A recent report from the UK Work and Pensions Committee highlights how despite being banned more than two decades ago, asbestos persists as the single greatest cause of work-related fatalities in the UK. The report recommended a deadline should...
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Chaetomium is a mould that thrives in damp conditions. As winter approaches, damp homes provide the perfect environment for the growth and spread of this mould species. Damp homes provide a multitude of nutrients for this type of mould, including...
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Mould has been in the news again with new research from University of Otago, Wellington finding students are more than twice as likely to live in cold, damp and mouldy homes than the general population. Covid-19, has seen more students who might...
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A recent study by University of Otago geography researchers has found “abundant evidence” of asbestos fibres in drinking water in 35 locations around Christchurch and say this would be replicated in water supplies around the country. Asbestos...
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Just in time for the start of the mould season there was a timely article in the New Zealand Herald last week. The tenancy tribunal awarded almost $8000 in compensation to a tenant due to the landlord’s failure to do repairs, and for damage...
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The team here at Focus are super excited to introduce Angelina Bernal as our newly appointed Senior Analyst for Mould and Microanalysis. Angelina has an extensive career in Microbiology and has experience in analysing a variety of samples...
Read moreSAMPLE OF THE WEEK // The humble fibre cement sheeting sample. It’s a common sample type that we see in the lab daily. Fibre cement sheeting is considered a bonded material with an asbestos concentration ranging from 15% to 50%. This...
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COUNTING FIBRES // The Membrane Filter Method (or MFM) is a method that is well known and utilised for the counting and quantification of respirable fibres in the air. This method (like many laboratory techniques) has its pros and cons which we...
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TEAMWORK // Humbled and grateful to receive this years ‘Supplier of the Year’ award at the #NZDAA Demolition and Asbestos Awards. Both our Auckland and Tauranga labs have worked extremely hard to make sure that we meet and exceed our...
Read moreHOW TO VIDEO // Forensic lifts have proved to be extremely popular with our clients. In this short video, we outline how to properly use these, to ensure you capitalise on time to validate and clear sites safely and quickly. #asbestos #laboratory...
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Laboratory Accreditation is a procedure by which an authoritative body gives a formal recognition that a Conformity Assessment Body fulfils specified requirements and is competent to carry out specific tasks. This assure the customer of...
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Not only is the sampling, identification and management of asbestos important to reduce the risk of asbestos, but so is the way samples are submitted to the laboratory. Our junior analyst, Kathryn Mackay writes about how samples should be...
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