Emergency Asbestos Make-Safe in Bendigo

The first hour

If anyone is in danger from fire, fallen power lines or an unstable structure, call 000 first. Once everyone is safe:

1. Keep everyone away. Children, pets and neighbours stay clear of broken material and dust.
2. Leave it where it is. No sweeping, hosing, leaf-blowing or picking up pieces.
3. Close windows and doors. Turn off evaporative coolers and air conditioners that draw in outside air.
4. Cover it only if you can do so without touching it. A weighted tarp stops wind spreading dust.
5. Photograph it from a distance for your insurer.
6. Call your insurer and arrange a licensed removalist.

What make-safe means

Make-safe is the first visit after damage. Its purpose is to stop asbestos spreading and secure the site, not to complete the clean-up on day one. It typically includes:

• Isolating the area with barrier tape and signs
• Wetting down and covering broken sheets and debris
• Collecting loose fragments from yards, paths and gutters
• Temporary weatherproofing, such as tarping a broken roof
• Assessing the next stage: full removal, testing of nearby areas and clearance

Notification in an emergency

Licensed removal normally needs five days' notice to WorkSafe Victoria. Where the work arises from an unexpected situation, such as storm or fire damage, the removalist may notify within 24 hours of starting, so urgent make-safe work isn't held up.

Fire-damaged asbestos

Burnt asbestos cement can break down and become friable, and friable material requires a Class A licence holder. WorkSafe Victoria has specific guidance on demolishing buildings with fire-damaged asbestos. After a house, shed or bushfire, a licensed removalist should assess the site before any clean-up or demolition. Volunteers and general clean-up crews should not go through it first.

What to expect from emergency make-safe

• A make-safe visit focused on containment, followed by a separate quote for full removal.
• Air monitoring and Class A methods if the material has become friable.
• Photos and invoices to support your insurance claim.
• A clearance certificate once removal is complete, where required.

Storm and fire damage around Bendigo

Central Victoria's summer storms, hail and high winds, and the region's fire seasons, regularly damage old fibro fences, shed roofs and garages. The rural blocks around Heathcote, Axedale, Harcourt and Maiden Gully carry many older asbestos-roofed outbuildings that are exposed to both.

Make-safe across Bendigo and district

Emergency make-safe is available in Bendigo, Kangaroo Flat, Strathfieldsaye, Eaglehawk, Golden Square, Castlemaine and Heathcote.

Emergency make-safe: common questions