Ever since the world identified asbestos as the hazardous material that it is, the testing industry has been steadily working on finding better ways to prevent dangerous levels of exposure.
The effects of asbestos exposure are numerous and incredibly hazardous. Everything from asbestosis to mesothelioma can crop up after working with this material long-term, which is why it’s so important to be able to identify asbestos fibres. Especially for construction workers and demolition workers who might encounter asbestos-containing materials in their day to day work.
From the early days of testing to the evolution of modern day asbestos equipment hire in Auckland for on-site monitoring, there are hundreds of ways that testing technologies have evolved over the years. Read on for our full breakdown of the incredible history of asbestos testing technologies.
The Early Days of Asbestos Testing
It all started when the dangers of working in and around asbestos first came to light. While New Zealand first became aware of these hazards back in 1936, it took a while for the wheels to turn. In fact, it took all the way until 1971, when the National Asbestos Survey was first released. This survey analysed the effects of asbestos on construction workers, and discovered the realities of asbestosis.
Things picked up, and the early stages of asbestos testing began shortly after. But things weren’t formalised in Aotearoa until around 2015, when the Health and Safety at Work Act established The Asbestos Regulations. This laid out an Approved Code of Practice for the Management and Removal of Asbestos.
As public awareness of this issue continued to grow, evolving techniques and more contemporary asbestos equipment hire in Auckland began to colour the landscape of construction work.
The First Advances: Polarised Light Microscopy (PLM)
One of the very first advances we saw come into the limelight was Polarised Light Microscopy (PLM). This is essentially a way to measure how light interacts with asbestos fibres, allowing technicians to get a look at asbestos fibres and differentiate between the types.
This was a leap forward, and one we still use today! It’s an extremely effective first measure for asbestos testing, helping labs conduct bulk analyses on properties with many potential sources of asbestos. That said, when it comes to more granular analysis of asbestos, the field still needed more innovation.
Higher Precision: Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM)
Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) evolved from PLM, allowing for better resolution and greater magnification. In other words, technicians can use this technique to get an even better look at asbestos fibres.
The increased precision means TEM is excellent for air sampling, as the increased magnification allows us to pick up smaller fibres.
The Next Step: Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)
From TEM came Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), which uses focused electron beams to create high-resolution images of any sampled asbestos fibres. This technique means we can analyse larger samples at once, which is excellent for bulk material testing prior to demolitions.
This technique can even produce images of asbestos fibres in three dimensions, which means we can have a greater understanding of the condition of the asbestos. This is a great way to determine whether the asbestos is stable enough to be isolated and left in the property, or if it needs to be removed entirely (a.k.a. determine if it is friable or non-friable).
Testing In-Situ: Real-Time Testing and Field-Ready Technology
The final and most recent evolution we’ve seen in the world of asbestos detection techniques and asbestos equipment hire in Auckland is the creation of real-time testing equipment. Being able to measure whether or not asbestos has been released into the air during demolition and construction work is extremely important, as this can minimise dangerous levels of exposure.
That’s where air monitoring devices have become one of the most important innovations in recent years. Real-time collection of the air around construction and demolition sites is one piece of the this equation, but being able to test those samples quickly can really make the difference. That’s why on-site mobile asbestos testing labs are so important.
It’s true that asbestos testing techniques have undergone some incredible evolution over the years. These changes have had a big impact on the construction industry, as well as public health in general. Things kicked off with Aotearoa’s Asbestos Survey, and since then we’ve evolved all the way to real-time testing and mobile asbestos laboratories that can watch for asbestos contamination as work is ongoing.
In other words: we’re now far more equipped to keep construction crews safe than we’ve ever been. What’s exciting is that there are more changes on the horizon. With the integration of AI technology and robotics into many other fields, the field of asbestos equipment hire in Auckland and worldwide asbestos management isn’t far behind.
Enjoy the benefits of modern asbestos testing technology with the experienced team at Consultex Labs.
Ready to embark on asbestos testing during construction or demolition work? Talk to the team at Consultex Labs about asbestos equipment hire in Auckland!
We offer mobile asbestos testing for on-site work, equipment for air monitoring, and urgent turnarounds on professionally-accredited asbestos testing. Get in touch with the team to get started.