Improve your ability to spot and manage asbestos risks with new training to help keep you safe on site.
Ahead of Asbestos Awareness Week this month (18-24 November), Site Safe is reminding Kiwi construction workers of the critical importance of managing the hazardous material and has launched new training to improve safety.
Asbestos exposure is New Zealand’s number one workplace killer. Despite the serious health risks of asbestos exposure being widely known for 80+ years, around 220 people die each year from asbestos-related disease.
As well as its Practical Safety Advice - Asbestos | Site Safe has partnered with WorkSafe to provide new Asbestos Awareness training. This programme will provide people with the knowledge they need to spot and manage the risks that come with exposure to asbestos fibres. The course is beneficial to people across a wide range of industries, particularly those in the trades and maintenance.
WorkSafe New Zealand is also in the process of updating its own guidance. The first set of WorkSafe’s updated asbestos guidance now available on its website, is developed for homeowners, commercial and residential landlords, and businesses that come across asbestos.
This half-day entry level course, developed in collaboration with WorkSafe, is designed to equip workers across various industries with the essential knowledge to protect themselves and others from asbestos-related hazards.
Who should attend
- Anyone new to or currently working in the New Zealand construction industry
- Those who may work or live in buildings that may contain asbestos
What you'll learn
You will learn how to:
- Understand what asbestos is and its physical properties
- Recognise the historical uses of asbestos
- Distinguish between friable and non-friable asbestos
- Identify existing sources of asbestos
- Understand the health hazards associated with asbestos
- Recognise common sources of asbestos in construction
- Identify asbestos
- Understand asbestos legislation
- Follow safety procedures once asbestos is identified
At the end of the course, you'll complete a Review of Understanding. This is a written assessment that checks your understanding of the key concepts learned during the course.
If you pass, you will be issued a digital Site Safety Card valid for two years.
What you'll get
- A Site Safety Card, valid for two years (most major New Zealand contractors require workers to have a valid Site Safety Card before entering a construction site)
- 4 Licensed Building Practitioner points
- Unit Standard 2138 Demonstrate knowledge of asbestos and safety procedures v6 – Level 2, 1 credit
Next learning steps
You'll need to complete another Site Safe course every two years to keep your Site Safety Card current.
For more information, see:
