.
In the workplace
You should refer to the latest legislation for responsibilities regarding asbestos in the workplace. There are also 2 Codes of Practice available that came into effect when the new Work Health and Safety Act 2012 commences 1 Jan 2013. For more information on the new laws and codes visit www.worksafe.tas.gov.au
Renter
If you are renting a house and are concerned that it may contain asbestos, you should contact your agent.