The Elephant in the Room
The property podcast for the thinking person.

Episodes

Episode 218: How Dangerous Is Asbestos Exposure When Renovating? | Martin North, Asbestos Awareness Australia

Did you know that statistically, over 4,000 people die each year due to asbestos exposure? Not only that - one out of three properties in Australia contain asbestos, and most occupants aren’t even aware of it! 

Knowing this, why is this issue yet to be addressed properly?

How serious is this problem, and how can you make sure that you’re safe from it?

Martin North of Asbestos Awareness Australia will walk us through everything we need to know about asbestos and how to deal with it, and the dangerous consequences its presence poses in property. We’ll also discuss myths about asbestos, the lack of action most people have, accreditation for asbestos removal, and more.

If you enjoy the show, do like, rate, subscribe, and share us on social media and if you have your own questions you need clarity on, email us at questions@theelephantintheroom.com.au!

See you in the episode!

Episode Highlights:

  1. A warning for property owners [01:38]

  2. The problem with asbestos [03:53]

  3. Are Australians aware of this asbestos issue? [08:50]

  4. The dangers of not knowing if there’s asbestos in your property [11:56]

  5. Is asbestos fine on your property as long as it’s not disturbed? [16:59]

  6. The lack of action towards asbestos [20:34]

  7. More women are being diagnosed with mesothelioma due to DIYs [25:39]

  8. Driving political change that addresses the issue [28:23]

  9. The urgency when dealing with asbestos [34:54] 

  10. Debunking the myths about asbestos [37:25]

  11. Checking a service provider’s accreditation for asbestos removal [39:36]

  12. How the UK deals with the dangers of asbestos [42:10]

  13. Don’t just leave it to the government [45:00]

  14. Remember to wear a mask and other protective equipment [49:17]

Links from the Show:

About Martin:

Martin North is the founder of Digital Finance Analytics and curates the YouTube Channel Walk The World, where he covers finance and property news with a distinctively Australian flavour. In addition, he is a founding director of Asbestos Awareness Australia, a registered charity which was established with his wife Gill, last year. Gill was a Professor of Law and diagnosed with mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer which is caused by random exposure to asbestos. Before her death in December last year, she had spent the past 3 years researching the story of asbestos.

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Chris Bates