Members are advised that due to asbestos being identified in one sample bulk air supply tank  that was used prior to 2023 to fill Breathing Apparatus (BA) cylinders at Auckland City Station, we are concerned about a possible risk of asbestos contamination in breathing apparatus cylinders that were filled from that air tank.

Asbestos has been identified in the compressor and sample bulk supply air tank.  A very small level of asbestos was found in the supply bulk air supply tank.

This was one of 6 bulk air supply tanks.  The compressor and the bulk air supply tanks have not been in use since 2023.  There has been additional tests on the bulk air supply tank  to see whether the asbestos would transfer from that tank to a breathing apparatus cylinder and those tests demonstrated that the identified asbestos remained in the bulk air supply tank. 

To date no breathing apparatus cylinders have been tested as FENZ has lost the selected sample cylinders that had been filled from the tanks prior to 2023 -  unbelievable!  

Those breathing apparatus cylinders might have returned results where no asbestos was found, or alternatively might have identified asbestos.   At least if they had been tested we would have had that information. 

This news will be very distressing for many firefighters who now have the uncertainty of the safety of their BAs potentially filled using this sample bulk air tank prior to 2023.    To not have any tests to either confirm or refute any potential risk will no doubt cause anger and frustration as FENZ has once again let them down on one of the most regulated toxins in workplaces. 

Firefighters use breathing apparatus to breathe and mitigate against inhaling toxins and carcinogens while firefighting fires.  They must have confidence in their uniform and equipment in order to do the most dangerous of work.  Even if there is no risk, the possibility may well cause harm to their wellbeing and undermine necessary confidence. 

The NZPFU will be organising opportunities for our Auckland City Station members, and any others potentially affected, to talk to appropriate asbestos experts about these events and the possible risks.

The air compressor, bulk air supply tanks  and BA cylinder room were sealed or put out of service in 2023 in order to undertake testing for asbestos.   The NZPFU and FENZ experts had agreed on a testing regime as we have not been able to find other fire agencies who have faced a similar concern.    The agreed testing regime was to test the compressor, a sample bulk air supply tank, and sample BA cylinders filled from those tanks in 2023.   Asbestos was detected in the compressor and the bulk air supply tank and on the rack where BA cylinders were stored.

It was only when FENZ provided a report from FENZ’s consultants on the compressor on 30 October 2025 that the NZPFU became aware that the breathing apparatus cylinders had not been tested.  The consultants state they never received the BA cylinders for testing.  FENZ says they do not know where the sample breathing apparatus sets specifically selected for testing are. 

Upon receipt of FENZ’s report the NZPFU had our own consultants analyse the report and testing methodology.  We received our Consultant’s report yesterday and provided it to FENZ.  Our consultants have informed us of the following:

1. The testing methodology undertaken was not consistent with the methodology agreed by NZPFU and FENZ experts prior to the testing.  There are a number of discrepancies between the original methodology proposed, reviewed, discussed and agreed.
2. FENZ’s consultant’s report (that we received on the 30 October) does not clearly identify that the compressor, the filling tanks or any BA cylinders are free of asbestos or that they should go back into service.
3. There is evidence that there may be a wider exposure risk due to the asbestos found within the single tank tested by FENZ’s Consultants. Although we shouldn’t overstate the significance of a single result, this should be investigated further as a matter of urgency. The processor tanks feed the BA cylinders which are used by Firefighters. Regardless of the potential source of the asbestos there is a possible exposure concern if contaminated BA cylinders are in use. 

The NZPFU immediately sent its report and FENZ’s report to Worksafe yesterday and have escalated it to WorkSafe Management.

We have written to FENZ stating they need to act with urgency on this issue. 

FENZ have responded stating we have raised complex scientific matters which they are now seeking expert advice. 

We are not raising the complex scientific matters as FENZ were made aware from their consultant’s report which they provided to the NZPFU on 30^th October 2025. We have provided them with our expert’s report which has found discrepancies in the methodology and highlighted the possible risk due to the failure to test BA cylinders as agreed.  

FENZ has already had a fortnight to determine the appropriate action to take. 

• It is the Union's view the compressor, bulk air supply tanks and BA cylinder rooms should never be re-commissioned or in use ever again.

• That unless FENZ can categorically demonstrate no risk of contamination in breathing apparatus that were filled by the storage cylinders,  then they have to act to mitigate the risk of contamination now.

• We may never know if there was any contamination unless applicable BAs cylinders and sets are appropriately tested and return results of no detection of asbestos.

• The five other tanks bulk air supply tanks should be tested for asbestos with urgency.

• If FENZ is not willing to undertake the appropriate testing with urgency they should remove the BA cylinders that were possibly filled from the sample bulk storage tank from service immediately.  That is likely to at least 700 sets.

• We understand the BA sets are nearly at end of life  FENZ should procure new BA cylinders and sets now in order to decommission all cylinders that had possibly been filled through the tanks prior to 2023 and therefore have a possible risk of contamination.

Auckland City Station was closed on 10^th October 2025 and trucks taken offline and sent for decontamination after FENZ received a verbal notification from their consultants that tests taken in July 2025 had identified the presence of asbestos in the room where BA cylinders were stored.  This room is separate to where the compressor and the bulk air supply tanks are stored.  It is a separate room where BA cylinders are stored by asbestos was identified in that room.    That room had only been re-opened in August after FENZ management informed staff it had been decontaminated and cleared for use.  

We were also alarmed to learn that FENZ had put washing machines in that room for the use of risk reduction staff to wash uniform contaminated on the incident ground.  This also should never have occurred as any uniform must be properly laundered to prevent ongoing contamination of toxins and carcinogens in structure fires and other incident types.   

The NZPFU has requested (a number of times) the clearance certificates for that room to be put back in use but have not received that documentation.  We have also asked how the room was deemed safe when there were outstanding tests, why it took from July to October 10 to identify positive asbestos results from those outstanding tests, and why it took a further 20 days to provide the full report which has now raised the concern about possible risk of contamination in breathing apparatus.  We have also asked for the documentation of the cleaning of the fire appliances as only certified providers can decontaminate for asbestos.  We believe the trucks were just cleaned, not decontaminated. Testing on those trucks did not result in any positive tests for asbestos but FENZ must act appropriately when there is a risk.

FENZ has failed to provide the information requested and the Union will be taking all available action to force full transparency as well as hold them responsible for any exposure resulting from opening the room for use in August.

The reality is that Auckland City station needs to be closed to be either completely remediated from Asbestos, or pulled down and rebuilt.  The risk of contamination of asbestos in a number of areas in the buildings outweighs any financial constraints FENZ might want to impose.  FENZ has demonstrated time and time again that they cannot be trusted to take the appropriate steps necessary to manage risk and mitigate exposures. 

This whole situation has demonstrated an appalling disregard for the health and safety of staff that work from Auckland City Station.

We are urging Worksafe to use its powers with urgency to protect any possible ongoing risk to those working from Auckland City Station, including those that have or are using BA cylinders that may have been filled from the sample bulk air tank prior to 2023.

The NZPFU will remain in regular contact with WorkSafe and will update members of any developments.

In unity,
Wattie Watson
National Secretary

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