With input from industry, WorkSafe has redeveloped and updated our asbestos-related guidance.
The guidance was developed in three stages. The first stage was published in August 2024. The second and third stages were published on 16 April 2026.
The completed suite of guidance looks like this:
![[image] Asbestos guidance publications - April 2026](/assets/Topic/Asbestos/image-asbestos-guidance-publications-april-2026.jpg)
The image shows our suite of asbestos guidance products.
The Interpretive guidelines for the Health and Safety at Work (Asbestos) Regulations 2016 sits at the top of the image, and the rest of the asbestos guidance sits underneath it, grouped by activity.
Guidance for all businesses:
- Managing asbestos on your building or workplace good practice guidelines
Guidance for asbestos surveyors:
- Asbestos surveys good practice guidelines
Guidance for asbestos removalists:
- Asbestos removal good practice guidelines
- Non-friable asbestos removal – safe work practices (11 information sheets)
Guidance for asbestos assessors:
- Asbestos assessments good practice guidelines
Guidance for tradespeople:
- Working with or near asbestos good practice guidelines
- Asbestos-related work – safe work practices (13 information sheets)
- Protective clothing and equipment for working with or near asbestos quick guide
- Asbestos awareness posters for trades (5 posters)
- Asbestos learning modules
Guidance for everyone:
- Asbestos in the home quick guide
- Asbestos in Aotearoa New Zealand
The good practice guidelines for surveyors, removalists, and assessors will be converted into approved codes of practice (ACOPs) after the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (HSWA) reforms are enacted.
The 2016 Asbestos ACOP is part of the suite of guidance. It will be retained until after the upcoming HSWA reforms have been enacted, when we will seek approval to revoke it.
End of text alternative.
The Interpretive guidelines for Health and Safety at work (Asbestos) Regulations 2016 explain the legislative and regulatory requirements and duties for managing asbestos in workplaces, removing asbestos and asbestos-related work.
The interpretive guidelines refer to the new good practice guidelines (GPGs) and quick guides for further information on accepted ways to fulfil relevant requirements.
What about the 2016 Asbestos ACOP?
In October 2025 WorkSafe consulted on revoking the 2016 Asbestos ACOP in favour of the new suite of guidance. You can find a summary of the findings from this consultation on the WorkSafe consultations webpage
In response to industry requests to retain an ACOP for asbestos, the 2016 ACOP will be retained until after the upcoming HSWA reforms have been enacted.
The GPGs for surveys, removal, and assessments will be converted into codes of practices (COPs).
Before the three GPGs are converted into COPs, WorkSafe will seek further feedback from industry on the content of the GPGs, so we can make any further improvements, refinements or corrections (based on user experience). This will likely happen in late 2026 or early 2027.
To meet the requirements of Section 222(2) of HSWA, WorkSafe will again consult with industry on revoking the 2016 ACOP in favour of the newly created COPs before seeking the Minister’s approval to turn these into ACOPs (if appropriate).
Waiting until after the reforms to do this will mean the new ACOPs will benefit from the safe harbour provisions that all new ACOPs will have at this time.
If you would like to be informed of when further feedback will be sought, please send your details to: guidanceandeducation@worksafe.govt.nz
There are some differences between the 2016 ACOP and the new guidance
There are some areas of the new guidance that provide differing advice or requirements than the 2016 ACOP. This is because accepted best practices have changed or evolved, further clarification was necessary for some definitions, or there were errors or omissions in the 2016 ACOP that have been corrected.
The information below provides a summary of these differences and where you will find the information in the new guidance.
Industry are encouraged to follow the updated good practices as outlined in the new guidance.
What the 2016 ACOP says
No requirement for air monitoring after surveys.
What the new guidance says
Air monitoring may be required in certain circumstances.
Where to find the new information
Section 10.2 in Conducting asbestos surveys GPG
What the 2016 ACOP says
Allows swab sampling during surveys to identify asbestos.
What the new guidance says
Prohibits using swab samples for identifying asbestos during surveys.
Where to find the new information
Section 5.5 of the Interpretive guidelines
Section 5.11 of Conducting asbestos surveys GPG
What the 2016 ACOP says
The supervisor must be present at the asbestos removal area whenever the work is being carried out.
What the new guidance says
The supervisor must be present at all times during removal from set up until completion of the clearance inspection.
Where to find the new information
Section 8.2.3 of the Interpretive guidelines
Section 6.2 of Asbestos removal GPG
What the 2016 ACOP says
‘In the vicinity’ is not defined.
What the new guidance says
‘In the vicinity’ means in the general area nearby, in person. The exact meaning depends on the situation and must be considered with the definition of ‘readily available’. Examples provided to demonstrate the application of both concepts.
Where to find the new information
Section 8.2.3 of the Interpretive guidelines
Section 6.3 of Asbestos removal GPG
What the 2016 ACOP says
Provides an example-based definition of minor contamination.
What the new guidance says
Provides more detailed definition and examples.
Where to find the new information
Section 4.2 of Asbestos removal GPG
What the 2016 ACOP says
For the purposes of the asbestos regulations, ACD is not friable asbestos.
What the new guidance says
Removal of ACD is treated separately under the regulations to friable and non-friable asbestos. Requirements for the removal of ACD depends on how the ACD was created and how much is present. Greater detail is provided about what license is required for removing ACD under different circumstances.
Where to find the new information
Section 4.0 of Asbestos removal GPG
What the 2016 ACOP says
Exposure monitoring not mentioned.
What the new guidance says
Guidance provided on when exposure monitoring is required (to comply with the 2016 HSWA General Risk and Workplace Management Regulations).
Where to find the new information
Section 8.1.3 of the Interpretive guidelines
Section 19.0 of Asbestos removal GPG
Section 10.0 of Asbestos assessments GPG
Section 11.0 of Working with or near asbestos GPG
What the 2016 ACOP says
Does not provide timeframes on when health monitoring should start.
What the new guidance says
Requires health monitoring to start within 4 weeks of starting licensed removal work (to comply with the 2016 HSWA General Risk and Workplace Management Regulations).
Where to find the new information
Section 8.3.5 of the Interpretive guidelines
Section 18.6 of Asbestos removal GPG
Section 9.6 of Asbestos assessments GPG
What the 2016 ACOP says
High-level definition provided of what independence means.
What the new guidance says
More detailed definition provided on what independence means. Provides examples of what independence looks like.
Where to find the new information
Section 8.3.3 of the Interpretive guidelines
Section 7.3 of Asbestos removal GPG
Section 2.6 Asbestos assessments GPG
What the 2016 ACOP says
Requires use of swabs for surface testing.
What the new guidance says
Requires surface testing by controlled disturbance – details provided on how to do this.
Where to find the new information
Section 5.5 of the Interpretive guidelines
Section 13.4 of Asbestos removal GPG
Sections 6.2 and 6.4 of Asbestos assessments GPG
What the 2016 ACOP says
Air monitoring is required before/during and adjacent to removal work.
What the new guidance says
Air monitoring is required to continue throughout the duration of the removal work until clearance.
Where to find the new information
Section 8.2.8 of the Interpretive guidelines
Section 10.2 of Asbestos removal GPG
Section 4.2 of Asbestos assessments GPG
What the 2016 ACOP says
Refers to 4-stage clearance as good practice.
What the new guidance says
4-stage clearance is required, and a detailed procedure is provided.
Where to find the new information
Section 8.3.3 of the Interpretive guidelines
Section 6.2 of Asbestos assessments GPG
What the 2016 ACOP says
Does not specify separate clearance certificates for mobile DCUs.
What the new guidance says
Requires separate clearance certificate for mobile DCUs.
Where to find the new information
Section 6.1 of Asbestos assessments GPG
What the 2016 ACOP says
Provides some information about managing asbestos in soils.
What the new guidance says
Refers to current BRANZ New Zealand guidelines for assessing and managing asbestos in soil(external link) for detailed information on managing asbestos in soils.
Where to find the new information
New Zealand guidelines for assessing and managing asbestos in soil(external link)
WorkSafe would like to thank the many organisations, businesses, and individuals that contributed to the development of the new guidance.
Last updated