Asbestos surveys

Under the Health and Safety at Work (Asbestos) Regulations 2016, PCBUs must identify asbestos in workplaces and manage the risk appropriately. In practice, this means buildings constructed before 1 January 2000 should be assessed to determine whether asbestos-containing materials are present, especially before maintenance, refurbishment or demolition work.

Yes. Refurbishment and demolition work can disturb hidden asbestos-containing materials, so an intrusive survey is typically required before work begins. Identifying asbestos in advance allows works to be planned safely, reduces the risk of unexpected discoveries and helps avoid delays and disruption during construction.

Surveys should be completed as early as possible, ideally during the planning phase before any works are scoped or priced. This allows asbestos risks to be identified upfront and incorporated into project planning, reducing the risk of delays, variations or unexpected discoveries once work has started.

An asbestos survey is a structured inspection of a building or workplace to identify asbestos-containing materials, assess their condition and provide information to support safe management or removal. Survey findings are used to inform asbestos registers and management plans.

If asbestos-containing materials are identified, the next step is to assess their condition and risk. This information is used to determine whether the material can remain in place under a management plan or needs to be removed prior to any works.

In New Zealand, the person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) is responsible for identifying asbestos risks and ensuring appropriate management plans are in place where asbestos is present or likely to be present.

A competent provider will have surveyors with the right mix of qualifications and practical experience across asbestos inspections, including planning, sampling, risk assessment and reporting. They should understand different building types, construction methods and where asbestos is likely to be found, including hidden or unexpected locations.

Look for evidence such as:

• recognised training and relevant qualifications
• experience across management, refurbishment and demolition surveys
• recent, comparable project work
• accreditation (for example ISO 17020) and use of accredited laboratories.

They should also clearly define the survey scope, methodology, limitations and deliverables. The key test is whether the final survey is clear, accurate and fit for purpose, providing practical information that contractors, designers and regulators can rely on.