Around 90,000 people die from asbestos-related diseases every year, and another 125 million remain at risk. Given that New Zealand regulated then banned the use of asbestos back in the 1970s and 1980s, you might think those problems no longer affect Kiwis.  

The truth is, it’s still a significant problem in our own back yard – and asbestos removal in Auckland and beyond could be more important and essential than ever before.

Are you aware of what asbestos is, what it can do, and how it’s affecting the lives of New Zealanders? Read on to learn more about what this dangerous material could mean for you.  

What is asbestos?

Asbestos is the name for six silicate materials consisting of fibrous crystals and microscopic fibrils. They are mined from the earth and, for a time, made up a significant proportion of building materials in New Zealand and other countries.

Builders thought they struck gold when they started using asbestos. It added strength but minimal weight and was also both insulating and fire-resistant. On the surface, it looked like a recipe for success and without costing the earth. But, instead of costing the earth, it was costing lives.

It wasn’t long before medical professionals found that asbestos posed a serious health risk. It was directly connected to many cancer forms as well as non-malignant diseases. By 1973, regulations for its use were imposed.

How New Zealand has dealt with asbestos

Asbestos removal in key areas like Auckland remains a complex process

In 1943, the first asbestos factory was built in New Zealand. But just one year later, a government report outlined potential health concerns for its use. Then, by 1951, the Department of Health began to report on health issues relating to dust exposure in asbestos quarry workers.

Mining operations closed down by the early 1960s, and for the next 20 years, the government worked on imposing regulations for its use, seeking alternative materials, and producing reports on risks the material poses.

By the 1990s, the Asbestos Advisory Committee had reported a significant epidemic of asbestos-related diseases, and an exposure register was created in 1992. This report closed in 2014 but still contains over 20,000 names of those who had been affected by asbestos exposure in Auckland and throughout the country. Just three years ago in 2016, the import and export of asbestos products were banned.

How New Zealand deals with asbestos today significantly differs from how it used to be dealt with. Asbestos removal in Auckland and other parts of the country is a complex process, and it takes a highly-skilled team to carry it out.

Asbestos removal can also add tens of thousands of dollars of costs to any project, while also requiring safety plans and health and safety regulations to ensure the job is carried out safely.

Are we managing asbestos properly?

When the government realised that asbestos was a dangerous material, they imposed regulations and restrictions for its handling and removal in New Zealand. Building companies had to have the necessary paperwork to carry out restricted asbestos removal in Auckland and throughout New Zealand, and experienced teams were formed for homeowners and construction workers to call upon.

While New Zealand has come a long way to reduce the instance of harm and health problems associated with asbestos, there is still a long way to go. In fact, there are still instances of improper removal that has put dozens of construction workers at risk.

In 2017, an earth-moving company was fined $150,000 after a demolition went wrong – trapping a wheelchair-using occupant in her home and exposing site workers to asbestos. The company had failed to identify asbestos as a potential risk.

According to WorkSafe principal advisor for asbestos Robert Birse, the company was out of their depth. Robert said the company should have hired someone to identify asbestos as a risk and then bring in trained experts for its safe removal. He believed it was exceptionally lucky that no one died or was killed in the failed demolition, which saw a neighbouring property damaged.

But that 2017 case is not the only asbestos removal in Auckland that has gone wrong or has been overlooked. In April 2019, neighbours to a West Auckland development were left concerned when 3,000 cubic metres of asbestos were moved and buried next to their home.

Not only were they not told, but the residents say the dust had coated their houses and contaminated their water tanks. They also only found out through other neighbours that the site contained asbestos.

While the business carrying out the works buried the asbestos at the appropriate two-metre depth, they weren’t able to control the on-site dust to the neighbouring properties’ satisfaction.

Appropriate asbestos removal measures in Auckland and beyond

Around 170 New Zealand workers die from asbestos-related diseases every year, which means that there’s a real need for proper asbestos removal measures in New Zealand. What are they?

As of 2016, the removal of bonded asbestos over 10m2 required a Certificate of Competence from WorkSafe. You would need a Class A licence to remove any type of friable asbestos – with friable meaning powdery or potentially powdery.

A Class B licence would be required for more than 10m2 of non-friable asbestos, and no licence up to and including 10m2 of non-friable asbestos.

Part of being safe around asbestos also means that you should never assume that there isn’t any. Asbestos can be found in roofing, ceilings, insulation, pipes, wood burner flues and seals, fencing, fuse boards, walls, finishing, and floors.

What should I do about asbestos removal?

If you suspect asbestos in your home, place of business, or anywhere else, then it’s imperative to speak out. Asbestos removal in Auckland and further afield should be undertaken by an expert who can take all appropriate safety measures.

If you suspect asbestos exposure in your own home, then get in touch with an asbestos removal team with the correct compliance to take care of it. If you believe there is asbestos in your rental property or a building you frequent, then contact the landlord immediately. Exposed asbestos can release dangerous fibres into the air, and acting fast can limit the risk to human health.