How Do I Decontaminate Myself After Accidental Asbestos Fibre Exposure at Home?

Accidental asbestos exposure at home is understandably alarming, but staying calm and following the right steps immediately can significantly reduce your risk. The key priorities are to stop the spread of fibres, decontaminate yourself carefully, and seek advice from the right people. Do not panic — a single, brief exposure is very different from the prolonged occupational exposure that causes serious illness.

Stop What You're Doing Immediately

The moment you suspect you've disturbed asbestos-containing material (ACM) — whether drilling into old fibro sheeting, sanding textured ceilings, or breaking up old floor tiles — stop work immediately. Every additional movement risks releasing more fibres into the air. Put down your tools, leave the area calmly, and close off the room if you can to prevent fibres spreading through the rest of the house.

Decontaminating Your Body

Follow these steps in order:

1. Move to fresh air — Go outside or to a well-ventilated area away from the disturbed material.
2. Remove your clothing carefully — Peel off outer clothing (don't shake it) and place it into a sealed plastic bag immediately. Shaking clothing releases trapped fibres back into the air.
3. Shower thoroughly — Wash your hair and body with soap and water as soon as possible. Do not use a dry towel on your hair first — wet it in the shower to trap any fibres before washing. Avoid baths, as fibres can settle in the water around you.
4. Blow your nose gently and rinse your mouth — This can help remove any fibres that may have settled in your nasal passages or mouth.
5. Change into clean clothes — Put on fresh clothing that was not in the exposure area.

Do not eat, drink, or smoke before you have showered and changed, as this can transfer fibres to your mouth.

Handling Contaminated Clothing and Items

The sealed bag containing your clothing should be treated as asbestos waste. Do not wash it in your household washing machine, as this can contaminate the machine and release fibres into wastewater. Contact a licensed asbestos removal specialist or your local council for guidance on disposal. In New Zealand, asbestos waste must be disposed of at an approved facility — you cannot put it in your general rubbish bin.

Any tools or equipment that may have been contaminated should be left in the sealed-off area until a professional can assess and decontaminate them.

Containing the Affected Area

While you focus on personal decontamination, it's important to limit the spread of fibres in your home:

• Close doors and windows to the affected room.
• Turn off heat pumps, ventilation fans, or air conditioning that could circulate fibres through the house.
• Do not vacuum the area with a standard household vacuum — this will blow fine fibres straight back into the air. Only a vacuum with a HEPA filter rated for asbestos use is appropriate, and even then, this work is best left to a licensed professional.
• Do not dry sweep — mist the area lightly with water if safe to do so, as damp fibres are less likely to become airborne.

Seek Medical Advice

For a brief, one-off accidental exposure, the long-term health risk is generally considered low, but you should still speak to your GP and let them know what happened, including the type of material disturbed and roughly how long you were exposed. Your doctor can note the exposure in your medical records, which may be important for monitoring your health over time. WorkSafe NZ also has guidance on asbestos health risks that is worth reviewing.

Identifying Asbestos in Your Home

Asbestos was commonly used in New Zealand homes built before 1990 in materials such as fibro (fibre cement) cladding, textured ceiling coatings (like "popcorn" ceilings), vinyl floor tiles, pipe lagging, and roof shingles. If your home was built before 1990 and you're planning any renovation work, it's strongly advisable to have suspected materials tested by an accredited laboratory before you start. BRANZ provides useful guidance on identifying and managing asbestos in residential buildings.

When to Call a Professional

Asbestos removal in New Zealand is regulated work. Under the Health and Safety at Work (Asbestos) Regulations 2016, Class A asbestos removal (friable or high-risk asbestos) must be carried out by a licensed Class A removalist. Class B removal (non-friable asbestos in good condition, less than 10 m²) may be done by a Class B licensed removalist. Check with WorkSafe NZ regarding any circumstances in which a homeowner may undertake limited work on their own home — but WorkSafe NZ strongly recommends using a licensed professional regardless.

You should call a licensed asbestos removal specialist if:

• You are unsure what material was disturbed or whether it contains asbestos.
• The disturbed area is larger than a small patch.
• The material was friable (crumbly or powdery) rather than solid and intact.
• You need the area professionally assessed, air-tested, or cleared before re-entering.
• You need contaminated materials or waste safely removed and disposed of.

You can find qualified, licensed asbestos removal specialists in your area on tradedirectory.co.nz. Always check that any contractor holds the appropriate WorkSafe NZ licence before engaging them.

Sources & Further Reading

• WorkSafe NZ – Asbestos guidance
• BRANZ – Asbestos in homes
• MBIE Building Performance – Building Code and asbestos
• Standards NZ – NZS and asbestos-related standards
• Consumer NZ – Asbestos in the home