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While Asbestos Awareness Week is the last week of November, there is also an Asbestos Awareness Day held on November 24 to remember affected victims and families.
“We have one of the highest rates of asbestos-related diseases in the world,” a spokesperson said.
“While people know that many building and home materials could contain asbestos, there is also the danger of naturally occurring asbestos (NOA), particularly for landowners.”
A new guide for naturally occurring asbestos explains how to help protect people living and working in rural and regional NSW.
Asbestos, a group of minerals that readily separate into long flexible fibres, occurs naturally in some rocks, sediments and soils throughout Australia.
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“Asbestos was mined for the manufacture of multiple products as it was cheap, durable, flexible, and was a naturally insulating and fireproofing material,” the spokesperson said.
“However, because asbestos fibres were proven to cause cancers and other lung diseases, asbestos was banned in Australia in 2003 with the NSW Government actively engaged in community education programs.
“Known as naturally occurring asbestos or NOA, it’s found in some rocks, sediments and in soils and is not easily identified. Asbestos in its natural form can be blue (crocidolite), brown (amosite), green (anthophyllite tremolite and actinolite) or white (chrysotile, tremolite and actinolite). Blue and brown asbestos are not common in NSW.
Only testing by a National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) accredited laboratory, of a sample collected by a competent person, can confirm the presence of asbestos.
Luckily less than one percent of land in NSW is believed to contain NOA within 10m of the ground’s surface. In rural and regional NSW where NOA is known or suspected, property owners and managers are legally required under the NSW Work Health & Safety Regulations 2017 to develop an Asbestos Management Plan.
If stable, covered and undisturbed, it’s believed NOA doesn’t pose a risk to health.
The hotline is 1800 Asbestos (1800 272 378) in NSW, operated by the SafeWork NSW Customer Contact Centre.
For Asbestos Awareness Month:
- Hold a ‘Blue Lamington Drive’ morning or afternoon tea
- Host a ‘Get to kNOw asbestos challenge’
- Share Asbestos Awareness Month on social media
- Display the posters and brochures
- Host a tradies’ brekky about the dangers of asbestos
Call 13 10 50 or see www.safework.nsw.gov.au or contact@safework.nsw.gov.au