Asbestos is a dangerous product that's used in various building materials. Asbestos takes many forms, such as ceiling panels, wall sheeting, vinyl tiles, seamless vinyl, corrugated roofing and much more. In case any of these materials are disturbed, they can generate airborne asbestos fibres. Even a single bundle of fibre (the size of a rice grain) can actually discharge thousands of hazardous fibres into the air. This is the reason most people always wonder whether DIY asbestos removal is allowed or if it's safe.
Asbestos can be disturbed via actions such as snapping or breaking, but the worst deeds are those that include the use of tools like sanders, drills, water blasters and grinders. In fact, it is unlawful for anyone, (including licensed experts) to water blast any type of asbestos materials in Australia.
What will happen when you expose yourself to asbestos?
Although the human body has the ability to handle and reject different kinds of foreign objects, the structure and shape of asbestos make these measures ineffective. Once you breathe in asbestos fibres, some of them will be lodged in your lungs, and they'll remain there for life.
So, under normal exposure scenarios, many fibres could build up in your lungs throughout your life, and this will be harmful to your health.
Should you still remove asbestos yourself?
Asbestos fibres are harmful, and in most cases, do-it-yourself asbestos removal is illegal. Regulations for all territories and states in Australia state that a Class B license for asbestos removal is required if you want to remove any quantity of bounded asbestos materials that exceed ten square metres. A Class A licence is required to remove any quantity of friable asbestos.
This means that you can legally DIY asbestos removal if the bounded material is less than ten square meters. But, what about the health risks? Do you want to expose yourself to asbestos fibres?
The solution
In short, do-it-yourself asbestos removal is illegal in most cases and is always dangerous. The ideal course of action is to not disturb the asbestos and hire experts to conduct any necessary removal. It's impossible to put a price on your health, so stay safe.
If you are not sure about where asbestos is found in your workplace or home, consider hiring professionals to conduct a survey and prepare a detailed report. The report should identify the locations, condition, friability, extent, risk assessment and management recommendations. Contact a professional to learn more about asbestos disposal.
