Asbestos & Silica Dust, Kaipara District Council

Asbestos & Silica Dust

Asbestos

Asbestos is seriously dangerous, and is considered the number one killer in New Zealand workplaces. We have therefore prepared an information sheet (refer to the link below) providing guidance and awareness of the dangers associated with asbestos. We have also featured the obligations that Persons Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU’s) have with regards to the identification and management of asbestos.

Please refer to WorkSafe New Zealand for further information on the removal of Asbestos including who removes it, registered Assessors and where it is to be taken or use the link to WorkSafe New Zealand

Please also notify an Environmental Health Officer at Kaipara District Council for advise and inform us of any Asbestos related matters by emailing health@kaipara.govt.nz

Alternatively, please call Customer Services on 0800 727 059 and ask to speak to an Environmental Health representative.

The following links are designed to assist you:

Respirable Crystalline Silica Dust

Silica is a natural substance found in concrete, bricks, rocks, stone (including artificial or engineered stone found in composite kitchen benchtops), sand and clay. RCS dust is created when materials containing silica are cut, ground, drilled, sanded, polished or otherwise disturbed. RCS particles are extremely small; they can’t always be seen with the naked eye.

Silicosis is a progressive and deadly disease that causes fibrosis of the lungs from the inhalation of respirable crystalline silica (RCS) dust.

It is the PCBU’s responsibility as a duty to eliminate, or use controls to minimise worker exposure to the hazard of, and risks from, RCS dust.

The following link is designed to assist you:

WorkSafe NZ - Silica Dust