Asbestos Information

 Fibro & Asbestos - Renovator-Homeowner Guide (129KB)

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a generic term for a number of fibrous silicate minerals. There are two major groups of asbestos:

1. The most abundant kind of asbestos is the serpentine group, which contains chrysotile (white asbestos); and
2. The amphibole group, which contains amosite (brown asbestos), crocidolite (blue asbestos), tremolite, actinolite and  anthophyllite.

Asbestos fibres have a very high tensile strength and are known for their resistance to heat, fire, acids, alkalis and corrosion.

Where is asbestos likely to be found?

Asbestos has been used in the past in a variety of products. Some examples of asbestos products used in homes are:

If you are thinking of renovating and you are unsure whether your home contains asbestos material, it is best to treat the material as containing asbestos or seek professional advice, to find out whether asbestos is present.

What are the health hazards associated with asbestos?

Asbestos is only a health hazard when it is friable, so when it crumbles, fine dust fibres are released into the air and then breathed in by our lungs.

Airborne asbestos fibres are small, odourless and tasteless. They range in size from 0.1 to 10 microns in diameter (a human hair is about 50 microns in diameter). As asbestos fibres are so light they can be suspended in the air for long periods. Therefore, when working with asbestos materials all practicable measures must be taken to reduce the amount of dust created so the amount of asbestos fibres within the air is reduced.

Asbestos Related Diseases

Asbestos related diseases have a delay period usually around 20 to 40 years and can appear or progress even after a person is no longer exposed. This is why every precaution should be taken when working/disturbing asbestos and asbestos containing materials.

Asbestosis is the scarring of lung tissue that can result from the inhalation over a period of years of substantial amounts of chrysotile. This results in breathlessness, which may lead to disability, and in some cases early death.

Lung cancer risk is related to the amount of fibre inhaled and is also greatly increased in persons who also smoke cigarettes. No safe level of asbestos exposure for lung cancer has been found.

Mesothelioma is a cancer of the pleura (outer lung lining) or of the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity). Mesothelioma rarely occurs in less than 15 years from first exposure, and most cases occur over 30 years after first exposure.

Other diseases resulting from asbestos exposure include, gastrointestinal cancer (oesophagus, stomach, colon or rectum), cancer of the larynx, pleural plaques, pleural effusion, adhesion, calcification, corns and warts.

Health risks and exposure standards

The amount of asbestos fibre in the air people breath is the important factor in determining the level of health risk.

The exposure standards for airborne concentrations of asbestos are:

Amosite (brown asbestos): 0.1 fibres per millimetre of air
Crocidolite (blue asbestos): 0.1 fibres per millimetre of air
Chrysotile (white asbestos): 0.5 fibres per millimetre of air

Special equipment and laboratories are needed to determine the amount of asbestos fibre in the air. Carrying out these tests are generally not required for home owners and are not normally practical when you are carrying out home renovations.

How can you tell if your home contains asbestos material?

What should be done if asbestos is found?

If material has been identified as "asbestos", it is recommended that a trained person conduct a thorough examination of all locations in which the material has been found in order to ascertain the risk.

Control Measures

The options for controlling the risks associated
with asbestos are:

• surveillance (if its in good condition - keep an eye on it);
• enclosure;
• encapsulation; or
• removal.

It is not possible to give specific advice as to which of the above control methods should be followed, as each case must be treated on its merits. For instance, removal would not be warranted where the asbestos is stable and inaccessible.

In other cases the cost and time involved in effectively enclosing asbestos which has been determined to be in bad condition may make removal an attractive proposition. What is clear is that asbestos does not need to be removed whenever it is found. In some cases removal is not the best control method.

The removal of asbestos is a risky business and should only be carried out when it is absolutely essential. 

Do I need a licence/permit to handle asbestos?

A licence is required for the removal of all asbestos except when it is bonded asbestos and is less than 50 square metres and 20 square metres from 1 January 2008.

Licensing protects removal workers, building occupants and the public by ensuring that contractors have the appropriate skills, training and experience in asbestos removal work to prevent occupational and environmental contamination.

Different licences and permits are required by WorkCover NSW for removing, repairing or disturbing friable and/or bonded asbestos.

Note: When your asbestos cement roof is severely damaged by hail or when an asbestos cement product is damaged by fire, badly broken up or illegally cleaned by water blasting, you must use a licensed friable asbestos removal contractor.

What is required for friable asbestos materials?

Friable asbestos material means any asbestos material, which is in the form of a powder, or can be crushed by hand when dry.

Anyone removing, repairing or disturbing friable asbestos material must hold a current friable asbestos removal licence. Further, before starting work, a work site-specific permit approving each friable asbestos project must be obtained.

What is required for bonded asbestos materials?

Bonded asbestos material means any asbestos material in a bonded matrix. It may consist of Portland cement or various resin/binders and cannot be crushed by hand when dry.

Anyone who removes, repairs or disturbs areas of 200 square metres or more of bonded asbestos must hold a bonded or a friable asbestos licence, or a demolition licence. Licensed contractors must notify WorkCover NSW of each bonded asbestos removal project of 200 square metres or more.

The permit and notification requirements allow monitoring of asbestos removal projects on a job-by-job basis, ensuring compliance with legislation and nationally agreed work methods.

How do I handle asbestos safely?

The essential factor in handling asbestos safely is to prevent asbestos from being inhaled. Therefore, if handling asbestos, you must take all practicable steps toward controlling and minimising the amount of asbestos dust created. Remember, any waste material that contains asbestos is classed as asbestos waste and therefore must be handledas asbestos waste. The Occupational Health & Safety Regulation 2001 requires that the National Occupational Health and Safety Commission (NOHSC) Asbestos Code of Practice and Guidance Notes must be complied with for any asbestos work. Following are specific precautions and procedures that should be followed. These are based on the NOHSC publication, EPA (Environment Protection Authority) requirements and combined local government guidelines. Before starting work           Check with Council if approval is required or if there are any specific requirements relating to your proposal. Make sure you have the correct personal protective equipment. This must include a suitable respirator and coveralls. For the removal of asbestos cement (fibro) a half-face disposable or cartridge type particulate respirator Class P1 or P2 is satisfactory. Suppliers of respirator masks can be found within the yellow pages under 'Safety Equipment and Accessories'. Clean separate clothes should be worn when working with asbestos and should be segregated so that normal clothes won't be contaminated with asbestos dust. The best practice is to have coveralls, which can be disposed of after use. This minimises the threat of contamination to other clothes. Protect other surrounding environments from the work area (ie, other parts of the building, neighbours etc). It is a good idea to notify your adjoining neighbours. Where practicable seal the asbestos cement with PVA sealant or wet with water. This should be done well before removal work begins. Wetting down may not be necessary on previously painted or sealed asbestos cement products.           While working with bonded asbestos If asbestos products are maintained in good order they present no significant health risk. However, safety precautions must be taken when working on any product containing asbestos in a way that is likely to generate dust and the release of fibres.         Provide signage that informs persons of asbestos work being carried out. Work in well ventilated areas if possible & wear personal protective equipment. Use non-powered hand tools as these generate much less dust. Use wet methods to dampen down material and keep it wet. Asbestos cement sheeting should be removed with minimal breakage. Move asbestos fibro as whole sheets where possible. Only use vacuum cleaners fitted with High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters for cleaning. Gutters are to be wet cleaned and all contaminated waste material collected must be disposed of into a bag labelled asbestos waste. Use drop sheets to collect debris. Precautions should be taken to prevent slip and trip hazards.       Do not use power tools or dust generating equipment ie. abrasive cutters, electric sanders, high-pressure water blasters, sweeping and the like. Do not use household vacuum cleaners which are not fitted with HEPA filters. Do not throw asbestos into bins or onto the ground. Do not abrade or scrub the surface of asbestos. Don't work with friable asbestos unless you have a licence and a permit.   Removal of friable asbestos The procedures in the Code of Practice for the Safe Removal of Asbestos [NOHSC: 2002 (1988)]Code of Practice for the Safe Removal of Asbestos [NOHSC: 2002 (1988)] must be directly followed when removing friable asbestos. Only licensed asbestos removal contractors can remove friable asbestos. A permit must also be obtained from WorkCover before commencing any work. After the job         Make sure that enough time is allocated to thoroughly clean up the site. Thoroughly clean asbestos cement residues in the roof space and around the removal area with a vacuum cleaner fitted with a HEPA filter. Any asbestos residues unable to be removed, such as those on timber beams, should be sealed with PVA. Make sure that the person performing the work washes any part of their body that has been exposed as soon as possible, with particular attention being made to the face, hands and hair.       Do not reuse asbestos-cement products. It is illegal for a worker to reuse asbestos-cement and they could be fined under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000   Transport & Disposal         Line the internal surfaces of trucks or skips with 200 micro-metre plastic sheeting. Wear coveralls and suitable respiratory protection during the removal and clean up process. After use, disposal coveralls and disposable masks should be placed in bags for removal with other asbestos waste. The asbestos waste must be kept wet, wrapped and be sealed in a covered leak-proof container/vehicle. Asbestos fibre and dust must be covered to prevent emission of dust and be stored in the following manner: Impermeable heavy duty bags (at least 0.2mm thickness) sealed by a wire tie and contain no more than a manageable amount of waste Each bag containing asbestos should be clearly labelled 'Caution Asbestos ' in letters of not less than 40mm. The bag must be placed in a leak proof container used only for the storage of asbestos The container must be labelled "DANGER- ASBESTOS WASTE ONLY - AVOID CREATING DUST" in letters not less than 50mm The container must have a close fitting sealed cover. All asbestos waste should be stored in a secure area to prevent the risk of unauthorised entry and environmental harm and be stored separate from other wastes. At the disposal facility the vehicle must be cleaned to remove all residual asbestos waste before leaving. Comply with the special requirements relating to asbestos waste under the Protection of the Environment Operations (Waste) Regulation 1996. The maximum penalty for non-compliance with this regulation is $2,200 in the case of a corporation & $1,100 in the case of an individual.       Do not cause water pollution from allowing wastewater leakage from bags, containers, asbestos transport vehicles & asbestos products. Do not dispose of asbestos in any other place other than an approved landfill site that will accept asbestos. Where can asbestos be disposed? All asbestos waste must be disposed in a manner - and at a site - approved by the appropriate disposal authority. Bookings at least one day prior to disposal are usually required.     Where can asbestos waste be disposed? For the location of approved waste facilities please contact : Waste Service NSW on 1300 651 116, or DECC - Department of Environment & Climate Change on 9995 5000     Legislative requirements/health & safety Website: WorkCover NSW  Phone: 13 10 50