Asbestos Businesses in West Coast, New Zealand
Asbestos in New Zealand is governed by the Health and Safety at Work (Asbestos) Regulations 2016, made under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015. WorkSafe New Zealand enforces the regulations nationally. Since 1 October 2016, importing asbestos-containing products into New Zealand has been illegal. The airborne contamination standard is 0.1 respirable asbestos fibres per millilitre of air averaged over eight hours.
Any Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU) must identify asbestos at their workplace and eliminate exposure to airborne asbestos so far as is reasonably practicable. Buildings constructed before 1 January 2000 are presumed likely to contain asbestos. Where asbestos is identified or suspected, the PCBU must prepare and maintain a management plan covering the location and condition of all known or assumed asbestos-containing material, how exposure risks are managed, and procedures for incidents or emergencies. Plans must be reviewed at least every five years. Where multiple PCBUs share a workplace, they must consult, cooperate, and coordinate their asbestos management.
Unlike Australia, where each state has its own regulator and there is a push toward national consistency through ASSEA, New Zealand's asbestos regulations are already national. WorkSafe NZ is the single regulator across the whole country.
Licensing
All licensed asbestos removal requires a licence from WorkSafe:
- Class A permits removal of any quantity of friable and non-friable asbestos. Nominated supervisors need at least three years of experience including a minimum of 600 days removing friable asbestos. The PCBU must have a certified safety management system, and an independent assessor must do air monitoring and issue clearance certificates.
- Class B permits removal of more than 10 square metres of non-friable asbestos. Supervisors need at least one year of experience including 200 days of non-friable removal. Removing 10 square metres or less of non-friable asbestos by a competent person does not require a licence, but must still follow the regulations and Code of Practice.
Workers must hold the appropriate NZQA unit standard qualifications. All licensed work requires a removal control plan, decontamination facilities, and proper waste disposal. WorkSafe must be notified before licensed work begins. Samples must be analysed by a lab accredited by IANZ or NATA.
Disposal
Greymouth (Grey District): Grey District Council's McLeans Pit Landfill accepts low-grade asbestos for an extra per-load fee on top of the refuse tonnage rate. See the council's current fees and contact the council before you go.
Regulators
Legislation & Codes of Practice
Industry Groups
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I remove asbestos myself on the West Coast?
Where can I dispose of asbestos around Greymouth?
Who can analyse a possible asbestos sample from the West Coast?
Showing 1–4 of 4 results
Rosco Contractors
Ross, West Coast
Rosco Contractors is an asbestos removal service based in Ross on the West Coast. The company specialises in identifying and safely removing asbestos materials from residential and commercial properties. With expertise in environmental hazard assessment and remediation, Rosco Contractors helps property owners manage asbestos-related risks and ensure compliance with safety regulations.
View DetailsPC Productions (NZ)
Cobden, West Coast
PC Productions is an asbestos removal specialist based in Spotswood, Canterbury. The company provides professional asbestos abatement and environmental services to residential and commercial clients throughout the region. PC Productions handles asbestos identification, safe removal, and proper disposal to ensure compliance with health and safety regulations.
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