National Asbestos Awareness Week is a national initiative which aims to inform the community about asbestos.
National Asbestos Awareness Week, which runs from Monday 24 to Friday 28 November 2014, is a national initiative which aims to inform the community about asbestos and asbestos-related disease.
Dr Mike Lindsay, Acting Director of Environmental Health, said most people believed asbestos was only found in roofs, fences or walls in older style houses. However, products containing asbestos can also include paper backing material on sheet linoleum, backing panels in meter boxes and vinyl floor tiles.
Although these types of products pose little risk to health when they are in good condition and undisturbed, precautions need to be taken when renovating or doing maintenance work to prevent asbestos fibres being released into the air.
Homeowners should contact their local government for information about licensed waste facilities which provided disposal options for asbestos containing products.
For more information on asbestos and safety precautions visit the Public Health website (external site) and look for “Asbestos and Public Health” in the A-Z list.