Asbestos is a naturally-occurring mineral that became popular in building products up until around the 1980s. It was regulated in New Zealand in 1978, then banned in building products by 1987. But until that point, tens of thousands of residential, industrial, and commercial structures had been fitted with asbestos-laden products – of which there are around 3,800.  

So, if you are going to find asbestos in the average New Zealand home, you are also potentially going to discover it in your office building.

From roof ventilators, manhole frames, and cement vent piping, through to window moulding, ceiling tiles, sheet flooring, and floor tiles, this hidden, deadly material is lurking in more building materials than you might think.

New Zealand isn’t alone in this prevalent problem, either. Even parts of the White House were relocated in August 2019, to remove “potential” asbestos. According to a US General Services Administration spokesperson, the work is precautionary. The relocation of office workers for a mere precaution goes to show the magnitude of the problem and the danger of this mined material.

Fortunately, asbestos only becomes a hazard when it’s exposed through wear and tear, demolition, or renovation. But at this point, the damage can already be done. If you suspect or know there is asbestos in your office building, then act fast. It’s time to call in the asbestos experts to identify it then create a plan of attack.

Tips for identifying asbestos in buildings

Those who think they have found asbestos in their office building may want to be 100 per cent sure before they call in asbestos identification and removal experts. Your workplace’s manager or PCBU (person conducting a business or undertaking) can simply look at the property’s age to get a fair idea of the risk. If it was built before 2000, asbestos construction materials are likely.

They can then consider whether any additions to the building made later, but before 2000, could contain asbestos too. Corrugated sheet roofing is a common asbestos-laden building material in commercial structures, and bathrooms tend to have it for its waterproofing qualities.

If you note any damage in any part of your offices – such as the walls or ceilings, then don’t investigate any further. Take photos, track down building material information if you can, and hire a qualified third-party to start the investigation and subsequent removal process if necessary.

Preliminary provisions

Whether your workplace is about to undertake renovations, or a staff member identified asbestos and reported it, it’s important to follow the asbestos identification and removal process down to the letter. There is an entire legislation surrounding how to handle asbestos, and the first step involves a declaration of the incident and, essentially, what happens next.

The preliminary provisions incorporate the details about an asbestos removal area, the work involving the removal of it, and the licence necessary for the removal – Class A or B.

The type of friable or non-friable asbestos or ACM and the relevant course of action all feature in this provisioning process as well. Tenants of an office building must be notified of all works being carried out in the building, and temporary relocation is often standard practise for safety reasons.

Work involving asbestos

Once an asbestos identification and removal company formulates a plan, the next step is to carry out the removal of the asbestos. The contractor must have undertaken research and analysis, taken samples, and remove the asbestos in accordance with strict removal regulations. Those failing to carry out asbestos removal safely and with the correct licence can be at risk of a fine of tens of thousands of dollars.

Manage the risk

As previously mentioned, asbestos is only hazardous to your health when it’s disturbed. If your office contains asbestos, but it’s in original condition, then your workplace can look at control options, rather than removal.

It’s up to your workplace to assess the exposure risk, minimise it with control measures, and review those control measures to ensure their efficacy. At any sign of loose fibres, cracked fibreboards with asbestos, or asbestos lagging on pipes, that risk management plan must be replaced with a safe removal plan – and you should be on the phone to a licenced asbestos removal company.

Take action

It’s not always easy to know what to do when asbestos is found in your office. Do you ignore it in case it’s not asbestos, and you look silly? Or do you tell someone who can investigate further? Even if you are unsure whether what you see is a possible health risk, it’s paramount to alert someone to the problem. Asbestos can cause a number of diseases with symptoms that can take as long as two decades to present themselves. Act now and potentially stop a health risk in its tracks.