Legislation
Your Asbestos Regulations and Legislative Compliance Covered by Our Comprehensive Asbestos Surveys
According to WorkSafe NZ asbestos has been found in over
3000
building materials
The Background of Asbestos’ Use in Construction
The unique qualities of asbestos have been known since Egyptian times, however it wasn’t until the Industrial Revolution at the end of the 19th century that its production and use in buildings accelerated. Since then, asbestos has been used extensively in a wide range of construction applications throughout the world, including right here in New Zealand.
Consequently, many building materials such as texture coatings, pipe lagging, insulation, wall panels, cladding, roofing, floor coverings and many other products used in local constructions are known to have been manufactured using asbestos.
Importing raw asbestos into New Zealand was banned in 1984, but the importation of asbestos-containing products into the country wasn’t outlawed until October of 2016.
The Facts about Asbestos and Why its Use is Regulated
What is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that is mined from rock. The loose fibre broken down from the mined rock material is used in the manufacture of numerous construction products. Asbestos is usually mixed with another material and is rarely encountered in its raw form.
Asbestos in Building Materials
Asbestos is both fire and moisture resistant, so was popular and commonly used in buildings and building materials. Asbestos fibres also provide strength without adding much weight to cement based products. These were a very popular choice for building cladding during the mid-twentieth century.
The Effect of Asbestos on Your Health
When disturbed, asbestos can release fibres into the atmosphere, where they can remain airborne for long periods of time. Inhalation of high concentrations of all forms of asbestos may result in including various asbestos related diseases including cancer. The two forms of cancer associated with the inhalation of asbestos are Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma.
New Workplace Health and Safety Regulations
The Health & Safety at Work (Asbestos) Regulations were implemented on the 4th of April, 2016, to urgently control the use – and removal – of asbestos in the workplace. These regulations affect all commercial buildings (excluding private residential houses) built prior to the year 2000, and require that asbestos materials be identified on-site.
The New Asbestos Regulations and You
As outlined by the Health & Safety at Work (Asbestos) Regulations 2016, any commercial or industrial building built before 2000 must have the following completed:
An Inspection to Identify Asbestos in the Workplace Completed by a Competent Person
Under the Asbestos Regulations, a competent person is a person who has acquired – through training and experience – both the knowledge and skills of relevant asbestos removal industry practice. This includes holding one of the qualifications listed by WorkSafe, New Zealand.
An Asbestos Management Plan has been Prepared
WorkSafe New Zealand and the new regulations require that people in control of a workplace (PCBU) prepare an Asbestos Management Plan. This is usually obtained by arranging for an Asbestos Management Survey of the workplace in question by a competent person (as outlined above).
This asbestos survey is used to develop an Asbestos Management Plan, which provides information for contractors undertaking work in workplaces where Asbestos Containing Materials (ACMs) are present.
The Risks from Asbestos are Managed with a Compliant Management Plan
An Asbestos Management Plan provides documentation detailing the type, location and extent of the Asbestos Containing Material (ACM), along with the recommended actions to be taken as a result of these findings. This plan must be updated with information collected during periodic surveillance, as well as every time a response action is taken on-site.
The Management Plan is Regularly Reviewed
Asbestos Management Plans should be reviewed annually to ensure that they are kept current, and accurately reflect the condition of the Asbestos Containing Materials (ACMS) that are present in the workplace.
Our team here at Asbestos Risk Management can carry out the required asbestos survey at your business. Your site will be 100% independently tested and certified to WorkSafe New Zealand standards, as well as your own individual compliance policy.
The Background of Asbestos’ Use in Construction
The Health and Safety at Work Act 2016 introduced new duty holder roles, two of which are:
- PCBU (Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking)
- PCBU with management or Control of a Workplace
A PCBU could be a building contractor, and a PCBU with Management and Control of a Workplace could be a building owner, a main contractor on a commercial construction site or a builder doing work for a homeowner in a private home.
Either of these PCBUs can be responsible for implementing the new safety measures around the control of asbestos in the workplace. These PCBUs need to ensure that there is an Asbestos Management Plan in place and provide it to those who occupy the premises or those who may carry out work that could disturb the Asbestos Containing Materials (ACMs).
It’s worth noting that there can be situations where multiple PCBUs are responsible for meeting the obligations under the Act.
Your Responsibilities as a PCBU
Under the Health and Safety at Work Asbestos regulations, a PCBU with Management or Control of a Workplace must:
- Ensure than an Asbestos Management Plan is prepared and kept at the workplace.
- Not carry out, direct or allow a worker to carry out work involving asbestos.
- Ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that all Asbestos Containing Material (ACM) at the workplace is identified by a competent person.
We can take the hassle out of compliance with the new regulations for your business. You can be sure that your management survey and plan will be prepared by a competent team. Contact our team at Asbestos Risk Management without delay for a no-cost, no-obligation discussion about how the asbestos regulations affect your workplace.
Get in Touch
Call us here at Asbestos Risk Management now for free advice about the assessment of possible Asbestos Containing Materials (ACMs) in your house, residential or commercial property.
Get in Touch
Call us here at Asbestos Risk Management now for free advice about the assessment of possible Asbestos Containing Materials (ACMs) in your house, residential or commercial property.