Part 3: Asbestos Issues Ahead

3.1 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 asbestos

Overseas studies confirmed the New Zealand experience with high levels of asbestos dust measured in rooms during the sanding process.

3.2 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 (1995), 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, but they could be the group at most risk, and be a source of asbestos disease in the decades ahead.

3.3 Brake Lining Repair Workers

Brake linings still contain asbestos. Such work is often carried out in designated 'small workplaces'. As such they 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 (high-level and short-term). Nevertheless these workers comprise an ongoing 'at-risk group'.

3.4 Building Maintenance Workers

It is of significance that the Great Britain Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published two related guidance booklets. The first, Introduction to Asbestos Essentials (2001), is specifically aimed at building maintenance workers.

The second, Asbestos Essentials Task Manual (2008), 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 others.

3.5 Demolition Workers

The process of demolition is often carried out over a weekend, utilising casual labour. The presence of asbestos is not necessarily determined prior to a demolition, and as a consequence no knowledge of exposure occurs.

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