Sawmill Workers' Service and Dioxin Health Service

Information about the Sawmill Workers’ Service and the Dioxin Health Service.

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Sawmill Workers' Service

The Sawmill Workers’ Service is designed to assess the health needs of former sawmill workers who were exposed to pentachlorophenol (PCP) at sawmills during 1950s to 1980s, and to help them access services to support their wellness.

Who is eligible for the Sawmill Workers’ Service

Eligibility for the Sawmill Workers’ Service is on the basis that an individual worked in a place at a time when exposure is likely to have occurred.

People are eligible if all of the following are true.

  • They worked in a sawmill where PCP was used.
  • They worked in jobs that used PCP chemicals, or if they came into contact with PCP baths or tanks, or if they worked with timber that was still wet from the PCP treatment process.
  • They worked in these jobs for at least 1 year.
  • They are eligible to use publicly funded health services in New Zealand, for example a New Zealand citizen.

How to apply for the Sawmill Workers’ Service

To apply for the Sawmill Workers’ Service, read the patient factsheet and complete the application form. For further information, or if you have any questions about the Sawmill Workers’ Service, contact us by either:

Note that while the annual health check is covered in the Sawmill Workers’ Service, patients will need to pay the usual cost to access any referred services.

Sawmill Workers’ Service resources

Dioxin Health Service

If you were exposed to dioxin from the former Ivon Watkins Dow (IWD) factory in Paritutu, New Plymouth, you may be eligible for the Dioxin Health Service.

Who is eligible for the Dioxin Health Service

You may be eligible for the Dioxin Health Service if you lived or worked or went to school near the former IWD factory between 1962 and 1987. Your friends and family may also be eligible for the service.

If you are eligible, you are entitled to an annual health check-up from your health provider. The exact content of the check-up will depend on your health needs. You may also be referred to other health services like:

  • smoking cessation
  • physical activity and nutrition support
  • primary mental health care
  • genetic counselling.

Serum dioxin testing may also be available in some circumstances.

Note that while the annual health check is covered in the Dioxin Health Service, patients will need to pay the usual cost to access referred services.

To use the Dioxin Health Service, you will need to make an application to have your eligibility assessed.

How to apply for the Dioxin Health Service

To apply for the Sawmill Workers’ Service, read the patient factsheet and complete the application form. For further information, or if you have any questions about the Sawmill Workers’ Service, contact us by either:

Dioxin Health Service resources