Queensland Laboratory News Details
Asbestos Testing - Answers to your questions...
Added: 20 June, 2010
Question 1: What is the National Asbestos Register?
The AWU National Asbestos Register is a database established and maintained by The Australian Workers' Union and Maurice Blackburn Lawyers. It is a free service that enables people to make a formal record of their asbestos exposure should the information be required in the future. There are currently more than 6,000 registrants, and as the database becomes bigger it also becomes more useful - for you as well as for other victims of asbestos related diseases.
http://www.awu.net.au/196890_6.html
Question 2: Why Register?
Asbestos related diseases can take many decades to develop - often long after the actual exposure. After diagnosis with an asbestos related disease it can sometimes be difficult to remember when and how the asbestos exposure occurred. Information stored on The AWU National Asbestos Register can assist you to recall relevant information and provides a starting point for a claim if it's needed. Of course, some people never need to recall the information - because not everyone develops an asbestos related disease after exposure. There is the added benefit of the large numbers of people registering because the information can help others by identifying locations or ways people have been exposed, and dates of the existence of businesses, plants or mines. It may help identify a source of exposure that is missing from someone's history - and that might help them make a claim.
Question 3: How can i check if there is asbestos at my house or workplace?
To have your home or your workplace checked to see if there are any asbestos containing materials present, please contact the OCTIEF Head Office on 1300 138 366 and speak to our friendly staff. OCTIEF owns a number of specialist consultancies and laboratories that specialise in asbestos auditing, surveys, testing and risk assessment. Our Occupational Hygienists can attend your site in any Australian State or Territory and complete an assessment of all materials. Alternatively you can send your samples to us... Please contact us prior to collecting samples as our specialists will explain the correct procedure for asbestos materials sampling...
Question 4: How do i know if i have been exposed to asbestos?
In order to determine if you have been exposed to asbestos please visit www.yourasbestos.com.au
Please review the list of common materials containing asbestos. If you believe that you may have been exposed to asbestos please visit the following web sites:
Asbestos
Disease Research Institute
www.adri.org.au
For
general enquiries, call (02) 9767 9800
National Centre for
Asbestos Related Diseases (Professor Bruce Robinson)
www.ncard.org.au
If you have any
questions or require more information, call Dr Mathew Tillbrook on (08)
9346 2005 or Tracy Hayward on (08) 9346 2005
Asbestos Disease
Society of Australia (Robert & Rose Marie Vojakovic)
www.asbestosdiseases.org.au
For
more information call 1800 646 690
Wittenoom Danger
Information
www.wa.gov.au/wittenoom
For
general enquiries, please email: enquiries@wa.gov.au
Every state
has individual workcover when working with asbestos. Click one of the
links below to find out more about workcover in your State or Territory:
Workcover NSW
www.workcover.nsw.gov.au
For
information, advice or assistance, call WorkCover NSW on 13 10 50.
WorkCover QLD
www.workcoverqld.com.au
For
more information, advice or assistance call WorkCover Qld on 1300 362
128
WorkSafe Victoria
www.worksafe.vic.gov.au
For
more information, advice or assistance, call WorkSafe Victoria on (03)
9641 1444 or 1800 136 089 (toll free).
WorkCover SA
www.workcover.com
For
more information, advice or assistance, call WorkCover SA on 13 18 55
WorkCover WA
www.workcover.wa.gov.au
For
more information, advice or assistance, call WorkCover WA on 08 9388
5555 or 1300 794 744
WorkCover ACT
www.ors.act.gov.au
For more information, advice or assistance, call WorkCover ACT on (02) 6207 3000 or (02) 6205 0200
WorkCover Tasmaniawww.ors.act.gov.au
For more information, advice or assistance, call WorkCover Tasmania on 1300 776 572 (Inside Tasmania) or
(03) 6233 5343 (Outside Tasmania)
NT WorkSafe
www.worksafe.nt.gov.au
For more information, advice or assistance, call NT WorkSafe on 1800 019 115