Between the 1940s and 1980s, asbestos was widely used as a building material. These days, we are fortunately aware of the numerous health issues asbestos poses and have stopped using it. However, while it may no longer be in use, older homes and buildings can still have asbestos materials contained in them.

If you happen to find abestos in your home, it's important that you seriously consider whether or not you should be the one to remove it. We strongly recommend you have a certified professional remove hazardous asbestos from you home. Carelessness during the removal process can be incredibly dangerous, especially as asbestos is known to cause potentially deadly health issues such as lung cancer and/or pleural plaque (scar tissues that forms on the lining of the lungs).

If, however, you are determined to remove asbestos from your home yourself, be sure to observe the following essential safety practices:

• Make sure that you wear disposable clothing such as overalls, hats and gloves. Under no circumstances should you wear any clothing you intend to wear again
• If the surroundings permit it, ensure you're working in a well-ventilated environment
• You cannot use ordinary dust masks when dealing with asbestos. You will need a disposable, half-face particulate respirator for each person helping remove the material. These respirators should comply with Australian Standard 1716
• Place plastic sheets down where any asbestos will land
• Prior to removing any asbestos, wet it first. This will reduce the chance of dust particles forming, which is especially beneficial if you accidentally break any asbestos sheeting
• Continuing from the previous point, do not intentionally break sheets of asbestos
• Under no circumstances should you use power tools on asbestos
• If asbestos is on the floor and you need to sweep the area, use a wet mop only (no general, dry brushes)
• Once you have cleared an area of asbestos, vacuum over it. It's worth noting that there are vacuums specifically built for asbestos collection - these are a far better choice than a general purpose vacuum
• As noted, you'll want to wear disposable clothing. That's because once you're finished, you need to dispose of any clothing you wore. Place them in a sealable bag and throw them out. DO NOT wash any clothing that has been in contact with asbestos and assume they're safe to wear
• When you're finished and you have taken care of your clothing, wash your hands thoroughly and then have a long shower, making sure to wash every part of your body 

As we said, it is highly advised that you do not remove asbestos by yourself, but rather hire a qualified professional with the necessary training and licences/certifications. Be sure to note that anything measuring more than 10 square metres cannot 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.