Managing asbestos in emergencies and disasters

Download the full fact sheet: Safe management of asbestos in bushfires (PDF 109KB)

Preparing for bushfire season

As extreme weather events become more frequent and severe, proactive management and timely removal of asbestos-containing materials can help reduce risks during fires.

Check your property for any damaged or loose asbestos-containing materials. Asbestos-containing materials can be found in many parts of homes built before 1990 including roofing, ceilings and internal and external walls, eaves, fencing, flue and water pipes, fireplaces, behind tiles and in flooring underlay.

Any loose pieces of asbestos-containing materials should be carefully collected using personal protective equipment, double wrapped in thick plastic and disposed of at your local asbestos disposal point. Check with your local council if you are unsure where that is.

Using a licensed asbestos removalist is the best way to remove asbestos-containing materials if you decide to proactively remove asbestos-containing materials from your property.

After the bushfire

Fire-impacted asbestos-containing materials

Caution is needed when returning to fire-damaged properties. Heat from fire can cause asbestos-containing materials to crack, break or shatter, releasing fibres into the environment. These fibres often remain in the ash and debris and may pose an inhalation risk while searching for items.

If a home or building has been damaged by bushfire, emergency services experts from Fire and Rescue NSW or the NSW Rural Fire Service may attend to extinguish the fire and make the site safe.

Depending on the severity of the bushfire, NSW Public Works, the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and/or local council may assess the fire-impacted properties and implement controls to prevent the disturbance of any asbestos contamination. Emergency Services may also attend to conduct a Building Impact Assessment and assess the risk of asbestos-containing material.

Actions may include:

• erecting temporary fencing or barrier tape to prevent people from accessing affected areas
• installing asbestos warning signs to inform people of the hazard
• removing asbestos-containing debris from public footpaths and roads to prevent spread and minimise exposure
• keeping the affected area damp by using a fine mist water spray or a mixture of PVA glue or bonding agent to stop dust and airborne fibres (a dye is often added to easily see which areas have been treated).

These controls need to remain in place and be monitored until removal work can be completed. Do not enter the property until authorities have declared it safe.

Advice on clean-up

If asbestos is suspected, seek advice from a licensed asbestos assessor. They may take samples to confirm if asbestos is present or absent, where safe to do so. Asbestos-containing material that has been directly impacted by fire is considered friable asbestos.

Clean-up should only begin after properties are made safe. This might include prioritising a safety assessment of properties in close proximity, to minimise the risk of asbestos fibres being spread during clean-up work. All fire-damaged asbestos removal works must be undertaken by Class A licensed asbestos removalists.

While you must not clear any fire-damaged asbestos, it is also advisable not to clean-up any non-friable asbestos yourself. Engaging a licensed asbestos removalist is the best way to remove asbestos.

We know disasters can be stressful and unpredictable, and licensed asbestos professionals may not be immediately available. Please be reassured that it’s safest to leave asbestos where it is or keep it contained until a professional can help.

Even if you don’t think asbestos is present, you should take the following precautions in case asbestos was in your home without your knowledge.

These precautions will also help you protect yourself from other potential hazards:

• Wear a P2 face mask and protective clothing (heavy-duty gloves, disposable coveralls with long sleeves and trousers).
• Avoid spreading ash or debris around your property. Do not use a broom.
• Dampen ash with water to minimise dust but don’t use high pressure water spray.
• Do not bury building rubble as it may contain hazardous materials.
• Remove your protective gear before you leave the property, place it in a heavy duty (0.2 mm) plastic bag, seal it and dispose of it as asbestos waste. All asbestos waste must be wrapped and disposed of at a waste facility licensed to accept it.
• Clean your shoes before wearing them again.

Download the full fact sheet: Safe management of asbestos in storms (PDF 117KB)

Before a storm

As extreme weather events become more frequent and severe, proactive management and timely removal of asbestos-containing materials can help reduce risks.

If you know or think a storm may be coming

Check your property for any damaged or loose asbestos-containing materials. Asbestos-containing materials can be found in many parts of homes built before 1990 including roofing, ceilings and internal and external walls, eaves, fencing, flue and water pipes, fireplaces, behind tiles and in flooring underlay.

If possible, remove any large tree branches that overhang asbestos roofing.

Any loose pieces of asbestos-containing materials should be carefully collected using personal protective equipment, double wrapped in thick plastic and disposed of at your local asbestos disposal point. Check with your local council if you are unsure where that is.

Using a licensed asbestos removalist is the best way to remove asbestos-containing materials.

After a storm

We know disasters can be stressful and unpredictable, and licensed asbestos professionals may not be immediately available. Please be reassured that it’s safest to leave asbestos where it is or keep it contained until a professional can help.

After a storm event, you may find wet pieces of fibro on your driveway and road outside your home, where it is likely to be crushed or disturbed, or on your lawn where it might be mowed. All fibro should be treated with caution.
The only way to correctly identify asbestos-containing materials is to contact a licensed asbestos assessor or occupational hygienist. In some cases, emergency services may help to arrange this assessment.

We strongly recommend that you use a licensed asbestos professional to remove asbestos safety; however, you can remove some small amounts yourself. Removal of less than 10 square metres of non-friable asbestos-containing materials does not require a licensed asbestos removalist but still poses a health risk unless appropriate precautions are taken, including the use of personal protective equipment.

Never use ordinary paper dust masks, handkerchiefs or bandannas. Wear a P2 face mask and protective clothing (heavy-duty gloves and disposable coveralls ). It is important to use personal protective equipment correctly, put it on and take it off in the correct order, and dispose of your personal protective equipment with the asbestos waste after use. Correct transport and disposal of asbestos waste is essential.

Building rubble should not be buried, as it may contain hazardous materials.

Do:

• take care when cleaning the surface of asbestos-containing materials to avoid damage and therelease of asbestos fibres
• clean undamaged walls and other surfaces that has asbestos-containing materials using lowpressure water hoses or by hand using light pressure and detergent
• regularly check the surface of the material you are cleaning to ensure it is not being damaged
• seal any small fractured or exposed edges with paint or PVA glue for asbestos-containingmaterials still in their original form and location
• wet fibro with a mist during its removal. Take care on roofs because asbestos roofing can bebrittle and is slippery when wet, and should not be walked on.

Don't:

• use power tools or any abrasive materials such as angle grinders, sanders, saws or high-speed drills
• cut into a fibro sheet. Instead remove the entire sheet and replace it with a non-asbestos product
• break asbestos-containing materials because asbestos fibres can be released. Only remove asbestos-containing materials that are already broken, dislodged, or found in debris
• use compressed air to clean down any surfaces contaminated with asbestos. This only disperses fibres into the air
• use brooms to sweep up materials that may contain asbestos, as this may release airborne asbestos fibres
• remove asbestos-containing materials unless necessary
• walk on corrugated asbestos-containing materials roofs, as they may be brittle
• clean asbestos-containing materials roofs and other asbestos-containing materials using high pressure water cleaners or water blasters because this can release asbestos fibres
• dispose of asbestos-containing materials waste into bins or with items for kerbside collection.

If sending asbestos-containing material to a waste facility straight after a disaster is not possible, it can be stored temporarily. Once safely wrapped, place it in a separate pile, keep it securely covered, appropriately labelled and store it away from busy areas. Follow advice from the local emergency services or council about where to place asbestos for waste collection.

If you are transporting asbestos waste, it must be correctly wrapped and covered. Your vehicle must be able to contain the waste materials to avoid any dust or debris escaping during transit.

Commercial and non-residential properties should have an asbestos register. The property owner, manager or contractor will be your best contact for more information on the locations of asbestos-containing materials risks and hazards.

Naturally occurring asbestos

Naturally occurring asbestos may also pose a risk if disturbed or uncovered during floods and heavy rains. If you live or work in a region where asbestos is known to occur naturally, see more information on naturally occurring asbestos.

Download the full fact sheet: Safe management of asbestos in floods (PDF 96KB)

Before a flood

As extreme weather events become more frequent and severe, proactive management and timely removal of asbestos-containing materials can help reduce risks.

If you know or think a flood may be coming

Check your property for any damaged or loose asbestos-containing materials. Asbestos-containing materials can be found in many parts of homes built before 1990 including roofing, ceilings and internal and external walls, eaves, fencing, flue and water pipes, fireplaces, behind tiles and in flooring underlay.

Any loose pieces of asbestos-containing materials should be carefully collected using personal protective equipment, double wrapped in thick plastic and disposed of at your local asbestos disposal point. Check with your local council if you are unsure where that is.

Using a licensed asbestos removalist is the best way to remove any asbestos-containing materials that is damaged.

After a flood

Flood-impacted asbestos-containing materials

We know disasters can be stressful and unpredictable, and licensed asbestos professionals may not be immediately available. Please be reassured that it’s safest to leave asbestos where it is or keep it contained until a professional can help.

If asbestos-containing materials were disturbed or damaged in your home, it is recommended that you find somewhere else to stay until your home has been appropriately assessed. This should be done by a licensed asbestos assessor or occupational hygienist. In some cases, emergency services may help to arrange this assessment.

Engaging a licensed asbestos removalist is the best way to remove asbestos, but there may be delays in arranging this after a major flood. While it is strongly recommended that a licensed asbestos professional be used to remove asbestos safety, you can remove small amounts of non-friable asbestos yourself. Removal of less than 10 square metres of non-friable asbestos-containing materials does not require a licensed asbestos removalist but still poses a health risk unless appropriate precautions are taken, including the use of personal protective equipment.

Never use ordinary paper dust masks, handkerchiefs or bandannas. Wear a P2 face mask and protective clothing (heavy-duty gloves and disposable coveralls). It is important to use personal protective equipment correctly, put it on and take it off in the correct order, and dispose of your personal protective equipment with the asbestos waste after use. Correct transport and disposal of asbestos waste is essential.

Do:

• take care when cleaning the surface of asbestos-containing materials to avoid damage and the release of asbestos fibres
• clean undamaged walls and other surfaces containing asbestos-containing materials using low-pressure water hoses or by hand using light pressure and detergent
• regularly check the surface of the material you are cleaning to ensure it is not being damaged
• seal any small fractured or exposed edges of asbestos-containing materials with paint or PVA glue if it is still in its original form and location.

Don't:

• remove asbestos-containing materials unless necessary
• break asbestos-containing materials because asbestos fibres can be released, only remove asbestos-containing materials that are already broken, dislodged or found in debris
• scrub asbestos-containing materials, as this can loosen the surface and release fibres
• walk on corrugated asbestos-containing materials roofs, as they are brittle
• clean asbestos-containing materials roofs and other asbestos-containing materials using high pressure water cleaners or water blasters because this can release asbestos fibres
• use power tools or any abrasive materials such as sanders on asbestos-containing materials
• dispose of asbestos-containing materials waste into bins or with items for kerbside collection
• use brooms to sweep up materials that may contain asbestos as this may release airborne asbestos fibres.

If sending asbestos-containing material to a waste facility straight after a disaster is not possible, it can be stored temporarily. Once safely wrapped, place it in a separate pile, keep it securely covered, appropriately labelled, and store it away from busy areas. Follow advice from the local emergency services or council about where to place asbestos for waste collection.

If you are transporting asbestos waste, it must be correctly wrapped and covered. Your vehicle must be able to contain the waste materials to avoid any dust or debris escaping during transit.

Commercial and non-residential properties should have an asbestos register. The property owner, manager or contractor will be your best contact for more information on the locations of asbestos-containing materials risks and hazards.

Naturally occurring asbestos

Naturally occurring asbestos may also pose a risk if disturbed or uncovered during floods and heavy rains. If you live or work in a region where asbestos is known to occur naturally, see more information on naturally occurring asbestos.