Asbestos was widely used in construction up until the 1980s, and many buildings constructed before then are likely to contain asbestos materials. Even newer buildings may contain asbestos, as some products were still made with asbestos until the early 2000s. Any materials that may contain asbestos present a risk to health if they are damaged or disturbed, as this can release asbestos fibres into the air.

Asbestos fibres are extremely small and can easily be inhaled. Once in the lungs, they can cause serious respiratory illnesses, including lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis. In some cases, exposure to asbestos can also lead to other cancers, such as gastrointestinal cancer.

The only way to know for sure whether materials contain asbestos is to conduct thorough testing. It's not always possible to tell just by looking at a material, as asbestos can be hidden within other materials, such as insulation or plaster. Asbestos testing involves taking samples of suspected materials and analysing them in a laboratory. This will determine whether any asbestos is present, and if so, the type and amount of asbestos.