Stop the repair work immediately
The moment anyone on site suspects they've encountered asbestos during an emergency repair, all work in that area must stop. It doesn't matter how urgent the repair is. A burst pipe or electrical fault is a problem, but uncontrolled asbestos exposure is a worse one.
Tell the tradespeople to put down their tools, leave the area, and not attempt to clean up any debris or dust they may have created. If they've already disturbed the material, they should avoid brushing off their clothes or shaking out dust, as this releases more fibres.
Clear and restrict the area
Move everyone away from the immediate area. How far depends on the situation. If the material appears to be non-friable (solid, bonded, like cement sheeting) and only minor damage has occurred, clearing a few metres and closing the room may be sufficient. If the material is friable (soft, crumbly, or insulation-type), or if significant dust has been generated, clear a wider area and shut down any HVAC systems serving that zone.
Use barriers, signage, or locked doors to prevent anyone from entering until a professional has assessed the situation.
Emergency procedures vs standard process
Both Australian and New Zealand regulations recognise that emergencies happen. There are provisions for dealing with asbestos in urgent situations, but they don't remove your obligations. They adjust the timeline.
In Australia: Licensed asbestos removal normally requires five days' notice to the regulator. In an emergency, removal can proceed with less notice, but the regulator must still be notified as soon as practicable. The removal must still be done by a licensed removalist using proper controls.
In New Zealand: Similar provisions apply. Emergency removal can proceed without the standard five-day notification period, but WorkSafe NZ must be notified as soon as possible. Licensed removal and proper procedures still apply.
The key point: "emergency" means you can move faster on the paperwork. It does not mean you can skip safety controls, use unlicensed workers, or improvise removal methods.
Temporary containment
If the original emergency (the burst pipe, the roof leak, the electrical fault) still needs immediate attention and the asbestos is in the way, a qualified asbestos professional can set up temporary containment. This might involve sealing off the damaged material with plastic sheeting and tape, wetting it down to suppress fibre release, or setting up a localised enclosure so the emergency repair can proceed in a nearby area without disturbing the asbestos further.
This is a short-term measure. It buys you time to address the immediate emergency while proper removal is arranged. Don't treat temporary containment as a permanent solution.
Get a surveyor involved quickly
Contact an asbestos surveyor or consultant as soon as possible. Many firms offer urgent response services for exactly this type of situation. The surveyor will confirm whether the material is asbestos (if it hasn't been previously identified), assess the extent of any contamination, and recommend the appropriate cleanup and removal process.
If the material was already listed on your asbestos register, you already know it's asbestos. The surveyor's role then shifts to assessing the damage, determining whether airborne fibre release has occurred, and advising on decontamination.
Air monitoring
If the material was visibly disturbed, broken, or drilled into, air monitoring should be carried out. Sampling equipment placed in and around the affected area will measure fibre concentrations, helping determine whether the space is safe to reoccupy and whether workers present during the disturbance need to be notified.
Document everything from the start
In emergency situations, documentation often gets neglected in the rush to respond. Make the effort to record the details from the outset: when the material was discovered, who was in the area, what work was being done, what it looked like, and what immediate actions were taken. Note when the surveyor and removalist were contacted and attended.
This record matters for regulatory compliance, insurance purposes, and for following up with any workers who may have been exposed. You'll also need it to update your asbestos register.
Communicating with affected people
If workers or tenants were in the area when the material was disturbed, let them know what happened. Be straightforward: explain that suspect material was found during the repair, that work stopped immediately, and that a professional is assessing the situation. Once you have results, share them.
If air monitoring shows fibre levels were below the exposure standard, that's reassuring information to pass on. If levels were elevated, affected workers should be advised to see their GP and have the exposure recorded.
After the immediate crisis
Once the emergency is resolved and any asbestos has been removed or contained, take the time to review what happened. Was the material on the asbestos register? Were the repair workers briefed on the register before starting? Could this have been prevented with better pre-work checks?
Use the incident to improve your processes. Make sure emergency repair contractors are given access to the asbestos register before starting any work, even urgent work. A two-minute register check before picking up a drill can prevent exactly this kind of situation.