Building standards have changed and evolved over time as different materials and procedures have been found to be not as safe as new material. There is no greater example of this than the discovery that asbestos, a commonly used building material for hundreds of years, had extremely negative effects on the health of those who lived amongst it. Fortunately, as this information became widely available, Australia banned it from being used in this way and from the early to mid-1990s it was phased out. However, this still leaves a lot of buildings, particularly houses, that have asbestos in their construction from before it was outlawed. 

Asbestos Management

The first thing to realise is that asbestos is most dangerous when it is disturbed, as the tiny particles get shaken into the air and then enter your respiratory system and damage your lungs. When it is sedentary, it is far less dangerous but still a significant threat to those who live around it. Never try and check if your house or building has asbestos by yourself. This cannot be stressed enough--if you are not a professional with safety gear, you are liable to get asbestos in your lungs and not even realise it. If your house was built before the 1990s and you are worried about asbestos, then you need to call an asbestos management company immediately.

The Service

Once you call an asbestos management company, they will send a professional over to investigate if you have asbestos in your home. Asbestos was commonly used in insulation so it may take a while for the representative to check your whole home. Once they do, they will give you a diagnosis and generally a quote for how much it will cost to remove it. They will walk you through the process and what has to happen and what days you need to be outside your house for them to safely remove it. If you are unhappy with anything, this is the stage you need to voice your concerns because after this, it may be too late.

Disposal

Asbestos management companies have special ways of disposing of asbestos so that it doesn't infect other areas. This is also a primary reason why you shouldn't try and get rid of the asbestos in your home on your own. Once you have it out, there is no real way for a non-professional to dispose of it, and you could jeopardise the health of all your neighbours. They will then do a walkover to make sure they didn't miss anything, and your home will be deemed free of asbestos! 

For more information, contact your local asbestos management service today.