New Zealand workers at construction sites, manufacturing facilities, or older buildings are at a higher risk of exposure to hazardous substances, including asbestos.
Asbestos is still one of the most common hazardous materials present in older buildings. Before the 1990s, asbestos was widely used as a construction material because of its durability, fire resistance, and insulation properties. However, asbestos exposure continues to pose a threat to workers today. Asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) can still be found in the walls, ceilings, flooring tiles, pipes, roofing shingles, and other surfaces and materials.
In this blog, we will discuss how to recognise asbestos as one of the main hazardous substances in the workplace. Read on to discover the steps you can take to keep your workplace and employees safe with Consultex Labs.
Identifying Hazardous Substances In The Workplace
Long-term asbestos exposure can lead to severe health risks such as asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung cancer. Short-term symptoms of exposure include persistent coughing, shortness of breath and chest pain or tightness.
Recognising the signs of asbestos exposure is important to prevent employees from becoming ill and maintain a safe working environment. While it is challenging to spot these signs immediately, several factors can help you identify hazardous asbestos substances in the workplace.
Knowing The Building’s Age
Start by reviewing any documentation or information that confirms the building’s age. Older buildings constructed between the 1950s and 1980s are at a higher risk of containing asbestos.
When workers demolish or maintain these buildings, they might disturb or move materials like roofing, insulation, or pipes. This can damage and release harmful asbestos fibres into the air, which is then inhaled. If you work in an older building, always assume that these materials contain asbestos until you can test and confirm the results of hazardous substances in the workplace.
Textured Materials
It is impossible to identify asbestos fibres in the air without specialist equipment, but you can look for materials with a textured or rough appearance.
Before walking around the building, make sure you are wearing PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), including protective clothing, eye protection, gloves, and a respiratory mask. Start by checking the ceiling tiles. If you see any crumbling or rough textures, the material may contain asbestos. This texture is common in older, non-fibrous materials that could be hazardous substances in the workplace.
Another example is looking for insulation on pipes or boilers, which might have a fibrous appearance and a white or grey colour around the duct. This is another sign that asbestos may be present. At this point, avoid moving or touching any of the materials. Contact a professional asbestos service to help you identify hazardous substances in the workplace and develop a safety management plan to remove these materials from the building.
Warning Signs
Previous workers may have placed warning signs in asbestos-containing buildings to indicate the presence of hazardous substances in the workplace and where asbestos materials are likely to be located.
If you suspect asbestos is in the building, carefully search for warning signs or labels. Safety comes first, so wear and use the appropriate PPE. If you come across any warning signs or labels indicating the presence of asbestos, do not disturb, move, or try to inspect the material yourself. Report it to the site manager and contact a professional asbestos testing and sampling service.
Asbestos Testing
If you are concerned about asbestos exposure in the workplace, get the ACMs tested by Consultex Labs before continuing with any work.
Our expert team uses advanced techniques, including microscopy, to analyse various workplace materials. Then, our technicians conduct bulk analyses of the samples to accurately determine the asbestos content. Testing for asbestos is a key step in creating a HAZMAT-approved asbestos management plan to ensure the health and safety of your workplace.
Our IANZ-accredited lab technicians offer same-day results to confirm the presence of asbestos in your workplace. We also provide competitive rates, so you don’t have to worry about breaking the bank while ensuring the safety of your workplace.
How Asbestos Air Sampling Works
Since asbestos fibres are invisible to the human eye, air sampling is crucial to determine how much of the material has flaked away. Our technicians use specialist equipment to sample the air. Air is drawn through a membrane filter, which captures airborne asbestos fibres. Then, our lab technicians analyse the fibres trapped in the filter to confirm the presence of asbestos and the quantity of fibres detected in the air.
To keep your crew safe from asbestos’s detrimental effects and hazards, you can arrange regular asbestos air sampling with Consultex Labs.
Keep Your Workplace Safe with Consultex Labs.
If you are worried about hazardous substances in your workplace, it’s important to act quickly to avoid putting yourself and others at risk. Contact the Consultex Labs team today to test your sample quickly and accurately with our professional asbestos services. Let’s keep your workplace safe from hazardous materials.