Do You Know How To Recognise Asbestos When You See It

Do you know how to recognise asbestos when you see it?
Do you know what to do once you’ve found it?

WorkSafe and Site Safe New Zealand have joined forces on new asbestos awareness training, to help trades and maintenance workers stay safe.

Asbestos is made up of lots of tiny fibres. When left alone, it isn’t risky. However, once it’s disturbed, those asbestos fibres, and asbestos dust, can be inhaled. This can cause serious health problems down the line, including cancer. Around 220 people die every year from asbestos-related illness. It’s our country’s worst workplace killer, often referred to as Aotearoa’s ‘silent harm.’ It’s important tradies have the know-how to deal with asbestos.

So, what can we do?

Rob Birse, technical specialist at WorkSafe, says being prepared is key. “Preventing exposure to asbestos dust fibres is the most effective way to stay safe. That starts with knowing what to look for. Then, knowing what to do when you’ve found it.”

While asbestos can no longer be imported into New Zealand, it was widely used in construction up until the late 1980s. It can be found in homes, workplaces, public buildings like hospitals and schools, and even in vehicles.

“Just because we don’t use it anymore, doesn’t mean the problem has gone away. Asbestos harm is often seen as ‘tomorrow’s problem’, but by that point, it’s too late,” adds Rob.

“Every tradesperson is likely to come into contact with asbestos at work sooner or later. This puts you at risk. But that’s where solid training and health and safety matter. That’s where a course like the Site Safe awareness training comes into play,” says Brett Murray, Site Safe Chief Executive.

“It gives you practical steps and safety procedures to deal with it, using real examples from construction.” Importantly, those steps and procedures covered in the course all align with current health and safety law. “There’s a reason there’s regulations around asbestos. It’s a real risk.

Businesses need to do all that they can to protect their workers. Tradies need to look out for themselves, and their workmates,” explains Rob. “We want everyone to come home safe at the end of the day.”

Staying safe at work – asbestos awareness training

What it is:

The new in-person gives people the knowledge they need to spot, and manage, the risk from asbestos. It covers:

What asbestos looks like
Where it can be found
The different forms of asbestos
The dangers and health hazards
What to do once you find it.

Who it’s for:

Those in the construction industry, trades and maintenance workers, including builders, plumbers, electricians, drainlayers and painters
Demolition and renovation crews
Flooring workers
Facility and property managers
Automative workers

What you’ll get:

A Site Safety Card, valid for 2 years. Most major New Zealand contractors require workers to have a valid Site Safety Card before
entering a construction site.
4 Licensed Building Practitioner points.
Unit Standard 2138 Demonstrate knowledge of asbestos and safety procedures v6 – Level 2, 1 credit.

Location:

Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington

Learn more about asbestos safety:
Asbestos Quick Guides for tradespeople | WorkSafe