| 57 Canterbury Demolition CONTRACTING Removing the safety risks in demolition Most of Canterbury Demolition’s work involves work on residential properties, covering all of the South Island. Rachel Graham Asbestos Specialists We provide Asbestos Testing, surveying removals and remediation of asbestos contaminated material in residential, commercial and industrial properties throughout Christchurch and the South Island. Also: • Decontamination of sites • Soil Remediation • Mould Removal 021 337 601 www.esnzl.nz ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES (N.Z) LTD Asbestos is the number one killer in the workplace in New Zealand, killing around 170 people each year according to WorkSafe. Despite that Shane Breach, the managing director of Canterbury Demolition, says too many people still try to undertake asbestos removal work themselves, or hire an inexperienced practitioner. Asbestos was commonly used as a fire retardant and insulation up until the mid-1980s, until blue and brown asbestos in its raw friable state was banned in 1984. White asbestos was banned in 1999, and since 2016 all imports of products containing asbestos have been banned, except with a special permit. That leaves a pretty big chance of still encountering asbestos when demolishing a residential or commercial building that was built prior to 2000. If you do start demolition and encounter asbestos and the asbestos fibres become airborne, this can pose a serious health risk. WorkSafe NZ warns that once fibres are breathed in they lodge in the lungs and may cause asbestosis, lung cancer or mesothelioma. Shane Breach says most people know the risks of asbestos now, but some still aren’t taking the right precautions because they worry about the costs they might face. He says anytime someone is doing demolition on a building built prior to 2000 they should look at getting the building surveyed to determine if they might be dealing with asbestos. “It can end up costing even more if you start a job, and then need to stop due to asbestos, “as well as posing a risk to workers health.” He says he still encounters builders who think they can tackle asbestos work without the speciality training, or homeowners who think it will be a cheaper option to handle it themselves. “Bringing in a specialist crew like Canterbury Demolition can give you peace of mind it’s being handled right. The risk to yourself, and how bad it can be if you don’t use the right procedures, and potentially contaminate the whole property, that’s a much higher cost than getting someone who knows what they are doing and who will stand by the quality of their work.” In New Zealand the Asbestos Regulations do not apply to asbestos removal work you do in or around your own home, but they do apply to any person you engage to work on your home. The Ministry of Health recommends that you use a WorkSafe New Zealand licensed asbestos removalist to remove any substantial quantity of asbestos. Shane says for a company like his which specialises in removing asbestos they know they have the right gear, and the right training to remove the asbestos with the least dust possible. Canterbury Demolition does full residential and commercial demolition, strip outs, and can help with a partial demolition when doing renovations. He says most of their work involves work on residential properties, and they cover all of the South Island. The team can also help out in emergency situations, such as a fire or flood, which they have been involved with recently in Nelson. In such emergency situations, Shane and his team can help to clear buildings or sites and help make sure the site is safe once more. As with their expert training in dealing with asbestos, his team are highly trained on how to clear a site. “Any man and his dog can go out and buy a digger and start a demo. But there should be a requirement for a certain level of expertise and standard of work, just like when you offer professional asbestos removal services. “If you come us you can be reassured that you are getting a quality standard.”
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