Asbestos Awareness Month
Published Thursday, 3rd November 2016
NOvember is national Asbestos Awareness Month.
![Asbestos](http://www.wanneroo.wa.gov.au/images/asbestos.jpg)
The aim is to educate Australian’s about the dangers of asbestos in and around homes because Australia has one of the highest rates of asbestos-related diseases in the world.
In the lead-up to Asbestos Awareness Day (Friday 23 NOvember) all Australians especially homeowners, renovators, tradies and handymen need to ‘Get to kNOw Asbestos this NOvember’ by visiting asbestosawareness.com.au to learn how to protect themselves and families from exposure to dangerous asbestos fibres.
With asbestos-related diseases continuing to increase among Australians as a direct result of exposure to asbestos fibres during home renovations and maintenance, the importance of raising awareness about the dangers of asbestos and how best to manage it in and around homes, cannot be overstated!
During NOvember, Asbestos Awareness Month, we aim to educate as many Australian’s as possible about the dangers of asbestos and how best to manage it.
Many wrongly believe that ONLY fibro homes contain asbestos. Asbestos products can most likely be found in ANY Australian home built or renovated before 1987 even brick, weatherboard, fibro and clad homes.
Most people can’t tell whether building materials contain asbestos just by looking at them. Asbestos can be under floor coverings such as carpets, 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 and backyard sheds – it could be anywhere!
It’s vital that Australians take the warnings seriously, that they stop playing ‘renovation roulette’ and protect themselves and their families from exposure to asbestos fibres during renovations and maintenance.
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