It was a find of the worst kind for New South Wales Fire and Rescue teams in inner Sydney after two tonnes of asbestos sheeting was discovered just metres from two childcare centres. Clean-up crews were dispatched to Wattle Lane in Ultimo to clean up the presumed illegal dumping of the cancer causing chemical, amid concerns of fibres being blown from wind into nearby childcare centres.

Crews covered the sheeting with heavy duty plastic and sand to stop fibres being moved from wind and air flow. The asbestos was found just two blocks from the city’s waste management depot. While it’s still unclear who was responsible for the dumping, it’s not the first recent incident where asbestos has been found illegally dumped.

In February, Logan residents reported illegally dumped asbestos on Eagleby Road, with as many as two illegal dumpings of the toxic substance each month, often in areas where residents and children regularly walk and play.

Protective masks and clothing were found among the debris indicating those responsible knew exactly how dangerous the material is and still were willing to put others at risk. Council are appealing to those who spot anyone dumping waste of any time to contact them, with offenders facing heavy fines and prosecution.

Here at Area 51 Asbestos we believe the offenders deserve to be caught and made to pay for this dangerous and selfish behaviour. We hear about the heartache this chemical causes every day and to potentially put other people’s lives at risk due to laziness or because they don’t want to properly dispose of this material is not only wrong but also negligent. We’d like to remind that dumping of asbestos is illegal, and asbestos removal can only be carried by processes that comply with Government legislation.

Let us help you with asbestos removal, we’ve got all the resources to do it quickly, safety and affordable. Think of others first, do the right thing and avoid the consequences. To find out more about our asbestos inspections and asbestos removal services in Ipswich and Brisbane call us today. 1300 AREA 51.

The forces of nature have proved unforgiving in Queensland in recent years, including in Brisbane, which has suffered from flooding and severe storms. Of the natural disasters that have affected the state, many fibro homes have also been damaged. Asbestos containing debris from these structures poses a significant risk for those involved in the mammoth clean-up operation. The Courier Mail reported that 155 separate cases of broken asbestos were documented after the 2011 Brisbane Floods, while The Australian newspaper reported heightened fears of asbestos exposure after north Queensland’s Cyclone Yasi. Since effects of extreme weather and building damage from storms continue across the state, Area 51 Asbestos would like to share some reminders regarding handling tips for building materials that may contain asbestos. These are particularly important to remember for those helping out during clean-up efforts from floods or severe storms.

- Assume asbestos is present in all building materials that are being handled from structures built prior to 1988.

- Never break down building materials into smaller pieces in an attempt to create more room in skip bins or dumpsters.

- Wear protective clothing that has been kept damp. Clothing should be disposed at the end of a clean-up and respiratory protection that covers the nose and mouth should be worn.

- Never use power tools or hoses to clean asbestos sheeting as this can cause fibres to be dislodged and become airborne.

When it comes to removing asbestos, government regulations require that any materials more than 10sq m in size legally must be removed by a licensed contractor. Area 51 Asbestos are licensed to safely remove and dispose of large quantities of asbestos and have the knowledge to identify which materials pose a risk. While helping out with clean-up efforts after severe storms and floods is honourable, we strongly urge those to think to take adequate precautions when handling building debris. For complete peace of mind contact the asbestos removal specialists here at Area 51, we can safely remove all asbestos containing products and provide a detailed inspection on your property. Call us today – 1300 273 251

The team of Brisbane asbestos removal specialists here at Area 51 Asbestos deal with a number of different forms of asbestos fibres that have been used commercially including in household constructions. While all asbestos fibres are a carcinogenic health concern, they come in different forms which have varying properties and fall into different classes.
Since our team strongly believes asbestos education is the best method of preventing exposure, today’s blog post compares the different forms of asbestos, including where these forms have been typically used in a commercial setting.

Chrysotile (White Asbestos)

This is the most common type of asbestos used in buildings around the world. White asbestos has been typically found in roofs, flooring and walls of homes or businesses. This curly fibre has additionally been used in a number of automotive applications, including brake linings. Studies have shown that it takes more exposure to this form of asbestos than other types to develop asbestos related illnesses.

Amosite (Brown Asbestos)

Originating in Africa from mined mineral deposits, this brown coloured form of asbestos has long needle-like fibres which can penetrate the lungs when inhaled. It has commonly been used in thermal insulation products and in electrical insulation, but most frequently in cement sheeting and pipe insulation work.

Crocidolite (Blue Asbestos)

Also characterised by its needle-like fibres, blue asbestos is considered the most dangerous form of asbestos which has been mined in numerous countries, including Australia. Used in piping insulation as well as other cement products, crocidolite is also more brittle than many other asbestos products making any unprotected contact and exposure more dangerous.

When it comes to all things asbestos related, get the right facts the first time from the specialists here at Area 51 Asbestos. We’ll continue to keep you updated here on our asbestos advice page. For more information about asbestos removal and disposal in the Brisbane area please call us on 1300 AREA 51.

With around 1 in 3 Australian households containing asbestos of some sort it can be useful to know the areas of the home where undisturbed asbestos is typically found. Knowing where materials containing asbestos fibres are likely to be found is important when renovating or doing other work to the property since it allows proper precautions to be taken. In today’s news post, the team at Area 51 Asbestos have put together a list of common areas and rooms where asbestos is found to help raise awareness so homeowners are conscious of likely asbestos locations and avoid disrupting these areas.

Bedrooms, Living Room and Study

In these rooms, asbestos materials can often be found in carpet underlays, internal walls and ceilings, and vents or chimneys to fireplaces. Low density asbestos has also been frequently used in ceiling boards and wall sheeting in these rooms.

Kitchen and Bathrooms

These frequently renovated rooms of the house are also areas where asbestos containing materials are typically found in high concentrations compared to other areas of the home.  Areas where asbestos is frequently used include hot water piping, sheeting under floor tiles – whether ceramic or vinyl, backing behind wall tiles, and in cement piping for sewerage or fresh water supply.

Other areas of the home

Due to its affordability and versatility as a building material, asbestos in older properties is likely to be used throughout the entire home is differing quantities. House sheeting, guttering and internal angle mouldings often contain materials with asbestos, as do roofing and eaves of the home. Homeowners should exercise caution when cleaning or hosing roofs as materials can become disturbed. Asbestos can also be found in insulation for floor heating, and insulation for hot water pipes and rain tanks.

It’s important to note that asbestos building materials in good condition do not pose health risks if left undisturbed. Over time however is it possible that asbestos materials can become exposed and create a health risk for you and your family. Since exposed asbestos can be difficult to identify or even know about, getting a professional team like Area 51 Asbestos to undertake a professional assessment of the property, and conduct asbestos removal is a smart solution. For more information, call the asbestos team you can trust on 1300 273 251.  

Our team at Area 51 Asbestos have heard many stories of people throughout Brisbane and Ipswich who have unknowingly come into contact with asbestos when doing demolition work and attempting DIY renovations. Due to the recent popularity of television programmes like The Block, The Renovators and Better Homes & Gardens many couples have been inspired to undertake major home renovations by themselves. According to a recent Herald Sun article, would-be renovators, particularly women, are at greater risk of contracting mesothelioma from asbestos fibres found in most Australian homes built before 1987. In today’s news article we look at the dangers of DIY renovations and why any demolition work in Ipswich and Brisbane should be handled by the experts at Area 51 Asbestos.

What you can do to ensure you are renovating safely

• Have a hazardous materials survey conducted on your home before undertaking any renovations. This can identify an asbestos materials used in areas to be renovated. A professional assessment service is provided by us at Area 51, as well as safe removal so you can start renovations with minds at ease.
• Never use power tools on asbestos sheeting as this is one of the worst ways to disrupt the microscopic fibres making them an airborne risk to your family and neighbours.
• Never attempt to remove weathered roofing, as this can pose a real asbestos threat since weathering from rain and water eats away at the cement surface which leaves a friable surface which can easily release asbestos fibres. Never pressure clean a roof with asbestos sheeting for the same reason.
• Wear personal protective equipment (PPE) at all times when coming into contact with asbestos. Under Queensland law, minor contact with non-friable asbestos work such as cleaning or small drilling projects is allowed to be undertaken by homeowners provided you wear a proper respirator (dust masks are not sufficient protection) and disposable clothing. Always take a shower after coming into close contact with any materials containing asbestos.
• Any demolition work must be carried out by a licensed asbestos removal company like Area 51

Given the increase in DIY home renovations, partly fuelled by the rise in popularity of renovation programmes like The Block, it is more important than ever that home owners know their responsibilities and to adhere to safety precautions regarding asbestos removal. When it comes to demolition Ipswich and Brisbane, contacting the professionals at Area 51 Asbestos for safe handling and removal is the best way to protect you and your family.

A recent article in the Tasmanian Newspaper ‘The Mercury’ has once again brought the dangers of asbestos to the front of the minds of every single Australian. In today’s blog post, we will summarise some of the key points that were made in the article in an effort to explain to our readers once again why asbestos is so dangerous for you, especially if you are renovating your Brisbane home.

Asbestos in Australia

Did you know that if your home was built before 1990, there is a very high chance that you may have some traces of asbestos in your home? This is the harsh truth that many Australians are facing; whether they are aware of it or not. Perhaps this failure to acknowledge the existence of asbestos is one of the reasons why Australians are recorded to have to highest rate of asbestos-related deaths every year – somewhere between 600 and 700 people die every year.

The Future

One of the really worrying things about asbestos is that if it continues on its current course, the numbers of asbestos deaths will continue to skyrocket. This is only amplified by the current renovation trends in Australia, as people try to emulate TV shows like ‘The Block’ to restore rundown old houses into a modern moneymaking machine. Without the proper education on asbestos, many of these renovators will unfortunately fall prey to the horrors of mesothelioma. Tasmanian senator Lisa Singh has suggested that such a failure of education could result in up to 40,000 Australians being diagnosed with asbestos related illnesses over the next 20 years.

In today’s blog post, we have outlined some of the reasons why asbestos has earned such a horrible reputation amongst Australians. If you suspect that you may have any asbestos in your home, please don’t hesitate to contact the team at Area 51 Asbestos today on 1300 273 251 for a comprehensive, affordable and safe asbestos removal service.

Here at the Ipswich based Area 51 Asbestos, we have heard countless stories of the heartache and grief involving families who have been exposed to asbestos. We feel that it is good to keep an ear to the ground with stories like these, so that we may use other people’s experiences to educate our customers on the dangers of the horrible substance. In today’s blog post we will take a close look at an article recently published by the team at the University of Western Australia, and share the story of why one town will always be remembered for the wrong reasons.

Wittenoom

This story begins in the northern parts of Western Australia, in a tiny town called Wittenoom. Between the years of 1943 and 1966, Wittenoom was renowned as being a thriving mining town. While the locals were busy and living a happy life in rural Australia, they had no idea that what they were mining was so deadly. They were mining blue asbestos.

Of course now we know the dangers of Asbestos, but back in those times it was an extremely common and valuable material. Where else would you expect to find a material that was light, malleable and essentially fireproof? With the demand for the material so high, workers would slave away on the mines with no regard of the dangers involved in the material. They would build their town with the material, even using crushed leftovers as makeshift sandpits for their children.

Once the dangers of Asbestos began to surface in the mid 60’s, it was far too late – the damage had been done. Those who lived in the area began to show signs of cancers at an increasingly alarming rate, with absolutely nothing they could do to reverse the damage that had already been done.

It is such a sad story, but we must use it as a lesson to ourselves and to others. The best defense against asbestos is to educate others of its dangers, and to get it safely removed by a professional. If you believe that you may have any issues with asbestos in your home or office in Ipswich or greater Brisbane, please don’t hesitate to contact our team today on 1300 273 251.

Here at Area 51 Asbestos Brisbane, we are all too aware of the dangers of asbestos. We understand the damage it can do to our bodies, we understand the way it can hide dormant in areas for years and years, and we also understand it is extremely widespread throughout the world.

In today’s blog post, we have decided to put the spotlight on the asbestos by highlighting two recent examples of how asbestos is still affecting whole towns and suburbs years after it was banned.

Case #1 – Darwin Botanical Gardens

Approximately a month or two ago, local citizens in Darwin were shocked to hear that a vast amount of asbestos had been found in the George Brown Botanic Gardens. According to ABC News, the asbestos was believed to have been dumped in the gardens mixed into the rubble that was caused by the devastating Cyclone Tracy. The workers in this area have refused to mown the surrounding lawns since the discovery, and rightly so. When turned into dust form, asbestos is at its most dangerous.

Case #2 – NSW Asbestos Mine

In northern NSW, local residents of Barraba have been protesting for years to get an abandoned mine closed. While this isn’t usually an uncommon thing to hear, there is one big difference about this mine – it’s an open cut asbestos mine. Abandoned in 1983, the Woodsreef Asbestos Mine covers approximately 400 hectares, and has a main road running besides it. Locals say that they don’t like driving past on a windy day, due to asbestos fears. This is a perfectly acceptable thing to think, as it could be incredibly dangerous to go anywhere near that mine until the asbestos is contained.

In today’s blog post, we have outlined two examples of how asbestos is continuing to effect whole suburbs and communities. If you have an asbestos problem in your home or office, please don’t hesitate to give our team at the Brisbane based Area 51 Asbestos a call today on 1800 273 251.

That’s right! One of the great symbols of the United Kingdom, the Buckingham Palace, is actually full of asbestos! During the 1940’s, asbestos was commonly used in the palace when electrical cables were being installed. This was quiet common in normal homes during this time, as the asbestos’s heat resistant properties were a wonderful way to insulate and protect the building.

Of course, as time has gone by we have come to understand the dangers of Asbestos, mainly its ability to cause lung cancer amongst anyone who even breathes in the tiniest of particles. The reason that this occurs is because the fibers in asbestos are actually so fine that if inhaled, the human body is unable to reject it from the body. As a result, your body will begin to ‘throw everything it has’ at the fiber, which literally results in a buildup of cells which become cancerous.

Obviously the Queen and the royal family want absolutely nothing to do with such a brutal material, which is why they have already begun the process of stripping the asbestos from the palace. Almost 1 million pounds has already been spent, with an extra few million pounds needed to complete the job.

It’s truly remarkable to think of the widespread damage that asbestos is causing across the entire world, not just Brisbane. If you would like to find out any more about asbestos in your local area, please give Bill from Area 51 Asbestos a call today on 1300 273 251.

What Happens after Asbestos is removed?

During the asbestos removal process, our trained workers take every step to ensure that no dangerous fibers are released into the atmosphere. This involves the immediate containment of the asbestos products as they are being removed, followed by an additional bagging process to prevent any leaks. In compliance with the QLD Government Standards these bags must be minimum .2mm thick, and sealed tightly using tape. The bag must then be appropriately tagged and labeled to make certain that any future handler is aware of its dangerous contents.

Where does it go?

These bags of asbestos are then correctly transported to a landfill site which is approved to accept asbestos waste. Only some sites are approved to accept these, so depending on where you live will depend on how far it must be transported. Additionally, each site charges a varied rate for the disposal fees due to the difficulty that comes with correctly disposing such a material.

How does it get there?

The bags of asbestos must be correctly transported to the landfill site in a safe manner, which follows all guidelines outlined by the Queensland government. The guidelines vary depending on where the material is being removed from, and also the quantity of the asbestos.

In today’s blog post, we have answered some of the most popular questions about asbestos disposal which our team at the Ipswich based Area 51 Asbestos receives quite regularly. If you would like to find out any more about the process, please don’t hesitate to contact us today on 1300 273 251.