Silent killer on the loose – Asbestos!
This November is Asbestos Awareness Month.
The World Health Organization (WHO) states “more than 107,000 people die each year from asbestos-related lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis resulting from occupational exposures.”
Unfortunately here in Australia we have the second highest mesothelioma death rate in the world, it is expected that over the next four decades a further 25,000 people will die from it which is extremely alarming.
What is Mesothelioma? (Mesothelioma (noun): a cancer of mesothelial tissue (lungs), associated especially with exposure to asbestos)
Industroquip Safety & Signage have a large range of asbestos removal equipment including Negative Air Units, Respirators, Hazardous Dust Vacuum Cleaners, Decontamination Units, Asbestos Disposal Bags, Tapes & Plastics, Disposable Overalls, and Asbestos Warning Signs & Stickers in stock ready to despatch to help keep you and your team safe from Asbestos – the silent killer!
Whilst more than half of new diagnoses are attributed to the workplace it’s not only in the workplace where we are exposed to deadly asbestos dusts, with homes built in the 80’s and earlier often asbestos was used as a building material. When renovating homes built around this time you could be exposed to these dusts, to help renovators handle this deadly material the NSW Heads of Asbestos Coordination Authorities (HACA) has launched a new hotline number to provide free advice and guidance on asbestos-related issues which will be particularly helpful.
HACA Chair Peter Dunphy said the new number 1800 Asbestos provides the NSW Community with a central point of contact for making enquiries about asbestos.
“Calls to 1800 Asbestos (1800 272 378) will be answered by the SafeWork NSW Customer Contact Centre who regularly manage general asbestos enquiries,” Mr Dunphy said.
“The hotline will be particularly useful to homeowners and renovators including advice on what they should look out for before renovating an older style home, built prior to 1987.
“Callers will also be referred to an extensive range of free educational resources on asbestos such as information on managing or removing asbestos in the home or workplace.”
The hotline will also refer the public to the correct government agency or local Council for further advice and assistance where appropriate.
Mr Dunphy said between July 2015 and June 2016 the SafeWork Customer Contact Centre handled more than 4,000 asbestos enquiries.
“Asbestos is a prevalent issue in our community and the new hotline will act as a one-stop-shop for advice and assistance on asbestos,” Mr Dunphy said.
HACA works to improve the management, monitoring and response to asbestos issues in NSW by developing coordinated prevention programs and developed the NSW state-wide plan for asbestos, as well as a model asbestos policy for local councils.
Asbestos licence holders still must notify SafeWork NSW before licensed asbestos removal work is commenced on the Asbestos and Demolition Hotline, 1800 672 718.
1800 Asbestos will complement other asbestos advisory resources such as asbestosawareness.com.au and our asbestos information.
Remember to keep safe when dealing with this silent killer to prevent you, your family or your team from becoming a statistic and for all your protective equipment call our inhouse asbestos removal category manager on 1300 554 192 or click here to receive our new 40 page Asbestos Removal Products Hand Book.
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