Asbestos AwAreness
Protecting your health By AANZ Canterbury general manager Michaela Lewis
We’ve told you about the changes to the legislation and we’ve explained your responsibilities; now we’re going to explain why it’s all so important.
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sbestos is New Zealand’s number one workplace killer with an estimated 170 deaths per year. Carpenters, plumbers and electricians account for 67 per cent of people with asbestos related diseases. Many are unaware that they are disturbing asbestos until they have cut, drilled or broken through a material, at which time it’s too late. We’ve heard too many times ‘I’ve been working with asbestos for years and I’m fine’, but asbestos-related diseases have long latency periods and, often, symptoms will take around 20 years to appear. With the worst asbestos-related diseases – asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung cancer – by the time the symptoms appear it can already be a fatal disease. With all of the earthquake-related work taking place throughout Canterbury, there are fears that the number of asbestos-related deaths will rise substantially over the coming
decades. Proper controls were not put in place in the early days after the quakes and properties were demolished full of asbestos, exposing many workers to severe health issues without their knowledge. This is why the legislation has changed. New Zealand is being proactive and is focused on protecting people in the workplace. The health effects are the reason that asbestos should be treated as the dangerous material that it is. Not being careful now could be a death sentence in the future. It is your responsibility to ensure that every property you’re working at is inspected for asbestos before you start work. We know it can be an inconvenience and we know you don’t want to stop and request testing when you’re working to tight deadlines. We also know that no job is worth exposing yourself, your colleagues or your family to asbestos for. AANZ (Asbestos Assessors NZ) are
Managing the environment around you isn’t always easy. That’s why MBC has been providing specialist environmental management solutions to clients for the past 20 years.
“It is your responsibility to ensure that every property you’re working at is inspected for asbestos before you start work.” asbestos auditing experts and can assist with your survey needs and clearance processes. MBC are environmental specialists, providing a range of asbestos-related services, including asbestos removal and survey/sampling. For more information, contact John
MaKuru at AANZ Canterbury 0800 222 092 or Mark Hamilton at MBC on 03 354 4377, visit www.asbestosassessors. co.nz or www.mbc.net.nz. Disclaimer: This information is provided as general guidance and not intended as legal advice.
⊲ Pre-Audit Visual Inspections
⊲ Demolition Surveys
⊲ Asbestos Action Plans
⊲ Air Monitoring
⊲ Sampling
⊲ Removal Management
⊲ Management Surveys
⊲ Asbestos Awareness Training
⊲ Repair/Refurbishment Surveys
e:office@mbc.net.nz p: 03 354 4377 Northcote, Christchurch
john@aanz.kiwi.nz asbestosassessors.co.nz
Ph:0800 222 092
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