The cleanup after the summer floods is well underway, yet the presence of asbestos in older buildings seems to have been forgotten.

Favoured for its insulation, heat resistance and fireproof properties, asbestos was once considered a revolutionary material. Now, its representation could not be further removed, and rightly so; it is well known that exposure to the substance can cause a number of disabling or fatal diseases such as asbestosis, lung cancer, gastrointestinal cancer and mesothelioma.

Consequently, all uses of asbestos were banned in Australia in 2003, however, the risks are still around. Asbestos was used in a wide range of building materials up until the 1980s, and it is still found in many homes; therefore the danger is still prevalent.

The dangers usually arise when removing asbestos, or when renovating or undertaking maintenance work around the substance, so custom installers are at a particularly high risk. This also spells a particular threat for anybody currently involved in the post-floods cleanup, handling debris or re-building property.

When working in commercial sites constructed before 1980, the substance can be found in everything from

ceiling tiles to conduit pipes or tubing wrapped in asbestos. And there is potentially more danger when wiring residential projects as asbestos was previously used in insulation, tiles and drywall compound.

“One of the biggest problems for electricians is when they are drilling holes in walls and running cables,” Clipsal standardisation manager Gary Busbridge says.

“If it is in a position where the electrician doesn’t have access to it, such as the roof, it should be okay, but if it is in a position where they are coming into contact with it, using tools or breaking it up, fibres could be scraped off and distributed into the atmosphere. If that is the case then all asbestos should be removed before the electrician starts any work.”

It is these fibres that are at the root of all asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos is only considered to pose a health risk when the fibres or dust is released into the air and inhaled. Once in the lungs, fibres can be removed by the body’s natural defences; however some can become trapped.

The chance of coming into contact with the substance only once and being infected is very low, but your vulnerability is increased if there is a high concentration of fibres or you are exposed to asbestos regularly or for long periods of time.

Common lung diseases such as mesothelioma, asbestosis or lung cancer may not develop for 20 or more years after initial exposure, so it pays not to be complacent and by taking the right precautions to minimise risks. Regular checkups with a doctor are also recommended to assess any underlying illnesses.

WorkSafe media manager Michael Birt says that it is easy to fall into the complacency trap and take your safety for granted. He compares the situation to that of smoking – a person can smoke all their life and not fall ill, yet many of us could contract lung cancer from passively breathing in smoke.

“Not everyone gets sick from exposure to asbestos. Obviously the longer and more exposed you are to it, the higher your risk, but like many conditions, people have different susceptibility levels.

“A few years ago an electrician who worked in power stations was around asbestos all day, every day and he was fine, yet his wife died as she was contaminated by his clothing when doing his washing. Even though she had a very low exposure compared to him, she was more susceptible.

“It is like the common smoking argument – you may have a 75 year old who has been smoking all their life and is fine, but that doesn’t mean smoking isn’t bad for you; they have just been lucky. This inconsistency leads people to believe that the dangers are over-hyped.”

So even though asbestos is seen as an age-old material, the risks are very real and potentially life-threatening. However, if the correct safety precautions are implemented, it’s not a threat; it’s just another part of the job.