Asbestos

Find out more about managing and working with asbestos.

Management and removal of asbestos

This Approved Code of Practice sets out WorkSafe New Zealand’s (WorkSafe) expectations about how to comply with asbestos health and safety law, including the Health and Safety at Work (Asbestos) Regulations 2016.

Conducting asbestos surveys: Good practice guidelines for asbestos surveyors

Good practice advice for how to plan, carry out, and report the results of an asbestos survey.

Working with asbestos

Access the latest guidance on working with asbestos. You can also find information on duties relating to work involving asbestos – licensed and unlicensed.

Asbestos Quick Guides for tradespeople

Asbestos poses a significant health risk for tradespeople, which is why we have launched four new guides designed to help plumbers, builders, electricians and painters quickly understand their responsibilities and manage the risks when working with or near asbestos.

Conducting asbestos surveys – Good practice guidance for asbestos surveyors

Asbestos in the home

This information provides advice about what homeowners or residential tenants should do if they think there could be asbestos in their home or on their property.

Asbestos licensing

Find out whether you'll need a licence under the asbestos removal licence system and how to go about applying for one.

Certification of safety management systems

Any businesses applying for a Class A asbestos removal licence must have a certified safety management system in place by 4 April 2018.

Consultations

Whether you‘re a representative from a large organisation, a self-employed contractor or an interested member of the public, your views are important to us and we encourage you to have your say.

What you should know about working with asbestos

Anyone who works on the fabric of a building may be at risk of disturbing asbestos.

Asbestos safety after a natural event or emergency

When homes and other buildings containing asbestos are damaged during floods, the asbestos-containing materials can become eroded, disturbed, broken, or friable.

Managing asbestos in your building or workplace – for PCBUs

Guidance for businesses, commercial and residential landlords, body corporates, and information on asbestos management plans.

Pipelines - Safe Work Instrument

This is the Health and Safety in Employment (Pipelines - Design, Construction, Operation, Maintenance, Suspension, and Abandonment Requirements) Safe Work Instrument 2023.

Introduction to the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 – special guide

A guide to New Zealand’s key work health and safety law and its regulator.

We are updating our asbestos guidance

With input from industry, we are currently working on redeveloping and updating our asbestos-related guidance.

Consultation: Asbestos-related guidance for tradespeople

Asbestos exposure register

Find out about the Asbestos Exposure Database.

Consultation: Good practice guidance for asbestos assessors

Asbestos removal: Good practice guidelines for licensed and unlicensed asbestos removalists

Duty to notify licensed asbestos removal

Before you start any work to remove asbestos, you must inform WorkSafe at least five days before the work starts

Asbestos license holder registers

Find a current asbestos removal licence holder or asbestos assessor.

Asbestos licence holder registers

Find a current licenced asbestos removalist or assessor using our asbestos licence holder registers.

Protective clothing and equipment for working with or near asbestos

This guidance provides information about personal protective equipment (PPE) for working with or near asbestos.

Asbestos in Aotearoa New Zealand

This guidance is for anyone interested in the history of asbestos in New Zealand and the diseases it can cause.