PRESS RELEASE: Deadly DIY: Asbestos Awareness Day Honours Victims & Sparks Urgent Awareness

On National Asbestos Awareness Day, Friday 29th November, the Asbestos Education Committee will honour all victims of asbestos while continuing the national campaign in their honour to prevent exposure to asbestos fibres that can kill.

Clare Collins, Chair of Advocacy Australia and the Asbestos Education Committee said, “With legacy asbestos remaining in one third of Aussie homes, and the number of deaths each year double the national road toll, the only way we can prevent deaths from exposure to asbestos fibres is to continue to increase awareness of the risks of DIY and to provide the public with useful information resources to help them identify asbestos and learn how to manage this hazard safely.

“With no known safe level of exposure to asbestos fibres, the only way to prevent asbestos-related deaths is to increase awareness of the risks of disturbing asbestos during home renovations, demolition or maintenance and providing education tools and information about asbestos locations and how to manage it safely,” she said.

Mathew Klintfält, a member of the Asbestos Education Committee, knows how deadly asbestos is if it’s not managed safely. The son of the Late Carol Klintfält OAM, who developed malignant mesothelioma as a result of exposure to asbestos fibres when renovating her home, continues his mother’s legacy in campaigning to increase national awareness of asbestos to help save lives.

“With the annual death toll from exposure to asbestos fibres predicted to rise, the Asbestos Education Committee is dedicated to saving lives by warning homeowners and tradies about asbestos that remains lurking in 1 in every 3 Australian homes and educating them on how to identify and manage asbestos safely,” said Mr Klintfält.

If sealed and in good, stable condition asbestos-containing materials don’t pose a health risk. However, when disturbed during demolition, renovation or maintenance and microscopic fibres are released, this can lead to life-threatening diseases including malignant mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer, while evidence suggests links to ovarian and laryngeal cancers and increased risk of breast, stomach and colon cancers.

Adding to its extensive suite of free resources endorsed by experts and government bodies; in 2024, the Asbestos Education Committee have announced its new user-friendly asbestos education tool to ensure property owners and tradies identify and remove asbestos-containing materials safely in accordance with regulations.

“In our new, 20-minute real-life, step-by-step video, Asbestos in Homes: A Guide to Identification, Testing and Removal we discuss asbestos safety, the legalities and demonstrate the simple steps people should take for asbestos inspections and removal so they know how to protect themselves, their families, tradies and anyone who might risk exposure to asbestos fibres during renovation, demolition or maintenance,” Mr Klintfält said.

Asbestos in Homes: A Guide to Identification, Testing and Removal features industry leaders including Cherie Barber, Australia’s Renovation Queen™ with members of the Asbestos Education Committee; Bret Baker, President of the Asbestos & Hazmat Removal Contractors Association of NSW (AHRCA); John Batty, President of the Asbestos & Hazardous-Materials Consultants Association (AHCA); and Mathew Klintfält who continues the work of his late mother Carol Klintfält OAM in asbestos awareness advocacy.

Cherie Barber, Asbestos Awareness Ambassador who lost her grandfather to an asbestos-related disease said, “With Australia one of the highest consumers of asbestos-containing materials globally, the importance of continuing to increase awareness and providing practical resources to help property owners better identify and managing asbestos safely, cannot be overstated.
“Most Australians don’t know that asbestos was not only used in the construction of fibro homes, but it was also used extensively in the manufacture of more than 3000 building and decorator products that could be lurking in any brick, fibro, weatherboard, clad home or apartment built or renovated before 1990.

“Asbestos could be under floor coverings including carpets, linoleum and vinyl tiles, behind wall and floor tiles, in cement floors, internal and external walls, ceilings and ceiling space (insulation), eaves, roofs, around hot water pipes, fences, home extensions, garages, outdoor toilets, backyard and farm structures, chook sheds and even dog kennels. It was used everywhere!” said Ms Barber.

“Although in some states homeowners are permitted to remove up to ten square metres of asbestos-containing materials themselves, we strongly advise against it and encourage people to only use licensed asbestos professionals because the cost to homeowners and their families could be far greater if they’re exposed to fibres that can kill,” she said.

“For those planning to renovate a home built before 1990, it’s essential they budget for licensed asbestos professionals, who will inspect and safely remove asbestos because it’s just not worth the risk!” she said.

“The Asbestos in Homes: A Guide to Identification, Testing and Removal video, is extremely useful in explaining asbestos risks and shows property owners what they need to do BEFORE starting renovations by demonstrating the entire process of safe asbestos management from professional assessment, identification, removal to clearance certificates to ensure they don’t put their life or the lives of loved ones and others at risk.

“Renovating is exciting but ignoring the warnings by knocking down walls, smashing off tiles, ripping up carpets and pulling down fences and sheds might not only cost you your life, if asbestos isn’t removed and disposed of appropriately, it could end up costing a small fortune to dispose of and remediate a contaminated site,” she said.

“The main message we want people to hear is what NOT to do with asbestos! Don’t cut it! Don’t drill it! Don’t drop it! Don’t sand it! Don’t saw it! Don’t scrape it! Don’t scrub it! Don’t dismantle it! Don’t tip it! Don’t waterblast it! Don’t demolish it! Don’t dump it! And whatever you do… DON’T remove it yourself!” Ms Barber said.

With many Australians still unaware of asbestos risks and Australia’s annual asbestos-related death toll predicted to rise, the Asbestos Education Committee is urging homeowners, property managers and tradies to visit Australia’s most comprehensive source of asbestos information, asbestosawareness.com.au
-ENDS-

INTERVIEW REQUESTS
For interviews with Mathew Klintfält, Cherie Barber or other industry experts, contact:
Advocacy Australia  Phone: 02 9518 4744  Email: [email protected]
Alice Collins: 0414 686 091  Clare Collins: 0414 821 957 

JOURNALIST NOTES, IMAGES & GRAPHICS AND FOOTAGE
• DETAILED JOURNALIST NOTES: https://asbestosawareness.box.com/v/media-releases
• IMAGES & GRAPHICS: For complete range of images and graphics of asbestos-containing materials (ACMs), testing, removal or Asbestos Awareness Ambassador Cherie Barber, visit: https://asbestosawareness.box.com/v/AsbestosAwarenessImages
o Asbestos Testing, Removal and Clearance Photos: https://asbestosawareness.box.com/v/Asbestos-ID-Test-Removal
o Mat and Carol Klintfalt Photos: https://asbestosawareness.box.com/v/Klintfalt-Images
o Cherie Barber Photos: https://asbestosawareness.box.com/v/cherie-barber
o Asbestos Photos – everything including locations, products etc: https://asbestosawareness.box.com/v/AsbestosAwarenessImages
• FOOTAGE:
o All Files including BROLL: https://asbestosawareness.box.com/v/Asbestos-Footage
o Video Links:
 YouTube Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDLwdvcPDK3qq5igrhwHbAtTbdESnZtNV
 Asbestos In Homes: The Complete Guide to Identification, Testing & Removal https://vimeo.com/1024191730 | https://youtu.be/GdWpr0wjU9I
 Asbestos In Homes: A 6 Minute Overview of Identification, Testing & Removal https://vimeo.com/1032900362 | https://vimeo.com/1032900362

HASHTAGS
#AsbestosAwareness #RespectAsbestos #RenovationRoulette #RespectAsbestosRisks #StopPlayingRenovationRoulette #DIY #Asbestos #Renovate

‘ASBESTOS IN HOMES: A GUIDE TO IDENTIFICATION, TESTING AND REMOVAL’ VIDEO SPONSORS
The Asbestos In Homes: A guide to Identification, Testing & Removal video was filmed at Mathew Klintfält’s property and is proudly sponsored by EDP – an RSK Company, Renovating For Profit, Beasy PTY Ltd, the Asbestos Education Committee and Advocacy Australia.

Asbestos In Homes: The Complete Guide to Identification, Testing & Removal 22min https://youtu.be/GdWpr0wjU9I | https://vimeo.com/1024191730
Asbestos In Homes: An Overview to Asbestos Identification, Testing & Removal 6:50min https://youtu.be/nhmADxzDONg | https://vimeo.com/1032900362