Finding asbestos in your home can be scary, but it’s important not to panic. The most important thing at this point is to make sure you remove and dispose of it in the safest way.

Here are some common questions we get asked about asbestos removal and disposal – and the answers.

I think my home may contain asbestos – what should I do?

If you’re conducting renovations or maintenance work and think you’ve come across asbestos, make sure you stop all construction IMMEDIATELY. Next, you can either hire an asbestos audits company to do comprehensive asbestos inspection at your property, or you can collect a small sample of the suspect material (while wearing an approved safety mask) and send it off to a NATA accredited laboratory for analysis.

I’ve got asbestos in my home – what should I do?

First of all, make sure you don’t do anything to disturb the asbestos-containing materials. You don’t want the harmful asbestos fibres to become airborne. Although asbestos is generally not dangerous when it is in good condition, we strongly recommend you get the asbestos removed from your home, as asbestos-containing materials can deteriorate over time and become a health hazard. Do NOT remove the asbestos yourself – hire a licensed asbestos removalist to do the job for you.

Is it true that some asbestos products have a low percentage of asbestos and are therefore safe for me to handle?

No. You should treat all asbestos-containing products as potentially dangerous. The safety risk grows exponentially if the asbestos is in powder form or can be crumbled, pulverised or reduced to powder by hand pressure. All asbestos should be removed by a licensed professional.

Can I bury asbestos on my property or dump it somewhere?

Absolutely not. Not only is this dangerous, it’s also illegal.

Where should I dispose of asbestos?

All asbestos must be taken to a facility that can lawfully receive asbestos waste. Contact your local council for waste facilities in your area.