Occupational Hygienists in Waikato, New Zealand

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.

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.

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.