Asbestos Awareness week 17 - 23 November 2025

When it comes to workplace hazards, asbestos is often treated like a problem of the past. People assume it was banned decades ago, that it only affects certain trades, or that “it’s fine as long as you don’t touch it.”

But here’s the blunt truth…. asbestos hasn’t gone away.

It’s still in buildings, infrastructure, and even some products across Aotearoa, quietly putting workers, communities, and businesses at risk.

Check out our special offer below to make asbestos awareness a little nicer to have - take action today!

What Is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fibre, dug out of the ground and prized for its strength, heat resistance, and insulating properties. It was used extensively in New Zealand construction and industrial materials, especially in the 1950s-1980s when the majority of our existing buildings and infrastructure were created.

While raw asbestos was banned in 2000, asbestos containing materials (ACMs) weren’t prohibited for import until 2016. This means thousands of buildings and products still contain asbestos today, including building cladding, insulation, roofing, electrics, water pipes and so, so much more…

Plus, being part of a global market for manufacturing of many products, some new things still make it into NZ containing asbestos countries with a full asbestos ban are in the minority [just google it - there are too many instances of this just in the last few months…].

What Is Asbestos Awareness?

Ever heard “you only know what you know”? The very first piece of knowledge is that asbestos exists. But this isn’t enough. It’s knowing what different ACMs look like, understanding where it might be, what the risks are if it’s disturbed and what to do if you think it has been disturbed (by yourself or by others!). It’s about being alert, educated and prepared.

While direct causal data linking awareness to reduced disease incidence is limited, given the long latency period and many individual variables, strong indications exist that improved awareness supports safer behaviour, leading to reduced risk.

Awareness is the first step, but it must be followed by action: proper training, safe work practices and clear procedures for managing asbestos day to day or removing asbestos safely.

The Real Impact on Human Health

The consequences of ignoring asbestos are severe. Unlike other workplace hazards, IT ISN”T JUST ABOUT YOU!!! Sorry for shouting, but this is such an important point that we really want you to take away. Everyone who uses a space where asbestos has been disturbed is at risk of exposure. This is not scaremongering, this is a well documented fact.

Asbestos fibres are microscopic and easily inhaled, causing fatal diseases that may not appear for decades:

Mesothelioma - aggressive cancer of the lining of the lungs, intestines, heart, testicles.
Asbestosis - scarring of the lungs leading to breathing difficulties.
Lung cancer - often exacerbated by smoking because lung damage + lung damage = extra lung damage.
Non fatal, but still not nice diseases, can include plural plaques, asbestos warts

These diseases are PREVENTABLE, but only if exposure is managed responsibly. The cost of ignorance is measured in human lives.

Check out the Mesothelioma Support & Asbestos Awareness Trust - they are our chosen charity to support. 10% of all out eLearning training courses (scroll down!) gets donated to them so they can help more people affected by asbestos disease.

You don’t have to jump on a course to donate though! https://www.msaatrust.org.nz/donate

Reviewing Your Knowledge: Where Are the Gaps?

The first step for any business or individual is to honestly assess your current understanding:

Audit your workspaces and projects - Which buildings, sites, or materials could contain asbestos?
Evaluate your team’s knowledge - Have your staff been trained to identify asbestos hazards?
Examine your procedures - Are there clear protocols for safe work, refurbishment, or demolition?
Identify gaps and risks - What do you not know that could put workers or the public in danger?

This process is not about finger pointing or getting hung up on what has happened in the past. What we want is to learn and move forward on the right foot.

It’s tempting to bury your head in the sand. We’re all busy, and asbestos can feel like a “nice to have” topic. But the truth is, putting off awareness is a risk you can’t afford.

The Cost of Not Being Aware

Failing to address asbestos can have wide-ranging consequences:

For businesses - Regulatory fines, reputational damage, increased insurance costs, and potential litigation.
For workers - Life-changing health impacts, loss of income, and long-term medical issues.
For communities - Accidental exposure during renovations, waste handling, or demolition.

Ignoring the issue doesn’t make it disappear. It compounds the risk for everyone involved.

Take Action: Training That Works

The best defence is knowledge paired with action. Public asbestos awareness sessions are a great starting point, but many industries require tailored training to address their unique challenges.

SQN’s training programmes combine interactive content, practical examples, and visual resources to help teams learn in a way that sticks. Bespoke sessions are designed around the work your people actually do, ensuring the knowledge is immediately applicable.

A Call to Awareness

Asbestos doesn’t take a day off and neither should our commitment to safety. Take the time now to review your knowledge, fill in the gaps, and equip your teams with the right tools to manage asbestos safely. Awareness without action is a risk in itself.

If you want to ensure your workplace, your team, and your community are protected, start with training. Join our public sessions or contact us to discuss bespoke industry specific programmes that make asbestos awareness practical, relevant, and impactful.

Because true safety isn’t just about knowing. It’s about doing.

Let us help you

Jump on our eLearning courses here: https://school.sqn.co.nz/

Enter the coupon code AAW2025 for 20% discount.

By buying our online courses, you are supporting the MSAA Trust with a donation (10%) and making the world a little bit safer with your new asbestos knowledge.

Jump on our LinkedIn to keep up to date with the asbestos industry