Kia ora 

We’re updating our asbestos guidance to make it easier for people to understand how to safely manage and work with asbestos. 

Instead of having one main guidance document for all audiences, we’re rolling out a suite of targeted guidance to make asbestos information more accessible and easier for people to find exactly what they need in a shorter amount of time.  

The guides are being developed following extensive industry consultation. Our Guidance Products team have worked closely with an external reference group to deliver targeted information for specific audiences – homeowners, commercial and residential landlords, businesses, surveyors, removalists, assessors, and tradies who come across asbestos.   

We’re taking a phased approach in updating these documents, and I’m pleased to share with you the first set of WorkSafe’s updated asbestos guidance now available on our website: 

• Asbestos in NZ quick guide  
• Asbestos in the home quick guide  
• PPE guidance for PCBUs quick guide  
• Managing asbestos in your building or workplace good practice guide  

Further guides specifically for surveyors, removalists, assessors, and tradies are currently in development and are planned for release in 2025/26. 

The guides are a mix of new and updated information, and information from the current asbestos guidance (including the Approved Code of Practice/ACOP) that are still relevant. 

As the primary work health and safety regulator, WorkSafe’s role is to influence businesses and workers to meet their health and safety responsibilities. Part of our influencing role is developing and sharing resources to help businesses and workers ensure work is healthy and safe for everyone.  

Please feel free to share these updated guides with your workers and networks. If you have any questions about the stakeholder pack or the updated guides, please contact the Guidance Products team. 

Ngā mihi 

Karen Harvey 
Manager Guidance Products