The three main roles
When you're dealing with asbestos in a commercial property, you'll encounter three types of professionals. Their roles overlap in some areas, but the distinctions matter, especially when it comes to licensing, independence, and what each one is qualified to do.
Asbestos surveyors
A surveyor's job is identification. They inspect buildings, take samples of suspect materials, and produce the survey report that tells you what contains asbestos and what doesn't. The survey report feeds directly into your asbestos register.
Surveyors carry out both management surveys (for buildings in normal use) and refurbishment/demolition surveys (before renovation or demolition work). They need to be competent in asbestos identification, which in practice means holding relevant qualifications and working under appropriate accreditation.
In Australia: There is no single national licence for asbestos surveyors, but they typically work under the umbrella of a licensed asbestos assessor or a consultancy that holds relevant accreditations. Some states require surveyors to hold specific competency units.
In New Zealand: Surveyors should hold relevant competency qualifications and ideally be members of a professional body. WorkSafe guidance specifies that the person carrying out the survey must be competent in asbestos identification.
Asbestos removalists
Removalists do the physical work of taking asbestos-containing materials out of a building. This is the most heavily regulated role because it carries the highest risk of fibre exposure.
In Australia: Removalists must hold a licence issued by the relevant state or territory WHS regulator. There are two classes. A Class A licence is required for removing friable asbestos (materials that can be crumbled or reduced to powder by hand pressure). A Class B licence covers non-friable (bonded) asbestos removal over 10 square metres. Removing less than 10 square metres of non-friable asbestos in good condition may not require a licence, but it still requires a competent person following safe work procedures.
In New Zealand: A similar two-tier system applies. Class A (restricted) licences are required for friable asbestos removal. Class B licences cover non-friable removal work. Both are issued by WorkSafe NZ.
Removalists handle containment setup, the removal itself, decontamination, waste packaging, and transport to licensed disposal facilities. They do not (and should not) conduct the clearance inspection after their own work. That's where the independence principle comes in.
Asbestos consultants
Consultants play a broader advisory role. They may coordinate the entire asbestos management process for a building or a project. This can include commissioning surveys, interpreting results, developing management plans, writing asbestos removal specifications, overseeing removal projects, conducting air monitoring, and issuing clearance certificates.
In Australia, a licensed asbestos assessor is the specific role authorised to conduct air monitoring and issue clearance certificates during and after licensed removal work. Many consultants hold this assessor licence. The assessor must be independent of the removalist, meaning they cannot be employed by or have a financial relationship with the company doing the removal.
Consultants are often the best starting point if you're unsure what you need. They can assess your situation and tell you whether you need a survey, what type, and whether removal is likely. For complex projects with multiple buildings or phased renovation programmes, a consultant can manage the entire asbestos workstream.
How they work together
On a typical commercial project, the process flows like this. You engage a surveyor (or a consultant who offers survey services) to identify any asbestos. Based on the survey findings, a consultant develops the removal specification and management approach. A licensed removalist is engaged to carry out the physical removal. An independent assessor (often from the consultant's firm, provided they're not connected to the removalist) conducts air monitoring and issues the clearance certificate.
The independence between the removalist and the assessor is a legal requirement, not just best practice. A removalist cannot sign off on their own work.
Choosing the right professional
If you just need to know whether your building contains asbestos, start with a surveyor. If you already know you have asbestos and need it removed, go to a licensed removalist, but make sure an independent assessor is also engaged. If you're managing a large property portfolio, planning a major renovation, or need ongoing asbestos management advice, a consultant will give you the broadest support.
When selecting any asbestos professional, check their licence or accreditation status. In Australia, you can verify removal licences through your state or territory's WHS regulator. In New Zealand, check WorkSafe's public register. For surveyors and consultants, ask about their qualifications, professional memberships, and experience with buildings similar to yours.