If your home was built or renovated before 1990 it might contain asbestos. This guide provides information about where you might find asbestos, the laws that relate to asbestos management and removal and how to protect yourself, your family and your neighbours from exposure to harmful asbestos fibres.

Work health and safety (WHS) laws prohibit work involving asbestos except in specific circumstances where strict safety rules must be followed. If you manage or control a workplace (including as a commercial property owner) the WHS laws contain a range of duties to protect the health and safety of workers and others at the workplace.

Knowing if your home contains asbestos is important for the purposes of protecting your health and that of your family, particularly if you are planning any home improvements, repairs or renovations or at the point of buying, selling or renting a home.

The National Asbestos Exposure Register (NAER) is a register for anyone who believes they may have been exposed to asbestos. Submitting information helps ensure accurate details are recorded after exposure in case of any future asbestos-related health issues.

Asbestos cement roofs are particularly concerning as they are in the poorest condition of all asbestos materials remaining in the built environment, posing a relatively high asbestos exposure risk.

It is important to accurately identify the presence of asbestos materials so that precautions can be taken to avoid disturbing or damaging them until they can be safely removed by a licensed asbestos professional. Asbestos can only be disposed of at a facility licensed to accept asbestos waste.