» Grandmother Geraldine Shea Killed by Doing Her Husband's Washing: The simple act of doing her husband's laundry cost Geraldine Shea her life. Click here to read more.
» Killing Time: A new drama series "Killing Time" focusing on the James Hardie asbestos trail of diaster is in the pipeline for 2011. Click here to read more.
» Asbestos Deaths and James Hardie: While James Hardie and other companies stopped manufacturing asbestos building products a couple of decades ago, the death toll from asbestos is far from over. Screened on the ABC in 2009, the program "Asbestos Deaths and James Hardie" is a frightening insight into how simple home renovations can have devastating outcomes. Click here to view this chilling story.
» Asbestos Mining Likely to Recommence in Canada: The
mining town of Asbestos in Quebec is planning to recommence mining of
asbestos even though data from the World Health Organisation estimates
that 90,00 deaths a year worldwide are caused by asbestos. Click here to read more...
» Dangers In the Dust: Inside the Global Asbestos Trade: Experts are warning that by 2030 asbestos could be linked to millions of deaths. Click here to read more...
» Lawyers Warn of Asbestos Risk at Altona College: Lawyers have expressed concern that students at Altona College in Melbourne's west could be exposed to deadly asbestos dust while buildings are demolished as part of a school merger. Click here for more information.
» Asbestos and the Home Renovator - Beware: Asbestos induced cancer is the worst industrial disaster in the world and will kill more people than Bhopal and Chernobyl. Click here for more information on the program "Dust to Dust" that was screened on Channel 7 on 20 June 2010 about this fresh asbestos epidemic.
» Australian Mesothelioma Registry: The Australian Mesothelioma Registry will be managed by a consortium led by the Cancer Institute New South Wales and will include some of the leading experts in asbestos related disease in Australia. Click here for more information.
» Asbestos Under Our Carpet: The ABC's 7.30 Report ran an item on 24 August 2009 relating to the use of sacks to transport asbestos by James Hardie. These sacks were then recycled to create carpet underlay. There is no way to thoroughly remove asbestos fibres, therefore home renovators are putting themselves at risk of asbestos exposure simply by pulling up old carpet. The transcript can be read here.
2009 Victorian Bushfires
The general advice is to review points in relation to potential for passive asbestos exposure of persons assessing or visiting fire damaged property.
The collection of personal belongings, equipment and other materials may be under ash and asbestos contaminated materials. Cement sheet and associated asbestos products may be loosely present in the property. While the risk of exposure is low, the advice presented on the Victorian Department of Health website relating to bushfire damage should be reviewed in relation to this issue for instruction.
Also, please refer to your local council for appropriate procedures to be followed with regard to asbestos and its disposal.
Please refer to the Department of Health links below for relevant information:
Asbestos News Flashes