Asbestos isn’t something the average person will discuss in their everyday conversation. In fact, many New Zealanders may not even know what it is until they encounter a potentially dangerous situation and someone thinks to mention it.

We are not bombarded with safety messages about this hazardous substance, even if it’s possibly in our best interests that we are. However, if you’re a complete newbie to the world of asbestos and want to absorb as much wisdom as possible, you’re in the right place. Allow us to cover the basics below.

 

What is Asbestos?

In its natural form, asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral found in the earth. There are six different types, which you can learn about here, and each consists of tiny fibres.

That’s asbestos in its natural form, but the asbestos the average Kiwi is more likely to encounter has already been mined, removed from the ground, and processed. In its manufactured form, it’s found in a wide range of products and goods, including building materials, vehicles, and even vintage toys for kids.

 

Why Is Asbestos Dangerous?

Asbestos is dangerous because it’s a carcinogen. No matter which of the six asbestos types you breathe in, you might be at risk of cancer and other illnesses by inhaling the tiny fibres.

Scientists haven’t determined a ‘safe’ amount of asbestos to be exposed to, which is why it’s crucial to treat every exposure event as serious. The Ministry of Health provides a variety of helpful resources detailing the diseases related to asbestos and how exactly they can affect your health.

 

Once exposed to significant quantities of airborne asbestos, you may be at risk of conditions such as:

• Asbestosis (lung tissue scarring)

• Mesothelioma (malignant tumours and cancers that develop around the intestine or lungs)

• Pleural plaques (lung membrane thickening)

• Cancer (often related to the ovary, larynx, and lung)

 

Friable vs. Non-Friable Asbestos

When you learn how dangerous asbestos can be and that the average house built before 2000 might contain many asbestos-containing materials (ACM), you might be concerned that you’ll get sick.

This is when you can learn about the differences between friable and non-friable asbestos. Asbestos in a non-friable state is generally contained within building materials in good condition that are resistant to abrasion and damage. Your human hands can’t disturb them, and they aren’t releasing asbestos fibres into the air.

An example of this might be the lino in your kitchen. It might be a funky colour that you’d like to remove in the future, but it’s glued down, in excellent condition, and isn’t brittle or worn.

In contrast, friable asbestos is asbestos that can be easily broken, is broken, and may release asbestos fibres into the air that people can inhale. Pipe lagging, sprayed coatings, and thermal insulation are all excellent examples of friable asbestos that would require the assistance of an asbestos removal company to remove. And this leads us to our next point:

 

Can I Remove Asbestos Myself?

Knowing that your home may contain a potentially hazardous material, you might love nothing more than to remove it and keep your family safe. Can you remove asbestos yourself? Yes and no. It’s complicated.

The Ministry of Health states that friable asbestos (as mentioned above) should only be removed by a WorkSafe New Zealand licensed asbestos removalist. If you have non-friable asbestos you’d like to remove, you may need to put a number of safety measures in place and may only take part in the removal process if the ACM is less than 10m2.

Some of the many measures you need to put in place before undertaking asbestos removal yourself include:

 

• Keeping the removal area free of pets, children, and anyone not wearing appropriate PPE

• Clearing the area of all furniture and removable objects

• Lining all surfaces with polyethylene film adhered with adhesive tape

• Putting up warning signs

• Fastening all windows and doors and sealing them with tape

• Turning off electricity

• Covering vents and electrical circuits

• Wearing PPE like disposable overalls, boot covers, and gloves

• Wearing a respirator at all times

 

You can learn about the many other necessary safety measures here.

 

How Do You Know If Your Property Contains Asbestos

When you first learn about asbestos, you may wonder if your own home has it. If it was built before 2000, the chances are fairly high. However, there is only one way to know for sure, and that’s by testing for it. Asbestos removal companies like Chemcare offer a convenient testing service.

Asbestos can be lurking where you least expect it, such as in the vinyl flooring, cladding, heating units, roofing materials, electrical switchboards, mortar, and even pipe insulation. In its non-friable form, asbestos presents a low risk. However, testing and taking appropriate safety measures can be crucial if you’re about to undertake renovations.

 

Leave Your Asbestos Worries to the Experts

The average homeowner has enough to worry about without considering a hazardous natural mineral. If you’re worried about asbestos in your home or want your property to have a clean bill of health for renovations, consider hiring asbestos removal experts like Chemcare to take the lead.