One of the best ways of ensuring the health and safety of individuals living or working around asbestos is through air monitoring (or air sampling). This can be through;
- Background air monitoring to determine the air quality in a building or room e.g. a lounge room with an asbestos containing textured ceiling;
- Air quality monitoring before, during and after asbestos removal;
- Air quality monitoring during encapsulation of asbestos containing materials.
What is encapsulation?
Encapsulating asbestos involves treating an asbestos containing material to ensure that the possibility of respirable fibres becoming airborne is eliminated.
Regulations
New Zealand Health and Safety at Work (Asbestos) Regulations 2016 specify that A Class (friable) asbestos removal work must have air monitoring conducted prior to any asbestos removal work commencing and during any asbestos removal work. This must be conducted by an independent licensed Asbestos Assessor.
Health and Safety at Work (Asbestos) Regulations 2016 specify that for B Class (non-friable) asbestos removal work air monitoring is not required but may be carried out by an independent licensed assessor to check;
- If the asbestos removal complies with the approved removal method; and
- The asbestos removalist is carrying out their duty to eliminate or minimise exposure to airborne respirable fibres.
What else do I need to know?
Air monitoring is also recommended if the asbestos removal work is being completed in or next to a public space, near children and at-risk people or with significant public foot traffic in the near vicinity. Only an independent licensed asbestos assessor can carry out air monitoring.
Thomas Consultants are experienced, independent licensed assessors for asbestos removal. Contact us today to for further information and advice.
