Asbestos awareness. These two words underpin a history of hazardous materials and construction regulations in New Zealand and highlight an ongoing need for people to be conscious of what may lie hidden in their properties.

Asbestos awareness training courses are designed to equip all who need them with the right knowledge to stay safe, but who really needs them? In this blog post, we’re exploring all that and more.

Asbestos Regulations & How They Relate to You

Asbestos was incredibly widely used prior to the discovery of its hazardous nature back in the late 1980s. In other words, for many buildings constructed in New Zealand before the 2000s, the presence of asbestos is less of a possibility and more of a probability.

But asbestos does not appear in its raw form; it is generally incorporated into other materials, such as insulation or drywall, which can degrade over time. Apart from construction or demolition work, it is this degradation that creates the most present danger for business owners and occupants.

When the Health and Safety at Work (Asbestos) Regulations 2016 came into effect, all business owners and industrial property owners immediately became responsible for finding any assumed asbestos materials on-site, including in the soil. In turn, construction workers became responsible for implementing safe work practices for the demolition and removal of materials from any building that might contain asbestos.

This is easily accomplished by investing in an Asbestos Management Plan, but there’s a vital step that comes before this: being aware of the potential of asbestos in the first place.

What is Asbestos Awareness Training?

In short, asbestos awareness training courses are designed to educate anyone who might encounter asbestos about:

• The potential dangers of asbestos, including the latent or long-term potential health effects.
• The properties and types of asbestos most commonly found in New Zealand.
• Where asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) are most likely to be found in commercial, residential, or industrial buildings.
• How to avoid disturbing deposits of asbestos or ACMs.
• What to do next if you suspect asbestos on your property, and what not to do.

Contrary to popular belief, asbestos awareness training does not teach people how to handle or safely remove asbestos on their own. It focuses on raising awareness of the very real risks presented by these hazardous materials and offering clear next steps for anyone who might potentially be affected.

This training is available to anyone who wants it, but there are a few specific groups of individuals who should absolutely be trained.

Who Should Take an Asbestos Awareness Training Course?

Persons Conducting Business or an Undertaking (PCBUs)

If you are a PCBU, it is legally your responsibility to reach out for asbestos testing or removal if you suspect that there might be asbestos on your property. That said, many business owners are unaware of the potential for asbestos on-site, thanks to a lack of asbestos awareness. Hence, training is necessary.

The focus of the training for a PCBU will be to identify any potential sources of asbestos in a building or business you own and come up with a plan to formally identify and remove said asbestos. There are distinctions between friable and non-friable asbestos meaning these materials do not always need to be removed, but as you will learn in the course, this should be left to the discretion of a qualified surveyor.

Anyone in the Construction or Trades Industry

Workers in the construction or trades industries are the most at risk for long-term asbestos exposure, especially in major cities like Auckland, where asbestos has a strong history of use. Whether you work in new builds, demolitions, plumbing, or even interior design, the possibility of encountering ACMs that are degrading or have been disturbed as part of your daily operations is high.

Here’s a further breakdown of the specific trades industries we recommend undergo asbestos awareness training:

• Construction workers. Many buildings, especially older ones, may contain asbestos materials. If you work in construction, renovation, or demolition projects, you need to know how to avoid disturbing asbestos.
• Electricians, plumbers, and HVAC technicians. If you work in this area, you’ll often operate in building sections where asbestos may be present, such as in insulation or pipework. This is why raising awareness of the risks is crucial.
• Painters and decorators. Working on walls, ceilings, and other surfaces that may contain asbestos means that you need to know how to avoid exposure.

Building Inspectors or Surveyors

If you work in building inspection or surveying, then you absolutely need to understand the most common places where ACMs might be hiding. With the number of older structures populating New Zealand’s cities, inspectors with a high level of asbestos awareness will not only keep themselves safe, but the incoming occupants safe as well.

Landlords or Residential Property Owners

It could be said that no one knows a residential property better than its owner. If you are a landlord, it’s vital that you know how to select safe properties with low risk of asbestos exposure as a way to drastically reduce the likelihood of harming your potential tenants.

As a homeowner, you might want to invest in asbestos awareness training if you are concerned about long-term asbestos exposure, although it is not legally required.

At the end of the day, asbestos awareness training can benefit almost anyone, from construction workers to homeowners who want to know more about this industry.

That said, legal responsibility falls to building workers and PCBUs to be knowledgeable about asbestos as a way to preserve not only their health but the health of those around them. Once you’re aware of what to look for, you can take the right next steps, such as setting up a formal asbestos survey or meeting with a professional to craft a management plan.

Access high-quality asbestos management plans with the team at Consultex Environmental.

Concerned about asbestos on your property? The team at Consultex Environmental can prepare a tailored asbestos management plan for your site, helping you to identify if asbestos is present and make a plan for removal or isolation.

Book your asbestos management plan with us today.