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DIY renovator? How to safely take an asbestos sample

Announcement posted by Regional Enviroscience 06 Jul 2016

Domestic or DIY renovator exposure to Asbestos set to be main driver of the “third wave“ of the incidence of asbestos related diseases.

High rates of DIY renovators exposed to Asbestos

Domestic or DIY renovator exposure to Asbestos has taken over from mining, manufacturing, transport and working with asbestos as the main driver of the “third wave“ of the incidence of asbestos related diseases.  The Medical Journal of Australia revealed from a study with 3612 respondents, 858 who self-reported as DIY renovators, 61.4% had exposure to asbestos, 39.3% said their partner had been exposed and 22.8% said their children had been exposed.

She’ll be right doesn’t cut if for Asbestos exposure

Australia has the highest rate of mesothelioma caused by asbestos globally with around 600 people being diagnosed each year.  This figure is expected to rise to 900 by 2020 and unfortunately, Australia’s traditional attitude of “she’ll be right“ has been applied to asbestos identification and even removal by some Australian DIY renovators resulting in asbestos exposure.

Asbestos disease takes a long time to be discovered.

Asbestos fibres become a problem when they are airborne and inhaled. It can take between 10 and 40 years for the disease to emerge but it does it is debilitating and often terminal.

Safely sample suspect Asbestos materials with a DIY Asbestos Test Kit

A DIY Asbestos Test kit can help you safely remove asbestos for testing.  A downloadable Asbestos Test Kit is available – plus you can watch a video to see how to assemble Asbestos Test kit equipment and take a sample of suspected asbestos material without exposing you or your family to Asbestos fibres.

Once the sample is contained and double bagged you can use our reply-paid post to send the suspected Asbestos sample to the NATA accredited laboratory for identification.  Our 24 hour return service offers a completely confidential result emailed to your nominated address.

Watch this video (click here) to see how to safely take an asbestos sample and have it tested.

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Regional Enviroscience has completed over 3600 site inspections for hazardous materials including asbestos and is currently engaged by the Loose-fill Asbestos Implementation Taskforce to complete inspections for loose-fill asbestos (commonly known as ‘Mr Fluffy’) inspections and identification at their NATA accredited asbestos testing laboratory based in Dubbo, Central NSW.  Specialists in supplying Asbestos Building Registers, advising on Asbestos Management and
Asbestos Clearance the Enviroscience team manages domestic and commercial projects in regional NSW including offices at Dubbo, Orange, Tamworth, Maitland and Wagga Wagga