National Asbestos Awareness Week – November 22 to 28

25 November 2021

National Asbestos Awareness Week is organised by the Australian Government’s Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency, in partnership with state and territory government agencies and non-government organisations

‘Think twice about asbestos’ is this year’s campaign for National asbestos awareness week. The campaign challenges complacency by reminding home renovators and tradespeople that the danger of asbestos is far from over. The aim of the campaign is to raise awareness amongst the public and key trades about the health risks associated with exposure to asbestos fibres, where asbestos products can be found and prompt behavioural change – to contact a licensed asbestos professional.

During the COVID lockdowns there has been a surge in DIY home improvements. The Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency (ASEA) commissioned a poll of 1506 home improvers, and their data revealed some worrying trends. Results showed that 38% had been working on ‘risky’ homes that were built between 1940 and 1990 – homes built during this time have the highest risk of containing asbestos. While 28% conceded they had illegally disposed of asbestos, usually by placing it in their household bin or a neighbor’s bin.

“For anyone who thinks asbestos related diseases are a thing of the past, think again” AESA chief executive Justine Ross said at the start of National Asbestos Awareness Week. “Around 700 cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in Australia each year and the estimated annual health system expenditure for mesothelioma is more than $27 million annually.”

There are an estimated six million tonnes of legacy asbestos in Australia, affecting 1 in 3 homes. At the current rate of disposal, legacy asbestos is likely to remain in significant amounts until at least 2060.

ASEA is developing a national residential asbestos “heat map” they hope will help manage the problem. “Once completed next year, it will allow governments to target awareness and removal programs where they are most needed, protecting homeowners and tradespeople,” Ross said. “It also means we can better target infrastructure and resources, such as waste disposal facilities, in areas that will need it most. We want to see Australians treat asbestos with the same caution as electricity. People working on homes built before 1990 can stay safe if they know where asbestos is, if they don’t disturb or damage it, and if they seek professional help to locate, manage or remove it.”

Sources:

Australian National Asbestos Awareness Week 2021

Australians admit ‘dumping asbestos in neighbours’ bins’ during DIY boom

Illegal asbestos dumping holds up road upgrade

25th June 2021

Works on a 4.2km pavement upgrade of Carrick Road (North East of Goulburn) were brought to a halt in early June after contractors identified asbestos fragments that were illegally dumped on the previously disturbed drains and batters.

As a result, contractors had to be stood down while the asbestos was removed, and the site cleared. The council engaged an asbestos consultant to ensure the site was clear and safe before works recommenced. However, when the consultant was performing the clearance, more asbestos was identified, and it was determined that it had been dumped within the previous 12 hours.

It is unknown as to why the asbestos was dumped; however, the council are offering $1000 as a reward for any information regarding those involved. If the culprits are found they could be fined up to $500,000 for individuals or $2 million for corporations, as well as paying for clean-up and removal costs.

The illegal dumping has resulted in significant delays and an increase in costs to this project, as well as risking the safety of staff and contractors. The council is planning to install CCTV in the area because of these actions.

In NSW asbestos can only be disposed of at specific landfills, with specific requirements on how it must be bagged. Unlicensed individuals can only remove (and therefore dispose of) up to 10 sqm of bonded asbestos, otherwise it must be removed and disposed of by a qualified removalist.

Sources:

Carrick Road – Asbestos Dumping

Multi million dollar asbestos dumping fines

Fixing Local Roads program

ABF focus on asbestos in imported building products

15th June 2021

Due to the recent housing boom, Australia has seen an influx of building materials from overseas, prompting the Australian Border Force (ABF) to crack down on possible asbestos containing materials (ACM) being imported.

In Australia, asbestos is classed as a Tier 1 good, under the customs regulations 2015. This means that importing any amount of the substance is illegal and individuals can be fined $222,000 or 3 times the value of the goods, whichever is greater.

Despite being banned in Australia, it is not uncommon for the ABF to find asbestos in imported building products and vehicles. Between July 2020 and March 2021, the ABF served 102 infringement notices with fines totaling over $900,000.

Asbestos has been proven to be a group 1 carcinogen, meaning that there is sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in humans, that is to say – we know it causes cancer. Despite the numerous studies and overwhelming evidence, many countries still allow asbestos to be used in building materials, vehicles, and other applications. This poses a risk to Australia if building materials are being imported from these countries, particularly from manufacturers that also produce ACM.

Assistant Minister for Customs, Community Safety and Multicultural Affairs the Hon Jason Wood has stated the intention is not to hold up any legitimate and safe building materials, particularly during this housing boom which boosts our economy, the intention rather is to protect the Australian community from asbestos.

He has also advised importers to consider if the products they are importing may unintentionally contain asbestos, taking into consideration whether the country of manufacture allows the use of asbestos in the goods they are importing.

It is the responsibility of the importer to ensure that goods do not contain asbestos before they are imported to Australia, in some cases, a declaration from the supplier may not be enough. The ABF has advised on some measures that importers can take to ensure their materials are not detained at the border. These include:

·         Apply contractual obligations with their suppliers that specify nil asbestos content.

·         Do research – do not purchase from suppliers that manufacture ACM products, even if the goods purchased are labelled non-asbestos.

·         Engage sampling and accredited tested before the content is shipped to Australia.

·         Undertake regular risk assessment and quality assurance processes.

Importing ACM can be detrimental to the reputation of the importer. Businesses should be suspicious of cheap prices from manufacturers that knowingly use asbestos, but also guarantee risk free production. The financial losses that could be incurred from goods seizure and potential fines will far outweigh the cheaper price of the materials.

Sources:

ABF target asbestos in imported building products

Detections of asbestos in imported goods

Prohibited Goods - Asbestos

Guidance for importers and exporters

The future of the ‘Mr Fluffy’ buyback scheme

4th June 2021

The current buyback program for homes affected by loose fill asbestos is set to end on the 17th of August 2021, this has prompted the ACT government to consider the future of this scheme. The current scheme has been in affect since 2014, it applies to anybody that purchased a home without the knowledge that it contained the dangerous loose fill asbestos. The scheme allows the homeowner to sell their homes back to the ACT government, as well as receive a conveyance duty concession on their next home purchase. The ACT Government will then demolish and safely dispose of the affected homes and resell the blocks after being deemed safe.   

In 2014 a taskforce was developed to assess homes that were at risk of containing loose fill asbestos, due to the discovery that many homes that were supposedly decontaminated in the late 1980’s still posed a threat, as well as finding new homes riddled with the toxic loose fill insulation. The buyback scheme was developed around the same time to help homeowners to dispose of affected homes.

However, despite the surveys, some contaminated homes were still missed. This could be due to several factors, the records of the company known as ‘Mr Fluffy’ were poor, meaning they did not always record which homes they serviced, and therefore it is unknown how many homes are affected in total. The company also sold bags of the loose fill insulation directly to individuals to install themselves, and no records were kept of buyers.

When inspections were undertaken in 2014, it was assumed that the entire house was filled with this type of insulation, given the method of delivery (pumped in through the roof). What Canberra's Asbestos Removal Taskforce expected was to simply look through the manhole into the roof to assess if asbestos fluff was present. In the case of DIY jobs, this was not enough, usually the owner would have only installed it in one part of the ceiling and possibly covered it with an additional insulation of a different kind, making it harder to identify.

Since commencement of the Scheme, five additional affected properties have been identified. Making it reasonable to assume that more affected properties may be identified in Canberra’s older suburbs after 17 August 2021.

Given these factors, the ACT government has decided to set up a new loose-fill asbestos buyback scheme. The new scheme is a voluntary buyback program, similar to the one in place now, meaning that any homeowners of residential properties that are identified as having loose fill asbestos after August 17th, 2021, will likely be able to be part of the new buyback scheme.

The continuation of the voluntary buyback measures provides certainty to the community and support to these homeowners.

Sources:

Government to set up new loose-fill asbestos buyback scheme

Mr Fluffy: Acquiring a toxic legacy

Loose-fill asbestos buyback concession scheme

Mr Fluffy asbestos: List of affected homes shows problem spread across Canberra suburbs

Canberra family finds Mr Fluffy asbestos in roof decades after government clearance letter and years after buyback scheme

Federal Government announces an $8m assistance scheme for Mr Fluffy victims

10th March 2021

The federal government has agreed to set up an $8mil fund to assist Mr Fluffy victims. The ACT government will manage the scheme and it is likely they will also match the federal’s contribution, with details to be announced in coming weeks.

It is thought that such a scheme has not been set up yet due to how long it can take for asbestos related diseases to manifest. When the Mr Fluffy buy back scheme occurred in 2014 the health department reported no increase by population of mesothelioma caused by loose fill asbestos. With first cases of mesothelioma caused by loose fill asbestos only being reported within the last 2 years.

But the victims have been calling for this scheme for about a year now, and despite families lobbying for it, it has been a slow process. This is mostly because there have been disagreements on who the financial onus should fall upon. Under normal circumstances, it would be the ACT Governments responsibility. However, the ACT Government was not formed until 1989, 20 years after the federal government was alerted to the dangers of loose fill asbestos and 10 years after Mr Fluffy ceased use. Therefore, it could be stated that the ACT government played no part in the issue. When first contacted regarding compensation for Mr Fluffy victims, Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt’s initial reaction to say that it was solely the territories responsibility. But due to increased lobbying from victims’ families and ACT Senator Zed Seselja, Mr Hunt began actively pursuing a new scheme.

While the full details of the scheme will be announced in the coming weeks, Mr Barr has stated that it would exist to support individuals who may contract mesothelioma due to exposure to Mr Fluffy, this support would include medical expenses and loss of income as a result of the disease. It is also hoped that the emphasis will be on simplicity of access and speed, due to the rapid nature of the disease.

Unfortunately, Mr James Wallner, who led the campaign for the new scheme, will never see it in action. Mr Wallner passed away on Friday 7th May less than a year after being diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma, and just days after the new compensation scheme was announced.

Sources:

James Wallner dies days after after Mr Fluffy home compensation scheme announced

Scheme a victory for "Mr Fluffy" victims

Federal government announces $8m assistance scheme for Mr Fluffy asbestos victims, ACT government set to match it

New government fund to support Mr Fluffy asbestos victims