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Until the late 1980s, asbestos was commonly used in roofing, sheet walls, ceilings and in moulded products such as flues, downpipes, guttering, and water and sewerage pipes.

Other common asbestos-containing materials and products included vinyl floor tiles and sheets, insulation materials, and sealants and mastics.

Since the ban on asbestos in 2003, risk to workers is now most likely to arise during asbestos removal or during renovation or maintenance work that disturbs asbestos.

As well as asbestos removalists, other tradespeople who may come into contact with asbestos include carpenters, electricians, plumbers and demolition contractors.

Building materials containing asbestos, such as internal walls or asbestos cement sheet roofing, that are in good condition should not pose a risk and can be left in place unless broken, deteriorating or disturbed in such a way that dust containing asbestos fibres is produced.  

Asbestos can be hard to identify. The only way to be sure it is asbestos is to have it analysed in a laboratory by an analyst approved by the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA).  If you do not want to have a sample analysed and there is uncertainty, you should assume a material is asbestos and treat it accordingly.

Asbestos in the home

Members of the public with concerns over asbestos in the home should contact:

• the Department of Human Services’s Environmental Health Unit on 1300 761 874
• the environmental health officer at the local council

For more information, download the DHS booklet or view the DHS “asbestos in the home” website.