Out of all workers in New Zealand, builders are among the most at risk of being exposed to asbestos. In fact, according to WorkSafe New Zealand, every tradesperson will have come into contact with asbestos at work.

How you manage it can make all the difference to your health and safety – and that of people around you. Here are some helpful asbestos tips for builders that may be worth taking on board.

Understand the Risks

Perhaps one of the most essential pieces of advice a builder can consider is the risk that asbestos poses. Because you’re working with building materials every day, it’s easy to get complacent that nothing you’re working with is really that dangerous. Asbestos is different.

Every time you breathe in airborne asbestos fibres, you’re at risk of developing asbestos-related health conditions like cancer, asbestosis, COPD, pleural thickening, mesothelioma, and more. Many of these conditions are life-threatening and have no cure.

When you’re aware of the dangers, you may be more likely to take risks seriously when undertaking renovations and construction work at people’s homes and businesses.

Know the Difference Between Friable and Non-Friable Asbestos

To understand your legal limitations when working with asbestos, it’s crucial to understand the difference between friable and non-friable asbestos. You can then determine whether you can safely remove and work with asbestos at a property or whether you need to call an asbestos removal expert to do it for you.

Friable asbestos, or ACM, is asbestos that’s powdery, crumbly, or pulverised. It’s the riskiest form of asbestos because it can easily become airborne. Non-friable asbestos is safer because the asbestos fibres are still bonded to the product.

Know What Contains Asbestos

After years of working in the building industry, you’ll likely have a fair idea about where asbestos could be hiding. However, if you don’t, it’s vital that you do. Asbestos can be present in many residential and commercial buildings built before January 1, 2000.

It is also most commonly found in homes built, renovated, or altered between 1940 and the mid-1980s. It can be found in a significant number of building materials and fixtures throughout the average home or workplace built during this period.  

You can find it in flooring, wall tiles, cladding, fuse boxes, insulation, and more. If you’re not sure if asbestos is present, consult an asbestos removal business for testing.

Ask About Asbestos Before Commencing a Job

Regardless of whether you are carrying out work at someone’s house or place of business, it’s important to ask about asbestos. At commercial or industrial premises, request an asbestos management plan if the structure is known to contain asbestos.

This plan outlines:

• Where asbestos is

• Its condition

• How to manage the asbestos on-site, or how it is already being addressed.

If you are working at someone’s home, ask the homeowner if they know of any asbestos being present. If they are not sure, you may need to put control measures in place before you start work.

Wear the Right PPE

If you are working with less than 10m2 of non-friable asbestos, you are legally allowed to remove it yourself. If it’s over 10m2 or friable, you must contact an asbestos removal company to perform the removal safely for you.  

If you have decided to remove non-friable asbestos-containing materials yourself, make sure you and your team wear the right PPE.

This can include:

• Respirators

• Overalls

• Disposable boot covers

• Gloves

Attend Asbestos Awareness Training Courses

Understanding your legal and health and safety requirements when working with asbestos can make all the difference to how you tackle each job. One of the most critical asbestos tips for builders we can offer is the attendance of an awareness training course. 

At such training courses, you can learn:

• Asbestos information relevant to the building industry

• How to identify asbestos-related hazards

• How to handle asbestos safely

• How to use appropriate control measures

• What asbestos types and forms there are

• and more…

Get Rid of Asbestos Waste Safely

Once you have finished removing ACM from a workplace or home, dispose of it safely. Double-bag all waste with heavy-duty plastic bags before twisting the tops, tying the bags, and sealing them with adhesive tape. Mark the outer layer of the bags with asbestos waste labels.

You also need to contact your local council to find the nearest approved asbestos waste site to you. A standard dumping facility may not accept your asbestos-contaminated waste.

Be the Safest Builder You Can Be

It’s easy to get complacent in a line of work that you’ve been involved in for decades. However, with everything we now know about asbestos, keeping yourself and others safe is of the utmost importance. Rely on these tips above to ensure you and your team are as safe as possible at every building site you visit.