The South Australian government has shown its support for asbestos safety in response to the alarming increase in popularity of do-it-yourself home renovations in Australia.

Many Australians are putting themselves at risk when they undertake their own home renovation work, as the majority houses that were built prior to 1984 contain asbestos products. The concern of course is that even a small amount of exposure to asbestos can cause asbestos related diseases such as mesothelioma.

The South Australian Minister for Industrial relations, Russell Wortley, who is advised by South Australia’s Asbestos Advisory Committee, has expressed concerns for these Australians.

In order to raise awareness about the dangers of asbestos in South Australia, Mr Wortley recently announced the formation of a home renovator task force, an initiative of SafeWork SA.

The task force is made up of representatives from the South Australian Asbestos Advisory Committee, the South Australian Asbestos Coalition and the asbestos removal industry, among others, and facilitates the exchange of information, ideas and options regarding the issue of asbestos.

Last month SafeWork SA and the South Australian Asbestos Coalition provided a staffed Asbestos Awareness in the Home display at the Master Builders SA Building and Home Improvement show, which was held in Adelaide and attracted nearly 20,000 people.

The South Australian government has also pledged its ongoing support for other initiatives that promote asbestos awareness, such as the Asbestos Victims Memorial Day and the Asbestos Awareness Week each November. South Australian sufferers of mesothelioma and other asbestos conditions, along with the families of those who passed away from such asbestos conditions attend such services. For more information, contact the Asbestos Diseases Society of South Australia. See their website www.adssa-inc.com.au

Toukley ambulance station in coastal NSW has finally been declared safe after almost eight years of safety concerns regarding the presence of asbestos.

Workers discovered asbestos during renovations to the NSW station early last month, with NSW WorkCover immediately issuing a prohibition notice to block all access to the affected site in order to protect workers from asbestos exposure.

Toukley Ambulance Station has a long history with asbestos. WorkCover NSW was first alerted to the existence of asbestos in December 2004, when asbestos was identified and removed. Nine months later further remedial work was deemed necessary, and in April 2006 WorkCover NSW served an improvement notice on Toukley Ambulance Station requiring immediate action, with staff being immediately relocated to Wyong Hospital.

Exposure to asbestos can cause serious diseases such as asbestosis, asbestos related pleural disease, asbestos related pleural effusion, pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma and other asbestos-related conditions. As such, last month’s asbestos scare has been treated very seriously, with WorkCover NSW conducting extensive testing on the site and finally declaring it safe last week.

Asbestosis compensation in Australia and mesothelioma compensation in Australia unfortunately is regularly occurring given there have been some many persons affected with asbestos conditions.

The NSW government has invited residents from Broken Hill to contribute to the development of a state-wide plan on the handling of asbestos.

The call for residents to have their say follows last month’s revelation that there is only one accredited asbestos remover in Broken Hill.

It is believed an educational seminar is necessary in Broken Hill to warn people about the dangers of asbestos, such as asbestosis and mesothelioma, as well as inform them of how to handle and remove it safely.

John Pearce, who runs Broken Hill’s only accredited asbestos removal company, believes that asbestos removalists should be called in for any amount, not just when asbestos is more than ten square metres, as outlined in current regulations.

Mr Pearce also believes the NSW government should invest in an advertising campaign to raise public awareness about asbestos and asbestos-related diseases such as asbestosis and mesothelioma.

Australia was once the highest asbestos user per capital worldwide, and Australian buildings containing fibro that were built before 1984 often contain asbestos products.

In Australia, many builders who used to work with asbestos are now seeking asbestos compensation in Australia. Some states have introduced laws to assist claims for asbestos compensation being made, including in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. This has allowed sufferers of asbestos conditions such as mesothelioma to pursue their asbestos legal rights.

There is global outrage following the Quebec provincial government’s decision to re-open Canada’s largest asbestos mine in order to export asbestos to India.

The Quebec government has agreed to lend over $56 million to the Jeffrey Mine in the town of Asbestos, which was closed in 2009 following an international campaign which protested the use of asbestos.

The dangers of asbestos are well-known worldwide, with many developed countries such as Australia and Canada banning its use altogether. Exposure to asbestos can cause asbestos-related diseases such as asbestosis and malignant mesothelioma.

As such, exporting asbestos to a developing country like India is especially dangerous due to relaxed workplace safety practices, which could see asbestos being handled and used in a way that would expose workers to risks of asbestosis and mesothelioma.

Tasmanian Senator Lisa Singh, who chairs an all-party group on asbestos in Australian Federal Parliament, has met with anti asbestos activists in India and believes the Australian government should step in and demand Canada stop exporting a known carcinogen, white asbestos, to India.

India is one of the world’s largest asbestos consumers, and with the World Health Organisation estimating 100,000 deaths per year as a result of asbestos-related disease such as asbestosis and malignant mesothelioma, experts fear that exposure in developing countries will cause this figure to rise significantly.

Even though Australia has now banned the use of asbestos, many Australians are continuing to be diagnosed with asbestos related conditions due the exposure in the past.