The Fall of Asbestos – Putting an End to the Construction Killer

Posted by Leon Edwards on July 21st, 2019

Asbestos Material

Asbestos and the use of the toxic material extends back to ancient times but was in its prime for household and construction use in the middle decades of the 20th century.

Asbestos mining was big business in the late 1800s when there was a high demand for boiler and pipe insulation. From there, asbestos was found to be a good use for many construction applications as it was a cheap and abundant material that could be mixed into a variety of other construction materials and products.

Despite it being heavily used and inhaled by workers in the past, it has also been documented as having lethal effects when exposed to humans in as early as 1930. Asbestos companies were still making huge profits by selling insulation to shipbuilders during the 1940s and continued to expand further in the post-war building boom.

However, by the 1980s, the medical evidence linking asbestos to cancer and lung damage could no longer be ignored. Asbestos companies were forced to phase out the toxic products as it was causing major health problems for those having to work with it. Unfortunately, it was too late for a lot of the workers who had been handling asbestos materials for decades and were now dealing with lung damage from exposure.

Asbestos products were gradually removed from production and construction during the 1980s. Asbestos flat sheeting was phased out in 1982 and corrugated products with the toxic materials were also removed from production. After 1987, asbestos-lined piping was no longer being made and finally in 2003 brake pads and linings were no longer manufactured with asbestos fibres.

In Australia, it is now illegal for any new materials to contain asbestos fibres. Legislation halts anyone from importing, manufacturing, storing, selling, supplying, transporting and reusing any products containing asbestos. Australian asbestos removal company GBAR Group have been witness to a booming industry of safe asbestos removal practice that has grown over the last decade.

Although it is now illegal for any new products to be made with asbestos, there are still plenty of products containing the toxic fibre that can be found widely in the community. Such as:

  • Friction products such as clutch facings and brake linings in cars.
  • Asbestos paper products like table pads, heat-protective pads, heat and electrical insulation, material for sheet flooring and small appliance components.
  • Asbestos cement sheet pipe and products used for sewage piping and water supply, casing for electrical wires, fire protection products, electrical switchboards and industrial construction building materials such as cement sheeting.
  • Textile materials made with an asbestos lining like packing components, roofing materials, heaters.
  • Other products including tiles for ceilings and floors, paints, coating and sealants.

The best way to deal with asbestos-related products in a home or workplace and distinguish whether or not they are harmful is to have the materials assessed and tested by a professional. Asbestos removal company GBAR Group recommend having it safely tested, removed and remediated by someone who knows what they are doing to avoid the risk of unnecessary exposure.

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Leon Edwards

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Leon Edwards
Joined: July 21st, 2019
Articles Posted: 3

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