Health and Safety at Work Regulations 2016
The new Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (Act) has now come into force. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) has a series of supporting Regulations that will provide specific directions across a range of areas. These were released on 18 February 2016 and came into force on 4 April 2016, the same date as the Act.

Overview of the new Regulations
The new Regulations are available here in full. Some of the regulations are more applicable to occupational hygiene. The two sets of regulations that are specific to the work we do at Air Matters include the following:

1. Health and Safety at Work (General Risk and Workplace Management) Regulations 2016
These Regulations impose duties on persons conducting business or undertaking (PCBU) when identifying and managing risks and monitoring workplaces, including the maintenance of facilities, emergency plans, and monitoring health and exposures in the workplace.

2. Health and Safety at Work (Asbestos) Regulations 2016
These Regulations prohibit any work involving asbestos, except where expressly allowed through regulated processes. They require PCBUs to monitor, identify and manage asbestos risks, and ensure asbestos is removed through proper, controlled processes. There are rules on the licensing of asbestos removalists and assessors, with different licensing criteria for various classes of asbestos risk.

Contact us if you would like to discuss any implications for your company that have arisen as a result of these new regulations. We will be happy to help.