Industrial
SafetyNews
ppe • Access • Hazmat • Health • injury • manAgement • environment • focus July 2013 VOL 8 NO. 3 Price $9
Asbestos – major health risk in the rebuild
Photo credit: Becker Fraser Photos
By Lisa Gossage The chances of contracting diseases associated with asbestos could rise significantly if strict protocols around its management are not communicated, understood and implemented in the Christchurch rebuild.
Over 40,000 buildings in Christchurch, due for repair, could contain asbestos. Once this asbestos is disturbed and becomes airborne, as is likely if repair or demolition is taking place, the potential dangers associated with it become a hazard for anyone working close by. What’s more and little known is that families of those working with asbestos are also at risk as there are increasing cases coming to light where the transferral of asbestos from work to home (via clothing, for example) have led to family members developing pleural abnormalities and in some cases mesothelioma – a deadly disease caused by asbestos fibres. Provided best practice is followed, the risk should be minimal, but this isn’t always happening. Recent reports in the The Press in Christchurch of two tradespeople working
unprotected with asbestos and completely unaware of the fact that it was there, prompted president of the Council of Trade Unions (CTU) Helen Kelly to call for asbestos procedures to be tightened up and for the government to review its contracts with companies it is employing for the rebuild. These cases highlight the general elevated risks on construction sites for subcontractors, who often fall through safety system gaps. “The government is a major player in funding the rebuild of Christchurch, both through the EQC and directly. The government must step up to the plate and demand decent standards from the principals that it employs to manage this work. It knows much of the work will be contracted out by these principals, but it must include in the contract that this is done safety and must
impose penalties when this is not done,” says Ms Kelly. Research has shown that workers are often unaware and sometimes ambivalent to asbestos risk. A study in asbestos exposure levels in demolition and maintenance by the Centre for Public Health Research (CPHR) at Massey University found that although most workers in the study had been given initial training and undergone a medical examination, many showed poor practice with regard to wearing PPE. Few also received annual health monitoring or refresher training. This study was done pre the Christchurch earthquakes, but it does have general relevance and highlights the need for regular monitoring of work procedures and health, rather than one-offs. The latest ‘Asbestos and Other Occupational Lung Diseases In New Zealand Annual
Report’ showed that together carpenters, plumbers and electricians are responsible for over 69 percent of notified asbestos disease, with the breakdown being: carpenters/ builders 25 percent, electricians 7.5 percent, and plumbers, fitters and laggers 37 percent. These high figures are in part due to the fact that these groups work with products containing asbestos, but this does not tell the whole story as the percentages for asbestos processors and asbestos sprayers is 7.5 and 4.5 percent respectively – much less than those for builders and plumbers. The Report puts this down to the fact that the awareness amongst these groups of asbestos risk is low compared to others. It says – “These ‘all purpose’ construction workers are an occupational category at risk
Continued on page 8
Where else can you promote your products and services to more than 3000 safety professionals in just two days? The National Safety Show is back and exhibitors return in July 2013 to bring attendees the latest innovations, equipment and technology to maintain workplace health and safety.
3 & 4 July 2013 ASB Showgrounds, Auckland
www.safetyshow.co.nz