If you’re contemplating a home renovation in Sydney, ensure you know how to handle any asbestos that may be present. A third of Sydney homes contain asbestos, and the health implications of this material are numerous and potentially fatal.
Removal of Asbestos in a Safe Manner
Protecting yourself and your family during renovations ensures safe asbestos removal in Sydney. Do-it-yourself (‘DIY’) asbestos removal is not recommended for home renovations in Sydney.
The Risk and Existence of Asbestos Are a Concern
For many years, Sydney people built their homes with everyday building products that contained asbestos, a dangerous natural material. A house constructed before the 90s most likely has asbestos. Asbestos-containing material is most commonly found in the kitchen and bathroom, but other home regions in Sydney, such as fencing, flooring, roofing, and gutters, also have asbestos.
To confirm if you have asbestos in your home, it is to have it sampled and tested. First and foremost, you should have an asbestos inspection done on your home before hiring contractors to work on renovations in Sydney. This will allow you to provide an asbestos report to the renovators so that they know the possible risks.
Asbestos Removal Is Subject to Stringent Regulations
In Sydney, only licenced asbestos removalists can remove non-friable asbestos in areas smaller than 10 square metres (m2); all other states, including Victoria, allow non-licensed individuals to do so. In most cases, a licensed asbestos removalist will be required for larger projects.
In this article, “friable asbestos” is defined as any asbestos-containing material that can be completely collapsed, pulverised, or reduced to powder by gently tapping when dry. Class A permits allow the removal of all kinds of asbestos, including friable and non-friable varieties, while Class B permits allow the removal of only non-friable sorts.
To remove asbestos, you must have a licence. A licensed asbestos removalist and training in asbestos awareness are still recommended if you’re trying to remove less than 10 square feet of non-friable material.
Inexperienced or Unlicensed Removals
Suppose you are removing non-friable asbestos without a licence. In that case, you must be considered a competent person who has completed training, have experience in the asbestos removal industry and has the appropriate equipment for the job.
Asbestos exposure can never be too high or too low. Keep in mind that even if a non-licensed individual is permitted to carry out excess removal on a small scale, it can be hazardous to human health.
Looking for Professional Asbestos Removalists
When looking for asbestos removal in Sydney, it is necessary to look for licenced businesses with the proper equipment and training to remove asbestos.
If you’re planning to use a freelancer job platform for asbestos removal, you should know that it can be difficult. Such platforms are primarily a gathering place where freelancers can ‘bid’ on various jobs that other people post on the Internet. Concerns have been raised that untrained and unlicensed tradespeople are performing dangerous asbestos removal jobs through such platforms, which could potentially violate safety and licensing requirements. Therefore, when you are hiring through such platforms, you should ensure that the removalists have the necessary licence and experience.
Be aware that unqualified workers can bid for jobs and undercut those who have paid for and completed the required training and certification. Ask for a copy of the company’s licence and ensure they are properly certified to handle licensed asbestos tasks when hiring online.
