Awareness and Profiling of High-Risk Asbestos Exposure Groups in Australia

Abstract

The increase in home improvement activity during the COVID-19 pandemic gave rise to concerns of increased asbestos exposure risk. This paper describes high-risk asbestos exposure groups based on current home improvement trends in Australia. A series of quantitative and qualitative studies were commissioned to better understand the attitudes, motivations, and behaviours of home improvers in Australia. In 2021, two in three Australian adults were inclined to undertake home improvement projects—big or small—with or without professional help, underscoring the importance of improving the asbestos safety knowledge and capacity of this cohort. The studies commissioned across 2020 and 2021 provide a deep analysis into this cohort, defining who they are and the segments that make up home improvers, their behaviours, and their asbestos awareness and attitudes. This knowledge enables the development and implementation of a range of targeted campaigns to increase asbestos awareness and prevent potential exposure to asbestos fibres.