Asbestos was built into almost all Australian workplaces in the twentieth century. It was used extensively in manufacturing plants, power generation and all forms of mechanised transport.

Asbestos coverings, lagging, mattresses, packings, jointings, cloth, rope and millboard became part of Australian industrial workplaces. Meanwhile the versatility of asbestos cement as a building material resulted in its use not just in workplaces but also in homes, hospitals and schools as roofing, moulding, interior and exterior boarding, insulation, pipes and conduit.

This section deals with the history of asbestos in the working environment, including asbestos manufacturing, other industries and the trades.

Click on the links below to read more about the history of asbestos at work.