The Hidden Dangers on Your Land and in Your Home: Asbestos, Farm Chemicals, and the Risks You Can’t See
The Stuff That Doesn’t Shout – But Still Kills
On farms and in homes, danger rarely looks dramatic. It’s not always spinning blades or angry stock. Often it’s quiet. Powdery. Tucked into old sheds, rooflines, wall linings, and chemical cupboards. It’s the kind of risk that waits patiently and only shows its hand years later.
Two of the biggest unseen threats across rural properties and houses are:
- Asbestos-containing materials
- Hazardous chemicals such as pesticides, insecticides, fuels, acids, and solvents
They don’t announce themselves. They just sit there, ageing, cracking, leaking, waiting for disturbance.
Asbestos – From Cowsheds to Kitchens
If a building went up before the late 1990s, asbestos may be part of its DNA.
On farms, it commonly lurks in:
- Old cowshed and woolshed roofing
- Cladding and wall panels
- Soffits, eaves, and gable ends
- Fences, garages, pump sheds, and workshops
- Pipe lagging and backing boards
In homes, it’s often found in:
- Cement weatherboards and soffits
- Textured ceilings
- Vinyl tiles and lino backing
- Roofing and flues
- Laundry and bathroom linings
The Risk
Asbestos becomes dangerous when fibres are released into the air by:
- Cutting
- Drilling
- Grinding
- Demolition
- Pressure washing
- Fire damage
- Storm breakage
Once inhaled, fibres embed in lung tissue and never leave. Diseases like mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis can surface decades later. No early warning. No do-overs.
Simple, Sensible Controls That Save Lives
You don’t need a PhD. You need discipline.
1. Assume Before You Touch
Treat unknown cement sheeting or old roofing as asbestos until proven otherwise.
2. Don’t Break It, Drill It, or Rip It Off
DIY and asbestos don’t mix. Fibre release is instant and invisible.
3. Get a Proper Survey
Before renovations, demolition, or shed upgrades, arrange an asbestos inspection.
4. Keep It Sealed
Paint or encapsulate intact materials and keep them undisturbed.
5. Use Licensed Professionals for Removal
Class B materials must be handled under controlled conditions with proper containment and disposal.
Who Handles the Compliance Headaches – PropertyHelp Ltd
PropertyHelp Ltd is a Class B Licensed Asbestos Removal Company working across residential and rural properties.
They can:
- Identify and assess asbestos risks
- Prepare compliant Asbestos Removal Control Plans (ARCPs)
- Remove cladding, soffits, roofs, sheds, garages, and fencing
- Manage safe transport and disposal
- Ensure compliance with the Health and Safety at Work Act and Asbestos Regulations
For both farmers and homeowners, they take the legal burden and the health risk off your shoulders.
The Other Chemical Minefield – Farms and Homes
Beyond asbestos, most properties store a cocktail of substances that can burn, poison, ignite, or quietly damage the nervous system:
- Herbicides and insecticides
- Sheep and cattle drenches
- Fungicides and sanitisers
- Fuels, oils, and degreasers
- Acids, alkalis, and cleaning agents
- Pool and spa chemicals
- Mould treatments and solvents
Mislabelled containers, leaking drums, incompatible storage, and missing Safety Data Sheets are a common recipe for:
- Chemical burns
- Toxic vapours
- Fire and explosion
- Water contamination
- Long-term health effects
- WorkSafe enforcement action
Digital Back-Up – ChemMatrix
ChemMatrix is a digital hazardous substance compliance platform built for farms, rural contractors, and households who want clarity instead of chaos.
It helps users:
- Identify hazardous substances on site
- Access and store Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
- Understand health and environmental risks
- Get guidance on correct storage and segregation
- Manage pesticides, insecticides, fuels, and cleaning chemicals
- Keep compliance evidence in one place
Think of it as a digital stockyard for your chemicals – everything tagged, tracked, and visible.