Page 46 - Build 153

Hazards
Asbestos- contaminated soil
Working with industry experts, BRANZ has built on existing international information to develop guidance for dealing with asbestos- contaminated soils in New Zealand.
BY LEE BINT, BRANZ SUSTAINABLE BUILDING SCIENTIST
BRANZ RECENTLY IDENTIFIED that there is no New Zealand-speci c guidance for home, property and business owners about the options and process for dealing with soil that contains asbestos. Discovering asbestos can be a very confusing and legally challenging ordeal, and clear guidance would be valuable.
Advice from a team of experts
BRANZ has been working with experts from central and local government as well as industry to advise on the development of an asbestos guidance document. This guidance is very timely with the Health and Safety at Work (Asbestos) Regulations 2016 coming into force on 4 April.
Liaison with international experts has been invaluable throughout the project. This has provided learnings from overseas legislation and guidance, especially on what has and hasn’t worked for them and what information is necessary for home and property owners.
Extensive guidance from start to end
The guidance will help home, property and business owners understand how to deal with asbestos-contaminated soil in New Zealand. It will include:
● thetriggersforchecking,identifyingandtestingwhetherasbestos
is present in soil
● why it is important – that is, how it a ects health
● preliminarysiteinvestigation
● detailed site investigation, methods for sampling and risk
assessment
● asbestos management plan
● remedial options
● ongoing monitoring and obligations
44 — April/May 2016 — Build 153
FEATURE SECTION