Occupational Hygienists in New South Wales, Australia

Professionals specialising in airborne contaminant monitoring and exposure assessment.

In New South Wales, exposure to airborne asbestos at work is regulated by SafeWork NSW. The exposure standard is 0.1 fibres/mL of air in the breathing zone, averaged over an eight-hour working day, and must not be exceeded.

Air monitoring during Class A asbestos removal, clearance inspections and clearance certificates for Class A work may only be carried out by a licensed asbestos assessor.

SafeWork NSW issues Class A asbestos assessor licences for five years. Applicants qualify through an RTO course such as 'Conduct air monitoring and clearance inspections for asbestos removal work', a diploma-level qualification in a relevant field, or supervised experience on at least three Class A assessor jobs within the last five years.

Asbestos has been banned across Australia since 31 December 2003, so buildings in New South Wales built or renovated before then may still contain it.

NSW keeps a public Loose-fill Asbestos Insulation Register of residential properties confirmed to contain loose-fill asbestos insulation, searchable by street address.

Where removal follows, loads of 100 kg or more, or 10 m² or more of sheeting, must be tracked through the NSW EPA's Integrated Waste Tracking Solution.

We currently list 66 occupational hygienists in NSW. 60 also offer asbestos consulting and 34 offer laboratory testing.

When comparing hygienists, ask whether they hold an asbestos assessor licence and which laboratory analyses their samples.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is air monitoring required during asbestos removal in New South Wales?
Air monitoring is required for Class A (friable) asbestos removal in New South Wales and across Australia, and is recommended for other higher-risk work. An occupational hygienist carries out control monitoring during the job and clearance monitoring afterwards to confirm fibre levels are below the exposure standard of 0.1 fibres per millilitre before an area is reoccupied. SafeWork NSW sets out the monitoring obligations.
What qualifications should an occupational hygienist hold in New South Wales?
Look for membership of the Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists (AIOH) and a laboratory accredited for the fibre-counting method they use. On Class A work in New South Wales, clearance inspections and air monitoring must be carried out by a suitably licensed or competent person who is independent of the removalist.
What does an occupational hygienist do in asbestos work?
Their main job is measuring airborne asbestos fibre levels to make sure workers and nearby occupants are not being exposed beyond safe limits. The workplace exposure standard in both Australia and New Zealand is 0.1 fibres per millilitre of air, averaged over eight hours. A hygienist will run air monitoring before, during, and after removal work, then issue a clearance certificate once the area is safe to reoccupy. They also review the removalist's control measures and advise on safe work procedures.
When is air monitoring required during asbestos removal?
It is mandatory for all friable (Class A) removal in Australia and for all licensed removal work in New Zealand. For non-friable (Class B) work in Australia, it is required when a risk assessment suggests fibre levels could exceed the exposure standard. You also need monitoring before an enclosure is pulled down and before a clearance certificate can be signed off. The person doing the monitoring must be competent in the methods, which usually means a qualified hygienist using NATA-accredited (Australia) or IANZ-accredited (New Zealand) procedures.
What qualifications should an occupational hygienist hold?
In Australia, look for membership of the Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists (AIOH). Full members have a relevant degree and demonstrated competence. Many also hold Certified Occupational Hygienist (COH) status through the AIOH certification scheme. In New Zealand, the NZ Occupational Hygiene Society (NZOHS) keeps a similar register. For asbestos air monitoring specifically, the hygienist or their lab should hold NATA accreditation (Australia) or IANZ accreditation (New Zealand) for the fibre counting methods they use.
AustraliaNew South WalesOccupational Hygienists

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