Managing asbestos in the workplace involves several factors. While it may seem daunting to identify the best approach and course of action if you suspect your property may be contaminated with asbestos, you’ve come to the right place to get started. 

At Consultex Environmental, we are passionate about providing businesses with legally required effective asbestos management plans to ensure you meet workplace safety and compliance requirements. In this blog, we’ll discuss the best approach to managing asbestos in the workplace and the importance of having a professional asbestos management plan in place. Let’s get started.  

The Importance of Asbestos Management Plans 

If it’s not managed properly, asbestos can be very dangerous to the health of your team. This applies to all kinds of workplaces where asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) may be lurking. If you are running a construction business, managing asbestos in the workplace must be clearly defined in your protocols, as disturbing ACMs is likely to be a common occurrence when working on renovating or demolishing buildings built in New Zealand before the 1980s.

For property owners housing commercial enterprises, there should be an awareness that ACMs may have been utilised when the property was built and whether you are running an office, warehouse, or manufacturing facility, it pays to get all of the relevant information so that you can protect your employees and your brand reputation. Below are some of the consequences of improper asbestos management within the workplace: 

Severe Health Risks 

Asbestos is a highly hazardous material, and there are serious health risks involved – especially when it is damaged or disturbed. The small airborne fibres that are released can be inhaled and leave employees exposed to dangerous and, in some cases, life-threatening health risks. 

With ongoing exposure, employees could begin to develop asbestosis, chronic lung disease, lung cancer and mesothelioma. Working in an environment which has been flagged as having asbestos present can also cause employees to experience lower levels of energy, morale and productivity due to stress and anxiety around wellbeing. 

Legal Trouble

Failing to implement a proper plan for managing asbestos in the workplace can result in serious consequences. New Zealand workplaces are legally required to prepare an effective asbestos management plan for all worksites. This was introduced as part of the Health and Safety at Work (Asbestos) Regulations 2016, which requires all business owners to identify asbestos materials (including within the soil) on their properties. If employees begin to develop serious health issues, business owners could be at risk for potential lawsuits.

Increased Repair Costs

Contamination levels can increase with prolonged exposure, so ignoring potential risks could result in escalating remediation costs. Not only will it be expensive, but the spread of contamination could become so severe that it becomes even harder to remove the asbestos. In this case, it’s better to be safe than sorry and have a proper plan in place upfront. 

Managing Asbestos in the Workplace

To avoid some of these consequences, you need to ensure that there’s a comprehensive asbestos management plan tailored to suit your workplace. As asbestos management experts, Consultex Environmental can assist you in developing this plan and guide you throughout the process. 

What is an Asbestos Management Plan (AMP)? 

An Asbestos Management Plan (AMP) is a preemptive measure that identifies the presence of asbestos in your workplace, including the soil. If our team finds asbestos, we will prepare a tailored AMP for your workplace, which includes a detailed assessment of how it will be managed according to the asbestos type, amount, and location. 

We include as much information as possible in the plan to ensure this provides helpful insights for asbestos management recommendations. We will begin with an on-site survey, which includes an in-person consultation, a survey of your work site, and any sampling or testing recommended by our team. Once this work is completed, we follow the below steps to put together a plan for next steps: 

Step One: Identify asbestos materials 

• Our team identifies any signs of asbestos on your worksite and confirms the exact location. Where relevant, we can also identify quantities and types of asbestos to help us create a more effective management plan. 

Step Two: Managing asbestos materials

• We then create recommendations based on our findings and suggest effective control measures around the identified asbestos, including safe work procedures for you and your employees. 

Step Three: Inducting contractors and workers 

• Our team will conduct an induction process for any incoming contractors and workers into the condition of the worksite, which includes considerations for safely working around asbestos and issuing any work permit systems. 

Step Four: Emergency response procedures

• Your AMP will contain detailed emergency response procedures so that your team can respond appropriately to asbestos-related activities. Workers’ roles and responsibilities will be clearly defined in case any asbestos exposure occurs. 

Step Five: Ongoing training and monitoring 

• Managing asbestos involves long-term planning, ongoing training, and employee health monitoring to ensure minimal exposure risk. Documenting and keeping records of these aspects is also vital. Remember to be consistent and proactive when dealing with potential asbestos in your building. 

Create a safe workplace with a professional asbestos management plan 

Managing asbestos in the workplace and creating a healthy, safe environment for your employees is paramount. Having an AMP in place doesn’t have to be a difficult process, and with experienced asbestos management professionals to guide you, you can be sure your business remains compliant with its legal obligations. 

At Conultex Environmental, we provide businesses with legally required asbestos management plans, making it easy and effective to identify and manage asbestos in the workplace. 

Ready to implement an asbestos management plan? Contact us today for a free consultation and quote.