Understanding asbestos in the workplace is essential for employers, workers, contractors and anyone who may encounter asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) during work. Asbestos was widely used in UK construction and manufacturing because it provided useful properties such as heat resistance, strength and insulation. Although most asbestos use has now been prohibited in the UK, asbestos-containing materials remain present in many older buildings.
Disturbing asbestos-containing materials can release microscopic fibres into the air. Breathing these fibres can cause serious diseases, often decades after exposure. This makes asbestos awareness and effective risk management an important part of workplace health and safety.
This guide explains the main types of asbestos, where asbestos may be found, the health risks associated with exposure, UK workplace responsibilities and the safety measures organisations should use to manage asbestos risks.
What Is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a naturally occurring group of fibrous minerals that was widely used in construction, manufacturing and other industries because of its durability, heat resistance and resistance to chemicals.
The three main types historically used commercially are:
These are commonly referred to as white asbestos, brown asbestos and blue asbestos, respectively.
Asbestos fibres are extremely small and can become airborne when asbestos-containing materials are damaged, drilled, cut, sanded, broken or otherwise disturbed.
The danger is primarily associated with inhaling airborne asbestos fibres.
Why Is Asbestos in the Workplace a Concern?
The presence of asbestos does not automatically mean that a building is immediately dangerous.
Asbestos-containing materials that are in good condition and left undisturbed may pose considerably less risk than materials that are damaged or disturbed.
The risk can increase when work causes asbestos fibres to become airborne.
Potentially hazardous activities can include:
This is why identifying asbestos before work begins is such an important part of workplace risk management.
The Three Main Types of Asbestos
Chrysotile
Chrysotile is also known as white asbestos and was widely used in construction and manufactured products.
It could be found in materials such as:
Chrysotile is the most commonly encountered type of asbestos in many historical building materials.
Amosite
Amosite is commonly known as brown asbestos.
It was used in various insulation and construction products, including some insulating boards and thermal insulation materials.
Because asbestos-containing materials can vary considerably in composition and condition, workers should not rely on appearance alone to identify them.
Crocidolite
Crocidolite is commonly known as blue asbestos.
It was used in certain insulation, cement and other industrial products.
All forms of asbestos can present serious health risks when hazardous exposure occurs. Workers should therefore avoid assuming that one type is safe simply because another type is considered more hazardous.
Where Might Asbestos Be Found?
Asbestos can occur in many different materials, particularly in buildings constructed or refurbished during periods when asbestos was widely used.
Potential locations and materials include:
Some asbestos-containing materials may be easy to recognise, while others may look similar to ordinary building materials.
You cannot reliably identify asbestos simply by looking at a material.
Where asbestos is suspected, appropriate procedures should be followed rather than disturbing the material to investigate it.
Health Risks of Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos exposure can cause serious occupational diseases.
Important asbestos-related diseases include:
One of the most important characteristics of asbestos-related disease is the long latency period.
A person exposed to asbestos may not develop symptoms until many years or even decades later.
This means that workers should take asbestos precautions seriously even if exposure appears to have been brief.
Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a serious cancer associated with asbestos exposure.
It most commonly affects the lining of the lungs, although it can affect other areas of the body.
Because mesothelioma can have a long latency period, occupational exposure that occurred many years earlier may be relevant to a person’s eventual diagnosis.
Asbestosis
Asbestosis is a chronic lung condition associated with significant exposure to asbestos fibres.
It involves scarring of lung tissue and can lead to breathing difficulties and other complications.
The condition demonstrates why repeated occupational exposure to asbestos should be prevented.
Asbestos-Related Lung Cancer
Exposure to asbestos can increase the risk of lung cancer.
The risk is particularly significant when asbestos exposure occurs alongside other major risk factors, including smoking.
Workers who may encounter asbestos should therefore follow appropriate control measures rather than relying on the absence of immediate symptoms.
Who May Be Exposed to Asbestos?
Asbestos exposure is not limited to specialist asbestos workers.
People who may encounter asbestos-containing materials include:
Workers who drill, cut, remove, repair or maintain older building materials may encounter asbestos unexpectedly if appropriate information and planning are not in place.
Asbestos in Older UK Buildings
Many older UK buildings contain asbestos-containing materials.
The fact that asbestos use has been prohibited for many applications does not mean asbestos has disappeared from existing buildings.
This is particularly important when working in:
A building’s age can therefore be an important factor when considering asbestos risk, although age alone cannot confirm whether asbestos is present.
UK Asbestos Regulations
Workplace asbestos management in Great Britain is governed by specific health and safety requirements.
The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 set requirements for protecting workers and other people from risks associated with asbestos exposure.
One important duty is the requirement to manage asbestos in non-domestic premises where applicable.
Dutyholders need to take reasonable steps to determine whether asbestos-containing materials are present, assess their condition and manage the associated risks.
The regulations also establish requirements around work with asbestos, including situations where specialist controls and licensed work may be required.
The Duty to Manage Asbestos
The duty to manage asbestos is particularly important for those responsible for maintaining non-domestic premises.
An effective asbestos management process can include:
The objective is not necessarily to remove every asbestos-containing material.
In many situations, asbestos that is in good condition and unlikely to be disturbed can be managed in place.
Asbestos Surveys
Asbestos surveys can help identify and assess asbestos-containing materials.
Two commonly recognised survey types are:
Management Survey
A management survey is intended to locate, as far as reasonably practicable, asbestos-containing materials that could be disturbed during normal occupancy, maintenance or other routine activities.
It supports the ongoing management of asbestos within a building.
Refurbishment and Demolition Survey
A refurbishment and demolition survey is more intrusive and is designed to locate asbestos-containing materials before major refurbishment or demolition work.
The appropriate survey depends on the planned work and the circumstances of the building.
A survey should be undertaken by a suitably competent surveyor.
Asbestos Risk Assessment
A risk assessment helps determine how asbestos could potentially expose workers or others.
It can consider:
The findings should be used to establish appropriate control measures.
Build Your Asbestos Safety Knowledge
Develop practical knowledge of asbestos hazards, common asbestos-containing materials, workplace risk assessment, exposure prevention and safe working procedures.
Safety Measures for Asbestos in the Workplace
Effective asbestos management involves preventing unnecessary exposure and controlling the risks associated with asbestos-containing materials.
Identify Asbestos Before Work Begins
Workers should have access to relevant asbestos information before starting work that could disturb building materials.
This is particularly important during maintenance, repair, refurbishment and demolition.
Do Not Disturb Suspected Asbestos
If a material is suspected to contain asbestos, workers should not drill, cut, sand, break or otherwise disturb it until appropriate procedures have been followed.
Treating uncertainty seriously can prevent accidental exposure.
Use Competent Workers
People undertaking asbestos-related work need appropriate training and competence for the work they are expected to perform.
Not every worker needs the same level of asbestos training.
For example, general asbestos awareness is different from training for workers who undertake non-licensed asbestos work.
Provide Appropriate Information and Training
Workers who may encounter asbestos should understand:
Training should be appropriate to the worker’s role and exposure risk.
Control Dust and Fibre Release
Where asbestos work is permitted, appropriate control measures must be established to prevent or minimise fibre release.
Depending on the work, controls may involve specialist methods, equipment, containment, respiratory protective equipment and decontamination arrangements.
The exact controls depend on the type of asbestos work being undertaken.
Restrict Access
Where asbestos-related work is being carried out, access to the area may need to be controlled.
Unauthorised workers should not enter areas where asbestos fibres could be present.
Follow Safe Work Procedures
Workers should follow established asbestos procedures rather than improvising when encountering suspected ACMs.
If unexpected asbestos is discovered during work, activities should stop and the situation should be assessed according to the organisation’s procedures.
What Should You Do If You Discover Suspected Asbestos?
If a worker encounters a material that may contain asbestos, the safest response is generally to avoid disturbing it.
A basic response can involve:
Stop → Move away → Prevent further disturbance → Report → Seek competent assessment → Follow the appropriate procedure
Workers should not attempt to confirm asbestos by breaking, scraping or otherwise disturbing the material.
Where necessary, appropriate sampling and analysis should be arranged by competent professionals.
Asbestos Awareness Training
Asbestos awareness training is important for people whose work could expose them to asbestos-containing materials.
Awareness training can help workers understand:
However, asbestos awareness training does not automatically qualify a person to carry out specialist asbestos removal or other higher-risk asbestos work.
Additional training and competence requirements can apply depending on the work being undertaken.
Personal Protective Equipment and Asbestos
Personal protective equipment (PPE) can form part of asbestos control arrangements, but PPE should not be treated as the only method of controlling exposure.
Depending on the work, appropriate protective measures can include:
The specific PPE requirements depend on the nature of the work and the level of risk.
Control measures should be designed to prevent or minimise exposure at source wherever reasonably practicable.
What Employers Should Consider
Employers and other responsible dutyholders should consider whether their workplace has effective systems for managing asbestos risks.
Important questions include:
These questions can help identify weaknesses in existing asbestos management arrangements.
Common Mistakes When Managing Asbestos
Assuming Asbestos Is Only Found in Factories
Asbestos can be found in many types of older buildings, including offices, schools, residential properties and commercial premises.
Assuming Short Exposure Is Automatically Safe
The health risks associated with asbestos mean that exposure should be prevented wherever reasonably practicable. Workers should not deliberately disturb asbestos-containing materials because exposure appears brief.
Relying on Appearance
Many asbestos-containing materials cannot be reliably identified by appearance alone.
Starting Work Without Checking Asbestos Information
Maintenance and refurbishment work should be planned with relevant asbestos information considered beforehand.
Treating Awareness Training as Removal Training
Asbestos awareness helps workers recognise and avoid asbestos risks. It does not by itself provide the competence required for all types of asbestos work.
Assuming All Asbestos Must Be Removed
Removal is not automatically the correct solution in every situation. Where ACMs are in good condition and unlikely to be disturbed, appropriate management in place may be suitable.
Asbestos Safety Checklist
A workplace asbestos safety checklist can include:
|
Area |
Key Consideration |
|
Building history |
Consider whether asbestos may be present |
|
Asbestos information |
Ensure relevant information is available |
|
Surveys |
Obtain the appropriate survey where required |
|
Risk assessment |
Assess potential exposure risks |
|
Management plan |
Establish and maintain appropriate arrangements |
|
Worker training |
Provide training suitable for the worker’s role |
|
Contractor management |
Provide relevant asbestos information |
|
Work planning |
Check asbestos risks before maintenance or refurbishment |
|
Suspected ACMs |
Do not disturb materials until appropriately assessed |
|
Emergency response |
Establish procedures for accidental disturbance |
|
Review |
Update arrangements when circumstances change |
Frequently Asked Questions About Asbestos in the Workplace
What is asbestos in the workplace?
Asbestos in the workplace refers to asbestos-containing materials that may be present in buildings, equipment or other work environments. If these materials are disturbed and release airborne fibres, workers may be exposed to serious health risks.
Where is asbestos commonly found in UK workplaces?
Asbestos may be present in insulation, ceiling materials, insulating boards, roofing products, floor materials, textured coatings, pipe insulation, asbestos cement and other construction products. Its presence cannot always be confirmed by visual inspection alone.
Is asbestos still used in UK workplaces?
The use of asbestos has been prohibited in the UK for many applications, but asbestos-containing materials remain in many older buildings. Consequently, workers carrying out maintenance, refurbishment and other activities can still encounter asbestos.
What should I do if I discover suspected asbestos?
Do not disturb the material. Stop the activity if necessary, prevent further disturbance, report the concern through the appropriate workplace procedure and seek assessment from a suitably competent person.
Does asbestos awareness training qualify someone to remove asbestos?
No. Asbestos awareness training is designed to help people recognise asbestos risks and avoid disturbing asbestos-containing materials. Work involving asbestos may require additional training, competence, controls and, depending on the work, licensed contractors.
Build Your Asbestos Safety Knowledge
Develop practical knowledge of asbestos hazards, common asbestos-containing materials, workplace risk assessment, exposure prevention and safe working procedures.
Final Thoughts
Asbestos remains an important workplace health and safety consideration because asbestos-containing materials can still be found in many older UK buildings. Although asbestos use has been heavily restricted and prohibited for many applications, existing materials can remain in place for decades.
The key to managing asbestos in the workplace is prevention and effective risk management. Workers should know where asbestos may be found, understand how exposure can occur and avoid disturbing suspected asbestos-containing materials.
Employers and other dutyholders should ensure that asbestos risks are appropriately identified, assessed and managed, with suitable information, training, procedures and competent support in place.
Good asbestos management is not simply about removing materials. It is about understanding the risks, preventing unnecessary exposure and ensuring that anyone who may encounter asbestos knows how to respond safely.
