Asbestos Awareness Training
Everything you ever wanted to know about
asbestos but were afraid to ask!
What we will cover
How to identify asbestos
Respiratory Protective
Equipment (RPE)
How to identify asbestos
Key messages:
Asbestos containing materials (ACM) can be anywhere
and everywhere in the built environment
You cannot positively identify ACMs without testing
Assumption is the mother of all ####ups!
You can’t manage what you don’t know
Asbestos use in NZ
Imports of raw asbestos peaked at around 12,500
tonnes/year in 1974.
7m metres of asbestos fabric, and 8m metres of
asbestos cement sheets imported, much of which
remains in New Zealand buildings.
Importation of ACMs is still not illegal
Despite work to remove them in the 1980s and 90s ACMs are still very widespread in today’s buildings
The Magic Mineral!
You need to survey before
you start work
Ask for the asbestos register/survey
You should ask your supervisor/hub manager
if an asbestos survey has been done before
you start work
If not you need to make an informed
assessment of the building and hence the
risk
YOU CANNOT CONFIRM ACMs WITHOUT
A PROPER SURVEY AND TESTING
What do I need to know about an
asbestos survey?
Is the surveyor competent and experienced?
Are they independent and objective?
What type of survey is it? (intrusive/non-intrusive)
Have all suspect materials either been tested or
assumed to be ACMs?
Have sufficient samples been taken to avoid false
negatives?
Have the samples been clearly identified?
Have they been analysed by an accredited laboratory?
How do I interpret the result?
Type of asbestos and %age is only relevant to the risk
assessment in terms of HOW to do the job
Need to consider how widespread the ACM is –i.e. a
positive sample in one area has to be assumed to be
representative of all similar materials unless they have
also been tested.
Always err on the side of caution
Clarify with all those on site which areas are positive for
asbestos, those tested negative and those not tested
Produce a simple plan
Typical ACMs in buildings
ACMs may be hidden
Ceiling tiles
Rope and wrapped lagging
Super 6 and gutters
Cladding and fences
Roof tiles and sidings
Textured ceilings and Fibrolite
Floor tiles and vinyl
Pre-formed lagging
Asbestos cement pipes
Fire damaged cladding
Pipe lagging –”Monkey muck”!
Lift shaft and formwork
Risk Assessment
If you are unsure
RESPIRATORY PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
(RPE)
How not to do protect yourself!
This is just as dumb
RPE basics
Must be suitable for:
Person
Task
Substance
Quantity
Fitted correctly
Replaced/maintained
WORN!!!!!
Nominal Protection Factor (NPF)
How much of the dust on the outside gets inside the
mask –that you breathe in
The higher the dust exposure and the more dangerous
the dust the higher NPF you need
Volunteer required
How to fit your respirator
• harness sits over crown of head
• adjust straps using tabs
• straps go over and under the ears
• metal nose clip is moulded over nose
• if using flat fold style, pull out bottom
section.
Self fit check (qualitative) before
each use
Self fit check:
Place hands over entire mask
Breath in sharply
Block sides –
take deep breath in
Block exhalation port
- blow breath out
Signs of a good fit
Straps in right place.
Not too tight
No streaks down side of
nose
Quantitative fit test (annual) for
reusable RPE
Recap and review
Key points
Asbestos is a significant cause of harm.
If managed correctly the risk of future harm can be
minimised
If the controls are followed you will be safe. Its just like
managing any other risk.
If you don’t know if ACMs are present then inadvertent
exposure is likely
Your safety and that of others is paramount. If in doubt
STOP WORK and ASK.
Any Questions?