While asbestos hasn't been used as a building material for many years, it unfortunately still remains in many homes and buildings built between the 1940s and 1980s. And as we now know, asbestos poses a large host of health risks.

That's what makes it so important to always remember what to do if you discover and set out to remove asbestos from your home. Being careless can lead to serious health issues and even cost you your life as asbestos is known to cause the likes of lung cancer and pleural plaque (scar tissue that forms on the lining of the lungs).

If you happen to deem it necessary to remove asbestos from your home by yourself, be sure to observe the following safety measures:

• Wear disposable overalls, hats and gloves
• If at all possible, make sure you’re working in a well-ventilated environment
• Ordinary dust masks are not effective at stopping asbestos particles - you need a disposable, half-face particulate respirator. They should comply with Australian Standard 1716
• Place plastic sheets down where the asbestos will land
• Wet the asbestos to reduce the change of dust particles escaping
• Place asbestos on the ground, don’t throw or drop it
• Do not, under any circumstances, break sheets of asbestos
• Do not use power tools under any circumstances
• If you need to sweep the area at all, use a wet mop
• When the area is clear of asbestos, vacuum over it. There are vacuums built for asbestos collection
• Dispose of any clothing you wore - place them in a sealable bag and dispose of them, don’t simply wash them
• Once you’re done and all your clothes are taken care of, wash your hands thoroughly and have a proper shower

It is highly advised, that you do not remove asbestos by yourself, but rather hire qualified professionals to do so. At Roo Roofing, we are trained in the correct removal and restoration of roofs that have asbestos sheeting.

Anything more than 10 square metres should not be carried out without someone with a Class B, Bonded Asbestos Removal licence.

Also keep in mind that if the asbestos is not damaged, full of cracks or deteriorating then you may not need to remove it ASAP. Take that time to consider a professional job to save yourself the energy and all the possible health risks that come with a DIY job.

For more information regarding our asbestos removal and roof replacement services, call us on 1300 734 148.