How asbestos can derail your business

There are many commercial buildings in New Zealand that were built between the 1930s and the 1980s. As such, there are many commercial buildings in New Zealand that contain asbestos today. 

As those buildings are ageing, they increasingly need professional asbestos removal or management to ensure they do not become hazardous to workers, site visitors, and the surrounding public. 

That can be a nightmare for business owners. 

Auckland Museum closes galleries due to asbestos 

Recently, the Auckland Museum closed its Maori and Pacifika galleries due to asbestos. Despite being two of the museum’s most popular exhibits, they are now closed indefinitely after asbestos was detected in the original 1929 building and the Grand Foyer, as well as other areas. 

Estimates are currently suggesting that it may take four years to reopen these galleries, with work commencing to prepare for the museum’s planned centenary celebrations in 2029. 

“The recent discovery of asbestos came to light during initial investigative work for this centenary programme. It is now clear that it will have a significant impact on our plans, and we need to prioritise the safe remediation of the asbestos issue,” explained a museum spokesperson. 

The museum is said to have lost more than $450,000 in potential revenue in May alone, which could signal much larger losses the longer these galleries remain closed. 

Asbestos and minimising business interruption 

The Auckland Museum’s closure this year has been in the spotlight due to the attraction’s high profile, but it’s not the only business to have to close due to asbestos, and it won’t be the last. 

While it will likely be a large and complicated project for the museum to remediate, smaller businesses should at least be able to organise asbestos removal quickly. At PRO Environmental Services, we often work with commercial properties to remove asbestos as quickly and safely as possible so that you can minimise the amount of time the business is out of operation. 

For example, this workshop in Masterton had found asbestos on the property, but as it was considered stable, they were not initially planning to have it removed. However, an accident on site made asbestos removal immediately necessary. Fortunately, PROES was able to complete the project within just one day, allowing the workshop to quickly reopen. 

PRO Environmental Services and efficient asbestos removal 

PROES offers asbestos removal for both residential and commercial properties across the lower North Island and upper South Island. Importantly, we’re acutely aware of how the time it takes to complete the project affects a business’ bottom line. 

That’s why we will work with you to ensure the project is completed as quickly as possible, while meeting all Health and Safety guidelines and ensuring our team and your workplace remains safe from hazardous substances. If that means working during weekends to get you back in business, that’s what we’ll do. 

Additionally, we know how important it is to have accurate timeframes. With dates you can be sure of, you can prepare and plan for your business closure accordingly. And while we can’t predict emergencies, we have been doing asbestos removal for long enough to provide accurate and realistic timeframes for our clients. 

Should you need asbestos removal for your business, you can request a free, no-obligation quote here. If you need to discuss timeframes, give us a call on 04 886 2003, or if you’re in a situation where you need emergency asbestos removal as soon as humanly possible, don’t hesitate to get in touch.