A Sydney family has discovered the consequences of unprofessional bathroom renovations, causing them to be exposed to the potentially deadly asbestos dust and fibre. The Mead family hired a handyman to renovate their old home, and then realised that the tradesman could have been unlicensed and may have exposed them to asbestos.
Due to the long latency period between exposure to asbestos and the contraction of an asbestos-related condition such as mesothelioma, the health of the family is still uncertain.
Although the use of asbestos is now banned in Australia, asbestos is commonly found in all homes built prior to about 1984, and continues to affect people in the home building industry. Many home renovators are ignorant of the risks posed by the lethal substance. Exposure to asbestos can lead to the onset of asbestos-related conditions such as mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer.
NSW Fair Trading recommends that home renovators use the services of a licensed professional tradesman and that any asbestos removal be conducted by a professional. Individuals should not attempt to remove asbestos themselves due to the risks posed by asbestos exposure and airborne asbestos fibres.
Asbestos compensation legislation has been introduced in states such as NSW, Victoria and South Australia, allowing those who contract an asbestos-related condition to pursue an asbestosis compensation or mesothelioma compensation claim. Such asbestos compensation legislation has helped Australian home renovators pursue their compensation entitlements following the diagnosis of an asbestos relation condition such as mesothelioma.
