Asbestos Management Standard

Application

All members of the University. 

Purpose

To set out the University’s approach to managing and controlling risks
associated with asbestos material.

Introduction

Asbestos was historically used in a wide range of construction and industrial materials, and as a result, some University buildings, plant, and equipment continue to contain asbestos-containing materials. When these materials are intact and well maintained, they pose minimal risk; however, if fibres are released and inhaled, they can cause serious illness.

The University of Auckland committed to and recognises its responsibility to protect the health of all people who work, study, or visit its campuses. Asbestos management is part of the University’s Health, Safety and Wellbeing system in line with the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, the Health and Safety at Work (Asbestos) Regulations 2016, and the Health and Safety at Work (General Risks and Workplace Management) Regulations 2016.

Additionally, asbestos management is an integral part of asset and risk management at the University, integrated with its property management and risk management frameworks. University’s approach emphasises best practice, proactive, risk-based management of asbestos across the asset lifecycle to ensure a safe, compliant, and sustainable campus environment.

Standard

General

  1. The University must ensure that no person is harmed due to the presence of asbestos material.
  2. The University will allocate sufficient resources to effectively manage asbestos across all University-owned and managed spaces, plant, and machinery.
  3. Roles and responsibilities relating to asbestos management must be clearly defined, established, and coordinated.
  4. An Asbestos Advisory Group will oversee asbestos management and provide governance and assurance.
  5. A designated Asbestos Advisor will provide specialist operational advice and support relating to asbestos management and work.
  6. The University will maintain clear, documented procedures and business rules for asbestos work, including identification, recording, incident response, and remediation processes.
  7. University members will receive information, instruction, and training appropriate to their role, to ensure understanding and compliance with asbestos management procedures.
  8. The University will not procure or accept buildings, properties, products, plant, or machinery that contain asbestos materials, unless a documented risk assessment is completed, approved by the Asbestos Advisory Group, and managed in accordance with this Standard.
  9. All University-owned or leased buildings, spaces, plant, and machinery must be assessed by a suitably qualified and experienced person to determine the presence or absence of asbestos. Where confirmation is not practicable, asbestos must be presumed to be present.
  10. Identified asbestos material will be recorded in the University’s Asbestos Register, risk assessed, controlled, and monitored in accordance with legislative and University requirements.
  11. The University will maintain an Asbestos Register as the authoritative source of information about asbestos materials, management activities, and status updates.
  12. A documented programme must be maintained for the ongoing management and periodic review of identified asbestos risks.
  13. When prioritising removal or abatement of asbestos material, the University will consider: the potential risk to people; medium to long-term plans for the building or space; the activities undertaken in the area; and the condition and stability of the asbestos material.
  14. All asbestos work must be undertaken by suitably qualified, experienced, and University-approved contractors in compliance with the Health and Safety at Work (Asbestos) Regulations 2016
  15. The University will maintain and communicate emergency procedures for uncontrolled asbestos release, ensure these are accessible to relevant stakeholders including emergency services, and periodically test and review them.
  16. The University will consult, cooperate, and coordinate with other organisations where joint asbestos management responsibilities exist, and ensure the University community is appropriately informed or engaged where relevant.
  17. The University will ensure the asbestos management system is implemented, reviewed, and continuously improved.
  18. The University will monitor developments in legislation and good practice, and update its asbestos management approach accordingly.

Definitions

Approved contractor – A contractor approved through the University’s procurement and compliance processes.
Asbestos material – A product made entirely of asbestos, a material containing asbestos (ACM), or asbestos-contaminated dust or debris (ACD).
Asbestos Advisor – The University-appointed person with specialist expertise in asbestos management who provides advice on asbestos-related matters.
Asbestos Register – The record detailing the location, type, condition, and risk assessment of asbestos-containing materials.
Asbestos Advisory Group – A multidisciplinary group with relevant experience, knowledge, skills, and qualifications that provides governance and oversight for asbestos management at the University.
Asbestos work – Asbestos-related or asbestos-removal work as defined in the Health and Safety at Work (Asbestos) Regulations 2016, including any activity involving asbestos-containing material such as maintenance, repair, cleaning, removal, research, or teaching.
Control – A measure implemented to eliminate or minimise a health and safety risk, including engineering controls, administrative processes, safe work methods, personal protective equipment, and monitoring or evaluation.
Machinery – Powered apparatus with interrelated parts used to perform work.
Members – As defined in section 3(2) of the University of Auckland Act 1961: includes all employees, students, Council and committee members, employees of University-owned entities, and where appropriate, contractors, sub-contractors, and invitees.
Monitor (asbestos context) – Regularly checking, evaluating, and recording the condition of asbestos-containing material that remains in place.
Plant – Machinery, equipment, appliances, tools, and their components or fittings, including items such as lifts, cranes, vehicles, and workshop equipment.
Risk – The combination of the likelihood of a hazardous event or exposure occurring and the potential severity of harm that could result.
Risk assessment – The process of identifying and evaluating risks, reviewing the adequacy of existing controls, and determining whether additional measures are required.
Staff member – Any individual employed by the University on a full-time or part-time basis.
University – The University of Auckland and all its subsidiaries.
University space – Any building, facility, or grounds that the University owns or leases.

Key relevant documents

Legislation

University policies

Procedures and standards

Guidelines

Document Control
Owner: Director of Human Resources
Content manager: Associate Director of Health, Safety and Wellbeing
Prepared by: Building Safety Project Manager
Approved by: Director of Human Resources
Date approved: Feb 2026
Date last reviewed: Feb 2026
Next review date: Feb 2030

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