Don’t play renovation roulette with asbestos risks
YESTERDAY marked the start of National Asbestos Awareness Week 2025, and with asbestos recently found in children’s play sand, now more than ever, we must take the threat seriously.
One in three Australian homes still contains asbestos.
If not managed properly, asbestos-containing materials can pose serious health risks.
Tragically, around 4000 Australians die every year from preventable asbestos-related diseases — three times the national road toll.
We love renovating, but without proper awareness, it can be deadly.
Shockingly, 51 per cent of current mesothelioma deaths are linked to home renovations.
If we don’t raise awareness and improve safety practices, these numbers will continue to rise.
It’s vital that renovators, tradies and property owners understand that asbestos wasn’t just used in wall sheeting.
It was used in more than 3000 building products, including flooring, insulation, ceilings, eaves, fences and tiles.
If your home was built before 1990 — or your commercial property before 2004 — asbestos could be anywhere.
Materials containing asbestos are especially common in wet areas like kitchens, bathrooms and laundries, but may also be found under carpets, in roofs, or hidden in walls — in any home, in any town across Australia.
Disturbing these materials during renovations can release invisible asbestos fibres, which, when inhaled, can cause life-threatening diseases.
That’s why it’s critical to never cut, drill, sand or remove suspected asbestos yourself.
Always use licensed professionals.
Before starting work, visit asbestosawareness.com.au for free tools and guides — including videos, checklists and safety tips — to help identify and manage asbestos safely.
Let’s stop playing renovation roulette.
Learn how to identify and manage asbestos risks. It could save your life — or the life of someone you love.
When it comes to asbestos: Don’t cut it. Don’t drill it. Don’t sand it. Don’t dump it. Don’t risk it.
Cherie Barber
National Asbestos Awareness Ambassador