Asbestos Exposure in New Zealand 1992 to 2005
Part 3: Asbestos Issues Ahead
Floor sanders
In 1992 an audit of floor sanders and their working practices was carried out in Christchurch. This audit revealed a number of features:
- a failure to prevent spread of dust to other rooms
- lack of a thorough 'clean up' after sanding
- poor respiratory protection for sanders
- sanders taking asbestos dust home on their work clothes
- transfer of dust from sanding machines to vehicles
- careless disposal of sanding dust
- a general lack of understanding of asbestos.
Overseas studies confirmed the New Zealand experience with high levels of asbestos dust measured in rooms during the sanding process.
Asbestos removal workers
This group of workers was very active in the late 1980s and the 1990s. Although the Department of Labour published the Guidelines for the Management and Removal of Asbestos, undoubtedly a proportion of such workers would have been exposed to significant amounts of asbestos for short- or long-term periods and some would have transported asbestos dust from work to home on their clothes, boots or body. The National Exposure Register does not identify this group specifically yet they could well be the group at most risk and be the source of asbestos disease in the decades ahead.
Brake lining repair workers
Brake linings still contain asbestos. Such work is often carried out in designated 'small workplaces' and as such are less likely to be inspected and more likely to have inadequate local exhaust ventilation. The work is intermittent and the dose may be long-term and low-level in contrast to demolition workers where it can be high-level and short-term. Nevertheless these workers comprise an ongoing 'at-risk group'.
Building maintenance workers
It is of significance that the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) of Great Britain has recently published two related guidance booklets. One, Introduction to Asbestos Essentials, is specifically aimed at building maintenance workers.
The other, Asbestos Essentials Task Manual, is aimed at any worker who may come into contact with asbestos in the course of their work. Such workers include electricians, plumbers, computer installers, telecommunication engineers and the like.
Demolition workers
The process of demolition is often carried out over a weekend and utilising casual labour. The presence of asbestos is not necessarily determined prior to the demolition and as a consequence no knowledge of exposure occurs.