Key Improvements in Asbestos Use Since 1990

Kiwis aren’t perfect when it comes to how we deal with asbestos. WorkSafe has fined businesses for negligent removal, and some people don’t even wear PPE when working around it.

While we have a long way to go towards saying we’re 100% perfect in how we manage asbestos, we’ve made some pretty substantial improvements since the 1990s. It can only get better from here on in.

The Creation of the Asbestos Register In 1992

Over a decade after Asbestos Regulations were published, a register was created in 1992 for asbestos exposure and disease. This two-part register allowed for reporting of both exposure and disease and would mean that meaningful statistics could be collected for asbestos-related conditions.

When the register was published, there was a near-immediate upsurge in reporting to learn more about industries, exposure, disease type, smoking and lung function, ethnicity, and gender. This register still exists today and has more than 20,000 names for exposure and 1,500 for disease.

The Formation Of Asbestos Support Groups

Asbestos-related diseases like lung cancer and mesothelioma can be challenging for not only those diagnosed with them but also their families and friends. Many people didn’t know how to receive diagnoses, where they could turn for help, or what they were legally entitled to.

From the late 1980s onward, support groups were established in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch, to ensure anyone affected by asbestos had the help and support they needed.

The Development of Health and Safety Regulations

Even though it had been decades since we learned that asbestos was hazardous to health, not all businesses and individuals knew their legal obligations or how to keep themselves and others safe. There were also very few resources they could rely on to provide guidance.

That all changed in 2015 and 2016. A new Health and Safety at Work Act was established in 2015, followed by the Health and Safety at Work (Asbestos) Regulations 2016. This included an Approved Code of Practice for the Management and Removal of Asbestos 2016, which received Minster of Workplace, Recreation, and Safety approval.

Now, all individuals and businesses can find everything they need to know about staying within the confines of the law and keeping themselves safe in one place.

The Normalisation of Asbestos Standards

Change is hard. When businesses have operated a certain way for a long time, they’re not always excited to change. However, we’ve seen a shift in behaviour in recent years, especially regarding the normalisation of asbestos standards.

Most businesses are now aware that working with asbestos in NZ is generally prohibited, including its manufacture, storage, supply, installation, and sale. There are also guides stating that airborne contamination can’t exceed 0.1 fibres per millilitre of air in an eight-hour period unless it’s within an asbestos removal enclosure with negative air pressure.

National and International Awareness Days

The average homeowner who hasn’t paid much attention to building practices and materials from days gone by might have a very limited understanding of asbestos and its dangers. In fact, some people might not have heard of asbestos at all, which means they might be at an increased risk of danger if they unknowingly expose themselves to it.

National and international awareness days are set to change this now and into the future. For example, WorkSafe works with industry partners to create an Asbestos Awareness Week each year, typically run at the end of November.

This awareness week is all about reminding tradespeople and businesses that there are no excuses for not protecting workers from asbestos exposure risks.

The goal of the awareness week is also to remind businesses that they must identify and manage asbestos exposure risks, including completing an asbestos management plan if required. You can download a plethora of helpful resources for Asbestos Awareness Week from the WorkSafe website.

Using Trained and Qualified Removalists

Perhaps one of the most significant improvements New Zealand has made regarding its relationship with asbestos has been in the use of trained and qualified removalists. Many businesses and individuals are now eager to align with Class A asbestos removal license holders to ensure the safe removal or encapsulation of asbestos from commercial and residential properties.

Class A license holders can legally remove asbestos from soil, roofing, wall cladding, fences, ceilings, exterior materials, and much more. They use the most advanced personal protective equipment, advise whether removal or encapsulation is a better option, and ensure a safe working environment for all involved.

While homeowners are legally allowed to remove a small amount of asbestos, the Ministry of Health recommends that only WorkSafe New Zealand licensed asbestos removalists should remove friable asbestos. We might be DIYers at heart, but many New Zealanders are now beginning to see the importance of leaving this complex task in the capable hands of trained professionals.