Navigating Asbestos in the Workplace: A Guide for Employers

• Buildings constructed before 1 January 2000 are likely to contain asbestos and require a formal identification process.
• Every PCBU must maintain an accurate asbestos register and a written management plan if asbestos is present or likely.
• Asbestos remains New Zealand’s leading cause of work-related deaths, claiming hundreds of lives annually.
• Management plans must be reviewed at least every five years or whenever site conditions change.
• Independent surveys and planning ensure compliance without the conflict of interest often found in removal services.

When we talk about workplace safety in New Zealand, the focus often lands on immediate risks like falls or machinery accidents. However, the most significant threat to Kiwi workers is often invisible. WorkSafe data reveals that about 220 people die each year from an asbestos-related disease , making it New Zealand’s number one workplace killer. For any Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU), managing this risk is a critical health and safety responsibility that protects your team and your business.

A PCBU is a broad term used under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015. It includes employers, property managers, and commercial landlords. If you manage or control a workplace, the law is clear: you have a duty to identify asbestos and manage the risks associated with it. In our experience, many businesses in Hawke’s Bay and across the Manawatū are still catching up with these requirements, often unaware that their older premises require specific documentation to remain compliant.

Asbestos fibres are microscopic and invisible to the naked eye, yet they cause devastating respiratory diseases and cancers. While the use of asbestos in New Zealand peaked decades ago, the legacy of these materials remains in thousands of commercial buildings. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that more than 200,000 deaths globally every year are caused by occupational exposure to asbestos. This accounts for over 70% of all deaths from work-related cancers, highlighting why local duties are part of a massive international health challenge.

Recent scholarly updates suggest the true burden might be even higher. Some analyses indicate that cumulative annual global asbestos mortality could surpass 300,000 deaths. These figures justify a proactive management approach rather than doing the bare minimum. We believe that identifying these materials before they are disturbed is the only way to prevent another generation of workers from facing these terminal illnesses.

The Health and Safety at Work (Asbestos) Regulations 2016 require PCBUs to systematically identify asbestos in the workplace. According to WorkSafe NZ, buildings built before 1 January 2000 are likely to contain asbestos material. If your workplace fits this description, you must identify any asbestos or assume it is present until proven otherwise.

Once identified, you must maintain an asbestos register. This is a live document that records the location, type, and condition of all asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) on your site. If the airborne contamination standard of 0.1 fibres per millilitre of air is exceeded, you must take immediate steps to eliminate or minimise the risk. We have seen cases where a simple maintenance job, like drilling into a wall for new shelving, has led to a full site shutdown because the PCBU did not have an accurate register to show the contractor.

A compliant asbestos management plan must include an asbestos register, risk assessments, clear control measures, and procedures for emergencies and worker training. It serves as a practical tool for day-to-day operations, ensuring that anyone who might disturb the building fabric, such as tradespeople or maintenance staff, knows exactly where the hazards lie. We focus on creating WorkSafe NZ compliant asbestos management plans that are easy to understand and implement.

Your plan is a living document. It must be reviewed at least every five years, or sooner if asbestos is removed, disturbed, or if the workplace conditions change. For example, if you plan a refurbishment, your existing management plan must be updated to reflect the new risks. We often help businesses translate complex survey results into a business legal must-have AMP that keeps everyone safe and keeps the business running without unexpected interruptions.

Managing asbestos often requires cooperation between multiple parties. In a typical commercial setting, the property owner, the property manager, the tenant, and any visiting contractors are all PCBUs with overlapping duties. They must consult, cooperate, and coordinate their activities to ensure everyone’s safety.

Take a commercial property manager in Napier, for example. If they oversee several older retail units, they must ensure the asbestos register is available to the tenants. Likewise, the tenant must ensure that any contractors they hire for shop fit-outs are briefed on the register before work begins. Failure to coordinate often leads to accidental exposure, which can result in significant financial penalties and health risks for workers. We recommend that all PCBUs involved in a building share their management plans and registers to ensure no gaps in safety exist.

Initial compliance costs for a standard workplace start from $210 for testing and $299 for a management survey. We believe in providing clear and transparent pricing to help Hawke’s Bay businesses budget for their safety requirements. Getting compliant is an investment in risk reduction that prevents far more expensive work stoppages and legal issues later on.

Our asbestos service pricing is designed to be accessible for businesses of all sizes. An asbestos management survey starts from $299, while more intensive refurbishment and demolition surveys start from $349. If you already have a plan in place, an asbestos re-inspection survey starts from $299 to ensure your register remains current. We also provide asbestos air monitoring and clearance certificates starting from $299, ensuring that any work areas are safe for re-occupation. All prices exclude GST and provide the peace of mind that comes from working with an independent consultancy.

We operate as an independent asbestos consultancy, which means we do not perform removal work. This independence is vital because it ensures our surveys and management plans are focused entirely on your compliance and safety, without any incentive to recommend unnecessary removal projects. Our role is to provide the facts and the framework you need to manage asbestos safely and legally.

Whether you are managing a warehouse in Gisborne or a retail space in Palmerston North, the requirements are the same. You need a clear understanding of what is in your walls and a plan for how to handle it. By taking these steps now, you are not only meeting your legal obligations but also contributing to the reduction of asbestos-related diseases in New Zealand. We are here to help you move from uncertainty to a clear, WorkSafe-aligned management approach.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information regarding asbestos compliance and does not constitute legal or professional health and safety advice. Always consult with a qualified professional for your specific circumstances.