Can You Get Asbestos Exposure at Work? Understanding the Real Risks
Yes, you can get asbestos exposure at work — and in the UK it remains one of the most serious occupational health hazards in existence. Despite a full ban on its use in new construction, asbestos still lurks in thousands of older buildings across the country, waiting to be disturbed by an unsuspecting tradesperson, maintenance worker, or DIY enthusiast.
Asbestos-related diseases claim thousands of lives in the UK every single year. The tragedy is that almost every one of those deaths was preventable.
Understanding how exposure happens, what your legal duties are, and how proper training protects lives is essential for anyone who works in or manages older buildings.
Where Can You Get Asbestos Exposure? Knowing the Risk Locations
Asbestos was widely used in UK construction right up until 1999. Any building constructed or refurbished before the year 2000 could contain asbestos-containing materials (ACMs). The risk is not limited to derelict industrial sites — it extends to schools, hospitals, offices, and residential properties.
Common locations where ACMs are found include:
- Ceiling tiles and floor tiles
- Pipe lagging and boiler insulation
- Roof sheeting and guttering
- Textured coatings such as Artex
- Insulating board used in walls and partitions
- Sprayed coatings on structural steelwork
- Gaskets and rope seals in older heating systems
When these materials are in good condition and left undisturbed, they pose a relatively low risk. The danger arises when they are drilled, cut, sanded, or otherwise disturbed — releasing microscopic fibres into the air that can be inhaled deep into the lungs.
Who Is Most at Risk of Getting Asbestos Exposure?
Tradespeople and construction workers face the highest levels of occupational exposure. Electricians, plumbers, joiners, and painters frequently work in older buildings where they may unknowingly disturb ACMs without realising what they are dealing with.
Property managers, surveyors, and maintenance staff are also at risk if they are not properly informed about the materials in the buildings they manage. Members of the public can be exposed if asbestos is disturbed in a domestic property — for example, during a DIY renovation — which is why the duty to manage asbestos extends beyond commercial settings alone.
High-Risk Occupations
Certain trades carry a disproportionately high risk. If your work regularly takes you into older buildings, the following roles warrant particular attention:
- Electricians — drilling through walls and ceiling voids where insulating board may be present
- Plumbers and heating engineers — working around pipe lagging and boiler insulation
- Joiners and carpenters — cutting through partition walls or floor materials
- Painters and decorators — sanding or stripping textured coatings that may contain asbestos
- Demolition workers — potentially disturbing multiple ACM types simultaneously
No worker in any of these roles should begin work in a pre-2000 building without first confirming whether ACMs are present and, if so, where they are located.
What Happens When You Get Asbestos in Your Lungs?
When asbestos fibres are inhaled, they become lodged in lung tissue. The body cannot break them down or expel them effectively, and over time they cause scarring and disease.
What makes asbestos so insidious is that symptoms often do not appear for 20 to 40 years after exposure — by which point the diseases are frequently at an advanced, untreatable stage.
The main asbestos-related diseases are:
- Mesothelioma — a cancer of the lining of the lungs or abdomen, almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure and almost always fatal
- Asbestos-related lung cancer — directly linked to fibre inhalation and carrying a similarly poor prognosis
- Asbestosis — a chronic scarring of the lung tissue that causes progressive breathlessness
- Pleural thickening — thickening of the lining around the lungs, which can restrict breathing and significantly reduce quality of life
There is no safe level of asbestos exposure. Even relatively brief contact with high concentrations of fibres can be enough to trigger disease decades later. This is why the approach to asbestos must always be cautious, informed, and legally compliant.
Legal Duties: What the Control of Asbestos Regulations Require
The Control of Asbestos Regulations set out clear legal obligations for employers, building owners, and those who manage non-domestic premises. Understanding these duties is not just about avoiding fines — it is about protecting the people who live and work in the buildings you are responsible for.
The Duty to Manage
If you are responsible for maintaining or repairing a non-domestic building, you have a legal duty to manage asbestos within it. This means identifying whether ACMs are present, assessing their condition and the risk they pose, and putting a written management plan in place.
The duty to manage does not require you to remove all asbestos — in many cases, managing it in situ is the safer and more appropriate option. What it does require is that you know what is there and that anyone likely to disturb it is properly informed.
A management survey is typically the first step in meeting this obligation, providing a thorough baseline assessment of every ACM present in your building.
Employer Responsibilities
Employers must ensure that workers who are liable to disturb asbestos receive appropriate training before they begin work. This is not a box-ticking exercise — training must be relevant to the type of work being carried out and the level of risk involved.
Employers are also required to keep detailed training records. HSE guidance specifies that these records must be retained for 40 years, reflecting the long latency period of asbestos-related diseases.
Breaches of the Control of Asbestos Regulations can result in substantial fines, enforcement notices, and in serious cases, criminal prosecution.
Landlord and Homeowner Duties
Landlords of residential properties have a duty to identify asbestos-containing materials and to inform tenants and contractors of their presence. Homeowners undertaking renovation work should always have the property surveyed before starting, particularly if the building was constructed before 2000.
Failing to act on known asbestos risks is not just a regulatory failure — it can expose you to significant civil liability if a worker or occupant is subsequently harmed.
Proper Training: The First Line of Defence Against Getting Asbestos Exposure
Proper training is the most effective way to prevent accidental asbestos exposure. It equips workers with the knowledge to recognise potential ACMs, understand the risks, and act appropriately — whether that means stopping work, reporting a find, or following safe working procedures.
Categories of Asbestos Training
Asbestos training in the UK is broadly divided into three categories, each suited to different levels of risk and types of work:
- Category A (Asbestos Awareness) — aimed at workers who may inadvertently disturb asbestos during their normal work. This training focuses on recognising ACMs and understanding what to do if they are encountered. It is often the starting point for tradespeople.
- Category B (Non-Licensed Work with Asbestos) — for workers who carry out non-licensed asbestos work, such as minor repairs or short-duration tasks with lower-risk materials. This training covers safe working methods, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and decontamination procedures.
- Category C (Licensed Work with Asbestos) — required for workers involved in licensed asbestos removal, such as removing asbestos insulation board or sprayed coatings. This is the most intensive level of training and must be delivered by accredited trainers from organisations such as UKATA or IATP.
What Proper Training Covers
A well-structured asbestos training programme will cover far more than just the basics. Key components include:
- How to identify materials that may contain asbestos
- The health risks associated with different types of asbestos fibre
- Legal duties and regulatory requirements under the Control of Asbestos Regulations
- Correct use of PPE, including respiratory protective equipment (RPE)
- How to set up containment and enclosures to prevent fibre spread
- Safe removal methods and decontamination procedures
- Correct waste disposal — asbestos waste is classified as hazardous and must be handled accordingly
- Emergency procedures if an unplanned disturbance occurs
Annual refresher training is mandatory for workers involved in asbestos-related work. Refresher training ensures that knowledge remains current and that any changes to working methods, equipment, or regulations are incorporated.
The Role of Licensed Contractors
For higher-risk asbestos work, the law requires that only licensed contractors carry out the removal. Licensed workers must renew their certification every three years, ensuring ongoing competency.
If you are arranging asbestos removal for a property you manage, always verify that the contractor holds a current HSE licence before work begins. Engaging an unlicensed contractor for notifiable work is a criminal offence — and the consequences extend to the person who commissioned the work, not just the contractor.
The Importance of Asbestos Surveys Before Any Disturbance
Before any refurbishment, demolition, or maintenance work takes place in an older building, an asbestos survey should be carried out. This is not simply good practice — in many circumstances it is a legal requirement under the Control of Asbestos Regulations and HSG264, the HSE’s guidance on asbestos surveys.
There are two main types of survey:
- Management survey — identifies ACMs that could be disturbed during normal occupancy and routine maintenance. This is the survey most building managers will need as a baseline, and it underpins your legal duty to manage.
- Refurbishment and demolition survey — a more intrusive survey required before any major work begins. A demolition survey identifies all ACMs in the areas to be affected, including those hidden within the fabric of the building, and is essential before any structural work proceeds.
Surveys must be carried out by a competent surveyor with the appropriate training and experience. The results form the basis of the asbestos management plan and must be made available to anyone who may work in or on the building.
Supernova Asbestos Surveys operates nationwide. If you need an asbestos survey London properties require, our team is on hand to carry out thorough, accredited surveys quickly and professionally. We also provide an asbestos survey Manchester clients can rely on, as well as an asbestos survey Birmingham building owners and managers across the region trust — covering the full range of property types from commercial offices to residential conversions.
Environmental Risks: Asbestos Exposure Beyond the Workplace
The risks associated with asbestos are not confined to the workers who handle it. Improper removal and disposal can contaminate the surrounding environment, exposing members of the public to hazardous fibres.
Asbestos waste that is not correctly contained and disposed of at a licensed facility is both illegal and dangerous. Fly-tipping of asbestos-containing materials is an ongoing problem across the UK.
If you encounter what you suspect may be fly-tipped asbestos, do not attempt to handle it — report it to your local authority immediately. Even well-intentioned attempts to clear such material without proper PPE and training can result in serious exposure. The fact that something looks like an old sheet of roofing material does not make it safe to handle — many types of asbestos cement are visually indistinguishable from non-hazardous materials without laboratory analysis.
Practical Steps to Protect Yourself and Your Workers
Whether you are a building manager, employer, or tradesperson, there are clear actions you can take right now to reduce the risk of asbestos exposure.
For Building Managers and Duty Holders
- Commission an asbestos survey if you do not already have one — this is your legal baseline
- Ensure your asbestos register and management plan are up to date and accessible
- Share asbestos information with all contractors before they begin any work on your premises
- Review your management plan regularly — particularly after any building work or changes in occupancy
- Ensure any planned refurbishment or demolition work is preceded by the appropriate survey type
For Employers
- Identify which workers are liable to disturb asbestos during their normal duties
- Ensure those workers receive the correct category of asbestos training — and keep records
- Implement a safe system of work that includes checking for asbestos before any intrusive activity
- Provide appropriate PPE and RPE and ensure workers know how to use it correctly
- Never instruct workers to proceed with work in an area where asbestos has been identified but not assessed
For Tradespeople
- Always ask whether an asbestos survey has been carried out before starting work in a pre-2000 building
- If you find a material you suspect may contain asbestos, stop work immediately and report it
- Do not assume that because a material looks intact it is safe to drill or cut through
- Ensure your asbestos awareness training is current — refresher training is not optional
- Never take asbestos waste home or dispose of it in general waste — it must go to a licensed facility
What to Do If You Think You Have Been Exposed
If you believe you have been exposed to asbestos fibres — whether at work or elsewhere — there are steps you should take without delay.
First, leave the area and avoid further exposure. If you were working in a space where asbestos was disturbed, do not re-enter until the area has been assessed and, if necessary, decontaminated by a licensed contractor.
Inform your employer as soon as possible. Under the Control of Asbestos Regulations, employers have obligations to investigate and report certain incidents to the HSE. Your employer should also make arrangements for the incident to be recorded.
Seek medical advice. While there is no immediate treatment for asbestos exposure, your GP can record the incident in your medical history — which may be significant if health problems develop in the years ahead. Early documentation is valuable.
Keep a record of the circumstances yourself. Note the date, location, nature of the work being carried out, and the materials involved. This information could be important if you ever need to make a compensation claim or access specialist medical support in the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you get asbestos exposure from a single incident?
Yes, a single high-intensity exposure event can be sufficient to cause disease, although the risk generally increases with the frequency and duration of exposure. There is no threshold below which asbestos exposure is considered entirely without risk. This is why even a one-off disturbance of an ACM should be taken seriously and reported.
Can you get asbestos in a home built before 2000?
Absolutely. Asbestos was used extensively in domestic construction and renovation products right up until 1999. Common locations in homes include textured ceiling and wall coatings, floor tiles, pipe lagging, and roof and soffit boards. If you are planning any renovation work on a pre-2000 property, an asbestos survey is strongly advisable before you begin.
Is it safe to leave asbestos in place rather than removing it?
In many cases, yes — provided the material is in good condition and is not going to be disturbed. The Control of Asbestos Regulations do not require all asbestos to be removed; they require it to be managed safely. A management survey will assess the condition of ACMs and help determine whether removal or management in situ is the more appropriate course of action.
How do I know if a material contains asbestos?
You cannot tell by looking at a material alone. Many ACMs are visually indistinguishable from non-hazardous alternatives. The only reliable way to confirm whether a material contains asbestos is through laboratory analysis of a sample taken by a competent surveyor. If in doubt, treat the material as if it does contain asbestos until you have confirmation otherwise.
Do I need an asbestos survey before minor maintenance work?
If the building was constructed or refurbished before 2000 and you do not already have an up-to-date asbestos register, then yes — you should have a survey carried out before any intrusive work begins. Even minor tasks such as drilling into a wall or replacing ceiling tiles can disturb ACMs. HSG264 is clear that a refurbishment and demolition survey is required before any work that involves disturbing the fabric of the building.
Get Expert Asbestos Support from Supernova Asbestos Surveys
Supernova Asbestos Surveys has completed over 50,000 surveys nationwide, working with property managers, employers, landlords, and contractors across every sector. Our UKAS-accredited surveyors provide fast, thorough, and fully compliant asbestos surveys — giving you the information you need to protect your people and meet your legal obligations.
Whether you need a management survey for an office building, a demolition survey ahead of a major refurbishment, or specialist advice on asbestos removal, our team is ready to help.
Call us today on 020 4586 0680 or visit asbestos-surveys.org.uk to book a survey or speak to one of our specialists.