Asbestos: the danger we still don’t see

Asbestos remains our leading work-related killer, claiming the lives of over 200 people every year. In this article, Brett Murray, Site Safe NZ Chief Executive, issues a warning and provides some practical tips to help builders protect themselves  

Asbestos is often seen as a problem of the past. New Zealand banned imports of asbestos products in 2016. The truth is more confronting: asbestos remains our leading work-related killer, claiming the lives of around 220 people every year. 

Those deaths are today’s toll from past exposures to asbestos fibres that can be breathed in. The legacy of asbestos is still built into thousands of homes, schools and workplaces across the country. Any property constructed or renovated before 2000 may contain asbestos in ceilings, cladding, insulation, vinyl tiles, pipe lagging, switchboards and more.  

At the same time, not every product containing asbestos presents an immediate threat. If asbestos is intact and undisturbed, the risk is low. For example, cladding that contains asbestos presents a low risk if intact and undisturbed – especially if the cladding is painted. 

Why the risk endures 

The danger lies in the fibres released when asbestos-containing materials are drilled, cut, sanded, or demolished. Once inhaled, they can lodge in the lungs for decades and cause diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis. There is no safe level of exposure. 

Asbestos is especially dangerous because the harm can happen over time. Symptoms may not appear until 20 to 50 years after exposure. What we are seeing now reflects work practices from decades ago. The choices we make on sites today will determine the health statistics of the future, but it can be hard to make the right choices if you don’t know what you’re looking for. 

The real danger comes when it is broken or mishandled. Loose or friable asbestos always presents a danger and is often mixed with general dust around areas such as old electrical switchboards or boiler lagging. That is why the right approach is identification and careful management. We don’t need to fear asbestos but, at the same time, we need to stay aware and follow good health and safety practice.  

From awareness to action 

The real safeguard is people who know enough to make the right decision in the moment. 

That’s why Site Safe, in collaboration with WorkSafe, has developed a new Asbestos Awareness training course. It’s designed for those most likely to encounter asbestos in their day-to-day work, such as tradespeople, building managers, maintenance teams and even home renovators. The course is practical and focused on what matters:  

• Where asbestos is found. 

• Understanding the risks. 

• What the law requires. 

• What steps to take when the presence of asbestos is identified. 

The course is not just a ‘tick box’ exercise. The outcome we’re aiming for is not a certificate on the wall but workers and businesses who are better prepared to pause, assess, and act before harm occurs. 

What works in practice 

Managing asbestos isn’t complicated but it does mean staying ahead and regularly carrying out the proper checks: 

• Pause and presume. If you’re working on building material or equipment from the year 2000 or earlier, assume asbestos may be present until confirmed otherwise. 

• Test don’t guess. Have materials sampled and checked by a competent asbestos surveyor. 

• Plan and manage. If asbestos is identified, businesses and building owners must have a written asbestos management plan and keep it up to date. 

• Use the right people. Removal is a licensed activity if asbestos is being removed in the workplace. The only exception is for 10m2 or less of non-friable asbestos that must still be removed safely.  

• Control exposure. Apply the hierarchy of controls, from elimination through to PPE, backed by monitoring and safe disposal. 

• Communicate. Label asbestos, brief all staff and contractors, and keep records current. 

Looking forward 

Asbestos is still very much in our homes, schools and worksites – and it will be for some time yet. 

That’s why this is about being prepared, not alarmed. It comes down to people on the ground knowing when to pause, when to test and when to bring in the right help. 

Regulation sets the framework and can guide appropriate forms of measurement to assess the risk, but what really keeps people safe are the everyday decisions made on site. The more we share knowledge, build skills and communicate with each other, the fewer chances there are for things to go wrong. 

At Site Safe, our role is to help make that easier, giving people the confidence to recognise risk and deal with it sensibly. Asbestos may still be part of our past and our present but, with the right approach, it doesn’t have to define our future. 

For more information about asbestos, visit Site Safe Asbestos Awareness training or WorkSafe’s asbestos page.