Asbestos is one of Australia’s biggest hidden killers, despite being banned in 2003. According to the Australian Government asbestos guide it is present in around one third of homes, the fibrous material becomes a major environmental and health threat when disturbed by a fire.
John Batty, Managing Director of EDP Consultants, an RSK Group company, will speak about asbestos management at the upcoming Full Cycle 2025 Community Day on 22 November in NSW’s Blue Mountains, focused on reducing disaster risk and hazardous materials in a changing climate. John has 20 years’ experience in asbestos and hazardous materials management in Australia and internationally. He is a member of the Asbestos Education Committee and National Asbestos Awareness Campaign and Founding member and former president of the Asbestos and Hazardous-Materials Consultants Association.
Deteriorating
John said: “Any house built before 1990 is likely to contain asbestos, usually in roof eaves, wall linings, bathrooms, laundries and kitchens. At EDP, we have also found it in sheds, garages and even old dog kennels. These fibrous materials are deteriorating and when they are exposed to heat, impact or high winds, they can release dangerous friable dust that contaminates air, soil and water.”
Asbestos kills more than 4000 people a year in Australia alone according to the government asbestos safety guide, and it’s estimated more than 580,000 people in Australia have been exposed to it. Australia continues to record one of the highest rates of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases due to its widespread historical use in homes – from ceilings and roofs to floor tiles and cladding.
Heated
John says bushfires create the worst-case scenario for asbestos exposure. “When heated, asbestos cement sheets can explode, scattering its fibres with ash and other debris over large areas. Even a small fire can compromise asbestos sheeting, creating widespread contamination.
“It’s important for property owners to add asbestos checks to their bushfire preparedness plans,” John explains. “After fires, we’ve found asbestos fragments and fibres hundreds of metres from the source. The cleanup is expensive and challenging because the fibres can scatter anywhere the wind and water carries them.”
Contamination
John also warns property homeowners never to attempt asbestos removal themselves. “It’s not worth the risk. Engage a licensed asbestos removal contractor to safely remove the asbestos,” John says. In September, a property in Sydney’s Bilgola triggered a contamination scare after its asbestos roof was high-pressure water cleaned. In June, members of the public alerted Queensland’s Pollution Hotline to a large amount of illegally dumped waste, including asbestos, in the Forest Lakes area. Also this year, a factory in Sydney’s Revesby caught fire, with experts fearing its asbestos fibro roof may have caused contamination.
“There’s a dire need for greater public awareness of correct asbestos management”, says John. “We still see tradespeople pressure-washing roofs, for example – something that’s not only prohibited under WHS Regulations, but will lead to asbestos exposure to operators, homeowners and neighbours.”
Licensing
Under Australian law, should asbestos sheeting be impacted upon by high-pressure water cleaning, this is a notifiable incident and must be reported to the State regulator. Property owners must then engage licensed asbestos assessors and removal contractors to undertake a full remediation of the site, which may include removing contaminated topsoil, draining pools, HEPA vacuuming and decontaminating contaminated hard surfaces including walls, paths, driveways, roads and any cars that may have been impacted. A typical high-pressure water asbestos incident can take up to six weeks to remediate, costing between $20,000-$200,000, depending on the contamination extent.
5 steps to prevent asbestos contamination this bushfire season
EDP Consultants recommends property owners prepare for summer by combining bushfire safety with asbestos risk management:
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Inspect before summer
John says: “Your asbestos contamination risk is greatest in materials that are exposed to the elements – roofs, gutters, downpipes and sheds. Removing these under controlled conditions now will be far safer and cheaper than having to remediate a contaminated site after a fire. Wet areas such as bathrooms and laundries are generally low risk, unless the entire home is destroyed by fire.
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Use a licensed expert
Call a licensed asbestos assessor for an asbestos assessment to confirm the location, condition and risk associated with asbestos in your home.
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No DIY asbestos removal
Never attempt to remove asbestos yourself. Leave it to a licensed asbestos removal contractor. Undertaking DIY removal risks exposing yourself and your family to asbestos and contaminating your house, and could potentially lead to incorrect disposal, allowing asbestos to re-enter the community.
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Prepare an asbestos management plan
Develop a staged removal plan – ideally within the next five years. Until then, consider creating an asbestos management plan that lists where asbestos has been identified in your property, its condition and planned management actions over the five years. The plan would also be helpful for emergency services, future tradespeople and property buyers.
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Fireproof your plan
Keep your asbestos management plan, inspection reports and removal certificates saved in cloud storage or printed and stored with emergency documents in a fireproof folder with your bushfire emergency documents.
John said: “Bushfires are guaranteed each summer in Australia. If you know where asbestos is on your property and by removing it early – or planning for its removal – you can protect your family, neighbours and the environment from irreversible contamination.”