Asbestos is a group of naturally occurring minerals that are resistant to heat, fire, and chemicals. Asbestos fibers are thin, strong, and flexible, and they can be woven into fabric, mixed into cement, or sprayed onto ceilings and walls. Asbestos was widely used in construction materials from the 1950s to the 1990s, particularly in buildings such as homes, schools, hospitals, and factories. Common asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) include:

• Asbestos insulation: used in pipes, boilers, and tanks
• Asbestos cement: used in corrugated roofing and wall panels
• Asbestos floor tiles: used in vinyl flooring and backing
• Asbestos textured coatings: used in artex ceilings and walls
• Asbestos lagging: used in ducts and hot water cylinders
• Asbestos gaskets and seals: used in engines and machinery

Asbestos is not harmful when it is intact and undisturbed. However, when asbestos materials are cut, drilled, sanded, or damaged, they can release tiny fibers into the air that can be inhaled and lodged in the lungs. Over time, these fibers can cause inflammation, scarring, and cancerous changes in the lung tissue. Asbestos-related diseases do not have a cure and can be fatal.