You might know to be on the lookout for asbestos-containing materials in your home, but what about your place of work? Firefighters are now expected to be kept away from their Central Auckland fire station for several weeks after asbestos was found on more than one occasion.

The fire station first closed on April 20, 2023, after asbestos was discovered in a wall after a drill was used and in a basement. Less than two weeks later, FENZ said traces of white asbestos had also been found in two offices and a meeting room after 50 surface samples were taken and analysed.

While some sources stated that white asbestos, known as chrysotile, is the least dangerous of all asbestos types, it’s still an incredibly hazardous substance. According to studies, it causes a wide range of cancers, including gastrointestinal cancer, lung cancer, and mesothelioma. White asbestos is also responsible for asbestosis, a fibrous disease of the lungs.

What Is Being Done About the Asbestos?

The Central Auckland fire station was shut after the first time asbestos was identified. Further tests were carried out to reveal that it was present in multiple locations around the fire station. As a result of these tests, the fire station would remain closed until qualified and licensed removal experts could remove the asbestos. In the meantime, staff would be working at other fire stations in Auckland, including Balmoral, Grey Lynn, and Avondale.

A union spokesperson told 1 News that the firefighters wouldn’t be moving back into the areas where asbestos had been found until competent and trained contractors had removed it. The FENZ hoped to decontaminate the identified areas so that staff could access their lockers and use their uniforms in uncontaminated areas.

Not the First Exposure Event for Firefighters

While discovering asbestos at a fire station would have been quite shocking for FENZ staff, it’s not the first time firefighters have been exposed to asbestos in New Zealand.

In 2019 and 2021, firefighters claimed they were exposed to it in Ponsonby and Onehunga and issued a safety notice against their employer. After a fire ripped through an intermediate school in Ponsonby, it was revealed that firefighters only wore breathing apparatus to start with, not in the hours after the fire. Dangerous asbestos levels were still being picked up late into the afternoon after the fire.

Another complaint had also been in 2019 regarding an asbestos-contaminated factory fire in Onehunga. Some firefighters reported to their commanders that it appeared that asbestos was burning, but the building owner had said there wasn’t any asbestos.

As a result of the building owner’s confirmation that no asbestos was present, nothing was said to have been done about the warning. Some appliances returned to their respective fire stations in heavily contaminated states. Only two days later was it revealed that the factory did have asbestos.

Even the Uniforms Have Been Hazardous

While we know better than to use asbestos in firefighting uniforms today, we didn’t know better in the past. Asbestos was known as heat-resistant, which meant it was a desirable material for firefighting uniforms.

It used to be woven into textiles used for fireproof clothing and protective gear. So, it wasn’t uncommon for boots, fire blankets, suits, and gloves, to contain asbestos. In the 1800s in France, there were even asbestos-containing face masks, but it’s not known whether these were ever used outside of France.

Where Are Firefighters At Risk?

Firefighters already perform high-risk jobs – and often on a voluntary basis. However, it’s not just the fires that are putting them at risk. Any residential, industrial, or commercial property they visit that was built before 2000 in NZ might contain asbestos, particularly in:

• Roofing materials and sealant

• Electrical panels

• Insulation

• Flooring and flooring adhesives

• Wall panels

• Ceiling tiles

• Cladding

• And more…

While asbestos is reasonably safe in excellent condition, it becomes hazardous when broken or damaged in any way. As firefighters are visiting properties in their worst state, they risk exposure every time they visit an older property and don’t follow appropriate asbestos protection procedures.

How Can We Mitigate the Risk?

Asbestos removal is undoubtedly the best way to mitigate the risk of asbestos exposure. However, we can also take other steps, such as:

• Referring to WorkSafe asbestos plans for helpful information

• Receiving education and training

• Having asbestos management plans in place

• Wearing appropriate PPE

• Always relying on trained and licensed removalists for asbestos testing, encapsulation, and removal

Let Chemcare Take Care of Asbestos

We haven’t used asbestos-containing building materials for decades, but that doesn’t mean the risk has gone with them. If you’re living or working in an asbestos-containing structure, now might be the right time to talk to asbestos removal experts like Chemcare about testing and removal. Your local firefighting team’s health and safety might just depend on it.