BUNBURY residents are urged to learn how to protect themselves and their families from exposure to dangerous asbestos fibres in the lead-up to Asbestos Awareness Day on Friday, November 27.
The City of Bunbury has partnered with the Asb-estos Education Com-mittee and the Asbestos Diseases Research Insti-tute to encourage homeowners, renovators, trad-ies and handymen to “Get to kNOw Asbestos this November” by visiting asbestosawareness.c om.au
November is Asbestos Awareness Month, which aims to educate as many Australians as possible about the dangers of asbestos and how best to manage it.
Australia has one of the highest rates of asbestos-related diseases in the world.
Asbestos products can most likely be found in any Australian home built or renovated before 1987, even brick, weatherboard, fibro and clad properties.
Asbestos can be found under floor coverings such as carpet, linoleum and vinyl tiles, behind wall and floor tiles, in cement floors, internal and external walls, ceilings and ceiling space (insulation), eaves, garages, around hot water pipes, fences, extensions to homes, outdoor toilets, dog kennels and backyard sheds.
Fibres only become volatile when they are airborne and are inhaled, which generally occurs when asbestos products are disturbed during renovations or demolition.
Individual fibres are generally not visible to the naked eye and must be small enough to overcome the body’s natural defence mechanisms and penetrate into the lungs.
Visit asbestosaware ness.com.au for more information