Deadly asbestos prompts Easter warning for DIY home renovators
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Asbestosmaterialscanbedisturbedveryeasilywhendoinghomerenovations.Evensomethingassimpleasdrillingaholeinthewalltohangapicturecouldreleaseasbestoscontainingmaterials.
AllhomerenovatorsandDIYenthusiastsshouldbeasbestosawarebeforestartinganyworkaroundthehouse.However,itisrecommendedthatasbestosremovalshouldbelefttoaprofessional.
Althoughasbestosisnolongerused,notificationsalertingSafeWorkSAtoasbestosremovalsacrossSouthAustraliaeachyearareincreasing.
In2019,SafeWorkSAreceived3708notificationscoveringtheremovalof414,845squaremetresofasbestos.
In2024,thenumberofnotificationswereup57percentfrom2019to5848withatotalof642,666m2ofasbestosremoved.
Morethanhalfoftheasbestosremovedin2024wasfromresidentialproperties.
Asbestos-relateddiseasescauseabout4,000deathsayearinAustralia.Likeplumbingandelectricalwork,asbestosremoval–orrenovationsthatmightdisturbasbestos–arejobsbestlefttotheexperts.
Whenwasasbestosusedinbuildingmaterials?Theuseofa