Workers’ Protection from Risks of Asbestos in NZ
According to WorkSafe (Mahi Haumaru Aotearoa), asbestos is the number one workplace killer, with approximately 220 people dying from preventable asbestos-related diseases in NZ each year.
WorkSafe chief executive Phil Parkes says these deaths are the legacy of past asbestos exposure, but we must take action to prevent illness and death related to asbestos exposure in the future. The best way to do this is through proper asbestos handling and management.
If you’re an employer, are you doing everything in your power to protect your workers from the risks of asbestos in NZ? We can all do our part, and it can start with some of the following actions.
Abide By the Approved Code of Practice
WorkSafe has an Approved Code of Practice and the Health and Safety at Work (Asbestos) Regulations 2016, outlining how we can all comply with asbestos health and safety laws. The code of practice is comprehensive and provides helpful information on safe asbestos management in all New Zealand workplaces.
The code is also divided into sections, with some information more relevant to some businesses and individuals than others:
A PCBU conducting asbestos-related work
A PCBU conducting asbestos removal
A PCBU managing or controlling a workplace that might contain asbestos
If you become familiar with the code, which was approved by the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety under the Health and Safety At Work Act 2015, you might find it much easier to protect your workers from asbestos exposure.
Put Control Measures In Place
Control methods form a core part of the Approved Code of Practice and the Health and Safety At Work (Asbestos) Regulations 2016. Essentially, the more control over the environment you have in which asbestos is present or might be present, the safer workers can be.
Some of the most effective control methods include:
Not disturbing asbestos until assessment and controls can be established
Don’t smoke, eat, or drink, where asbestos exposure could be possible
Not dry sweeping, shoveling or cleaning up asbestos-containing dust and debris
Always wet materials before breaking or cutting materials that might contain asbestos and release those fibres into the air
Washing body parts with soap and water that have been exposed to asbestos
Not carrying asbestos fibres out of a workplace where others can inhale them
Wearing personal protective equipment and approved respirators when working with asbestos
Using Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Appropriately
As previously mentioned, PPE and approved respirators are an important control measure to keep yourself and others safe. However, not everyone is aware of the most appropriate PPE to wear and how to wear it safely. Employers can find this information within WorkSafe’s Approved Code of Practice.
Respirators are among the most essential forms of protection, preventing you from breathing in potentially deadly asbestos fibres that lead to life-threatening illnesses like mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis.
The type of respirator you use can depend on the asbestos work you’re carrying out. For example, a disposable half-face respirator with a particle filter cartridge can be necessary for working around asbestos, even though you won’t be handling it.
If you’re removing friable asbestos, a full-face particle respirator can be crucial. Many professional asbestos removers use full suits with continuous flow airline respirators or full facepiece positive-pressure demand airline respirators. These are typically paired with P3 filters to trap 99.95 percent of airborne particles.
Asbestos removal-approved overalls and foot coverings are also crucial. These can be disposable or washable in an approved asbestos laundry facility.
Providing Training
Not all workers will be aware of the dangers associated with asbestos, nor will they understand the importance of wearing PPE properly, ensuring a sealed fit with respirators, and identifying asbestos. Your job as an employer in an industry involving working near asbestos-containing materials (ACM) is to ensure all employees have adequate training.
Training can include:
Health effects related to asbestos exposure
Engineering controls and work practices associated with the employee’s job
Specific procedures in place to protect from asbestos exposure, such as emergency and clean-up procedures, PPE, and specific work practices
The nature of operations that could lead to asbestos exposure
The storage, use, quantity, release, and location of asbestos
The proper use of PPE and respirators
Information relating to any medical surveillance programmes
Using Industry Body Professionals
The cost of asbestos removal in NZ can put many business owners off contacting asbestos experts for removal services. If they can do it themselves cheaper, they can enjoy a healthier bottom line. However, prioritising profit over health is an attitude that experts say needs to change.
According to Faculty of Asbestos Management of Australia and New Zealand (FAMANZ) director Bridgette Jennings, quality must come first to ensure all practical steps are taken to protect people and prevent future deaths.
Rather than relying on unqualified and untrained employees to handle and remove asbestos, bring in the experts. Hiring industry body professionals might just save lives.