Manufacturers urged to warn home owners of Asbestos exposure risk in home renovations

Mr John Gordon, a Melbourne barrister, and co-author Dr James Leigh, Occupational Physician at the University of Sydney, write that the two manufacturers of asbestos cement products used in home construction and renovation in Australia have never warned homeowners of the risks of asbestos exposure during renovations.

“Neither James Hardie nor CSR have ever taken any steps to systematically warn people who have asbestos products in their homes of the potential fatal consequences in 20-40 years if they demolish those products today,” the authors said.

“We believe that the manufacturers have a legal duty of care to those people who have the manufacturers’ building products in their homes.”

The authors were responding to research published in the MJA that showed cases of malignant mesothelioma (MM) caused by asbestos exposure during home maintenance and renovation had increased markedly in the past decade.

Dr Peter Franklin, from the University of Western Australia, Prof Bill Musk, Professor of Respiratory Medicine at Sir Charles Gardiner Hospital, and co-authors reviewed all cases of MM diagnosed in WA from 1960 to the end of 2008.

They found that, for both men and women, home renovators now constitute the largest proportion of all non-occupational cases of MM related to asbestos exposure.

“For men, the proportion of home renovation cases increased from about three per cent in the 1990s to over eight per cent over the last four years of the study,” the authors said.

“For women, home renovation cases have increased from around five per cent of all cases in the 1990s to over 35 per cent for the period 2005-2008.

“Our study confirms the rising trend in diagnosis of MM resulting from exposure to asbestos during renovation activities in and around the home.

“MM cases related to renovation will probably continue to increase because of the many homes that have contained, and still contain, asbestos building products,” the authors said.

The Medical Journal of Australia is a publication of the Australian Medical Association.

The statements or opinions that are expressed in the MJA  reflect the views of the authors and do not represent the official policy of the AMA unless that is so stated.

CONTACT:             Mr John Gordon                            03 9225 7064 / 0408 945 928

                            Dr Peter Franklin                          08 6488 7091

                            Prof Bill Musk                               08 9346 3252