Asbestos is officially recognised as the “number one killer” in the New Zealand workplace, according to WorkSafe New Zealand and government guidelines require all property owners to undertake a registered asbestos survey.
WHO IS AFFECTED BY THE REQUIREMENTS?
Buildings altered, refurbished or built from 1940 until the mid-1980s are likely to contain ACMs. Therefore, all landlords and ‘Persons Conducting a Business or an Undertaking’ (PCBUs), as defined by the Health and Safety at Work Act (2015), have responsibilities. These include:
Checking for the presence or absence of asbestos on your property;
Assessment of the risks from asbestos and Asbestos Containing Materials (ACMs), and identifying suitable ways to control them; and
Development of an asbestos management plan to set out strategies to manage asbestos in the workplace.