Most home and business owners are aware that asbestos is a harmful natural mineral present in tens of thousands of homes throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. From lino and insulation to roofing materials and plumbing, it’s seemingly everywhere.

And while you might know asbestos itself can be a safety risk when the materials it’s contained within are damaged or disturbed, you might not know about the other risks associated with it. You can learn about these below.

Unintentionally Disturbing Asbestos

Unless you know exactly where asbestos is in your home or business, it can be much easier than you think to disturb it unintentionally. You might be gearing up for renovations and snap off a piece of lino to see what’s underneath or carry out repairs to Super Six asbestos roofing, not realizing it contains asbestos.

These actions are innocent, but the consequences of them can be life-changing. Asbestos can cause life-threatening conditions such as mesothelioma, which is a form of cancer most often linked to asbestos exposure.

As many homes built before 2000 contain asbestos, it can be worth requesting asbestos testing to find out which parts of your property might have it before getting underway with your renovation plans.

Not Wearing Appropriate PPE

According to BRANZ, you are well within your rights to remove asbestos yourself, but you must do so with care. Remember, asbestos exposure can lead to life-threatening illnesses when the right precautions aren’t taken.

Therefore, not wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) is a significant safety risk associated with asbestos. At a minimum, you should seal off the work area to minimise exposure, wear disposable overalls with a hood and shoe coverings, keep your asbestos materials damp while handling them, and wear a respirator with a suitable P2/P3 filter for asbestos dust.

If you don’t believe you’ll be able to take these precautions while removing asbestos-containing materials, it’s crucial to leave the removal task in the hands of experienced asbestos removalists.

Not Disposing Of Your Asbestos Correctly

If you’ve decided to take care of asbestos removal yourself, you might think you can take your waste to your local landfill facility or put it in your wheelie bin for curbside pickup. Doing this puts waste collectors and the general public visiting landfill sites at risk.

All asbestos waste must be taken to approved asbestos dumping facilities. If you’re unsure which facility will accept your asbestos waste, you can ask for information from your local landfill or the NZ Demolition and Asbestos Association. Sometimes, you’ll need to provide advanced notice or obtain a special permit. However, you don’t need to worry about a thing when you rely on experts to assist with your asbestos removal needs.

How you dispose of your asbestos waste is equally as important as the location. All friable asbestos must be contained within polythene bags with a minimum thickness of 200µm. These bags must also be no larger than 120cm long by 90cm wide.

Once you’ve filled your bags to no more than half the bag’s capacity and removed excess air, cover them with another bag and seal them with a gooseneck tie before marking them with a label that says ‘CAUTION: Asbestos – Do not open or damage bag. Do not inhale dust’.

If you have large asbestos-containing materials, these should be wrapped in polythene sheeting of the same minimum thickness of 200µm. Many business owners also use drums, which must have their rims sealed and the outer surface wet-wiped before being taken to an authorised landfill site. Ensure you use drum lifters or trolleys to transport asbestos-filled drums rather than lifting them by hand.

Not Testing for It in the First Place

There’s a common misconception that asbestos-containing materials look a certain way. Sure, some are easier to spot than others, but asbestos can be found where you least expect it – even in fencing. As confident as you might be in the knowledge that your house doesn’t contain asbestos, you won’t know unless you test or know that the house was built after the year 2000.

If you’re about to undergo any minor or extensive renovations that involve lifting flooring, changing roofing materials, or even knocking out walls, consider asbestos testing. Not testing can be one of the most significant safety risks associated with asbestos if you later discover your home did contain asbestos.

If you’re even slightly unsure about its presence, contact the experts. Asbestos testing is affordable and might prevent exposure that puts you at risk of conditions like mesothelioma and asbestosis.

Don’t Take the Risk; Bring in the Experts

Asbestos isn’t a building material to underestimate. Tens of thousands of people lose their lives to asbestos-related illnesses each year, which makes handling this material with care absolutely crucial. If you’re worried about the safety risks associated with asbestos, now’s the time to act. Contact asbestos removal experts in NZ before your renovations begin in earnest.