Using asbestos in building products was banned in most Australian states and territories in the late 1980s, and in 2003, the nation banned all uses of chrysotile asbestos and extended the ban to the import and export of all products containing asbestos, according to the country’s Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency. However, exposure to the known human carcinogen is still an issue in the country due to demolition and remodeling not being handled properly.
What is supposed to deter Australian residents from improperly disposing asbestos-containing materials? Fines. However, the Aussie city of Mandurah recently decided to up the ante on its fines after realizing residents considered it cheaper to pay penalties than comply with health and safety regulations.
Though residents regularly contact the city about asbestos in boundary fences and building materials being improperly disposed of, according to the Mandurah Mail, the problems with illegal dumping have persisted and caused the city to take additional action. Mandurah residents who mishandle asbestos-containing materials will now face up to a $10,000 fine as well as additional $1,000 daily penalties.
“The City hopes the new tougher penalties will deter them from breaking the rules while the Department of Health develops a new Public Health Act with harder asbestos regulations,” the news source states. The new act is expected to take three to five years to come to fruition.
Under the new regulations, selling and using asbestos cement products will result in a $1,000 fine and storing, breaking, damaging, cutting or removing asbestos without taking safety precautions will result in a stiffer $2,000 fine. Failing to inform someone a material contains asbestos, and moving a house built with asbestos cement products also carry fines in the $1,000 to $2,000 range.
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