The Management of Asbestos in the Non-Occupational Environment
Guidelines to Public Health Units Revised Edition
Date of publication: August 2007
Summary
These guidelines are directed at non-workplace exposure to asbestos in air and are intended to assist public health units of District Health Boards address public concerns and give sensible advice. In addition to drawing together background information, it suggests a protocol for a response related to the likely level of risk to health, and considers how risks may be evaluated and communicated.
Properly applied, the guidelines will assist with determining:
- the risk of an asbestos hazard
- appropriate advice on managing the risk, including risk communication.
In the non-occupational setting, asbestos exposure is unlikely to present a high level of risk. If exposure is encountered the affected person should be encouraged to inform their medical advisor.
Asbestos exposure may also occur to a limited degree through para-occupational exposure, such as living in the vicinity of asbestos-related industries or bringing home contaminated clothes, tools, etc. The general population may also be exposed if they live close to an asbestos-containing waste site or may be exposed from a variety of asbestos-containing products, from poorly performed asbestos removal, or from living with deteriorating asbestos material.
Some public concern continues to be expressed about asbestos-cement products, which were used widely in New Zealand buildings until the mid 1980s. These products normally provide a matrix that binds asbestos fibres, preventing their release, but drilling or sawing, especially with power tools, that disturbs or damages the material can lead to fibres being released into the air. There is concern that the fibres released by such mechanical work may be a hazard to health.
These guidelines exclude the following settings and activities:
- places of work
- ambient (outside) air
- drinking water
- manufactured mineral fibres.
The number of agencies that are potentially involved with management of enquiries concerning asbestos are the Public Health Units, Regional Councils, Department of Labour and Territorial Authorities.
Publication availability
This publication is available in Word and PDF format below:
The Management of Asbestos in the Non-Occupational Environment: Guidelines to Public Health Units Revised Edition (Word, 427 KB)
The Management of Asbestos in the Non-Occupational Environment: Guidelines to Public Health Units Revised Edition (PDF, 239 KB)
This publication is also available in hard copy. You can order a copy by emailing moh@wickliffe.co.nz or calling 04 496 2277 quoting HP number 4422. Please let us know your name, your physical address and how many copies you would like.
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Publishing information
Date of publication: July 2007
ISBN 978-0-478-19160-8 (print)
ISBN 978-0-478-19161-5 (online)
HP 4422
Citation: Ministry of Health. 2007. The Management of Asbestos in the Non-occupational Environment: Guidelines for Public Health Units: Revised edition 2007. Wellington: Ministry of Health.
Related information
Health Education Resources: Asbestos (www.healthed.govt.nz)