Top Reasons to Hire a Qualified Asbestos Inspector

Did you know asbestos is a carcinogenic agent and promotes respiratory illnesses? Even though, Australian Government has banned this material for buildings in 2003, the majority of houses built between the 1950s and 1980s contain at least some asbestos. According to the federal government’s Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency, "Up to a third of Australian homes contain asbestos product."

Why Asbestos Testing is a Must in Australia?

As stated earlier, while asbestos was phased out in 2003, not everyone stopped using it. If your home or office space was built in the past 15 years, there are possibilities that it still contain asbestos.

Abnormally High Usage

According to Australia’s Mesothelioma Centre, the country’s usage of asbestos and asbestos-containing materials was abnormally high during peak use years. It is stated that Australia had ‘the highest per capita rate of asbestos use in the world in the years 1950 to 1970.

Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma, a type of cancer is caused by asbestos exposure and Australia is second only to the United Kingdom in terms of global Mesothelioma death rates. Australia’s Mesothelioma Centre also predicts that 25,000 people will die from the disease in the next four decades. So, hiring a professional asbestos inspection service prevents exposure and save you and your family from this lethal disease.

Renovation

Asbestos materials has been used in many different forms including flooring, drywall, drywall joint compound, ceiling textures, ceiling tiles, pipe insulation, mastics, caulks and more.

So, if you are planning to remodel or renovate your building, you may disturb an asbestos containing material. But, having an asbestos inspection by a professional inspects and identifies the problems if any.

Benefits of Hiring a Professional

Assure Safety

The toxicity of asbestos is lethal, so you shouldn’t try to touch any element of the home that might contain asbestos. But, hiring an asbestos inspector before starting your renovation project identifies the places that have the risk of being exposed to the substance.

They also determine the amount of substance present and analyse how safe it is. The professional will also provide a written evaluation if they suspect asbestos is present in the property.

They collect samples of the material from the property for further asbestos testing in Sydney. If the tests confirm the presence of asbestos, they will advise you on the next course of action. Some asbestos inspectors also recommend specific removal procedures and quality contactors for your removal process.

The author of this article is a qualified asbestos inspector with over 10 years of experience in the industry. In this article, he writes about the importance of hiring asbestos testing. Visit https://www.sesa.com.au/ for more information.

SESA commenced operation in 2008 with a small team of management WHS consultants, environmental consultants, occupational hygienists, scientists, engineers and inspectors specialising in providing boutique consulting solutions.