There are three main types of asbestos found in UK buildings: chrysotile (white), amosite (brown), and crocidolite (blue). All three are dangerous, but blue and brown asbestos are considered the highest risk. Asbestos was used in over 3,000 products and can be found in roofing, insulation, floor tiles, textured coatings, pipe lagging, cement sheets, and fire protection materials. You cannot identify asbestos by looking at it — only laboratory analysis can confirm its presence.
Key Hazards
Inhaling invisible asbestos fibres causing mesothelioma and lung cancer
Disturbing hidden asbestos during routine maintenance or refurbishment tasks
Inability to identify asbestos by sight alone leading to accidental exposure
Contaminating large areas when asbestos materials are broken or drilled into
Control Measures
Check the asbestos register and management survey before any work in buildings constructed before 2000.
Assume any suspect material contains asbestos until laboratory analysis proves otherwise.
Do not drill, cut, sand, or disturb any material unless it has been confirmed asbestos-free.
Stop work immediately and evacuate the area if you suspect you have disturbed asbestos.
Report all suspect materials to your supervisor and the site asbestos coordinator.
Attend asbestos awareness training before working in any building that may contain asbestos.
Look for asbestos labels on known materials and check building records before starting tasks.
Know the common locations: textured coatings, ceiling tiles, pipe insulation, floor tiles, and roof sheets.
Never attempt to sample, remove, or handle suspected asbestos materials yourself.
Remember
There are three types of asbestos: white (chrysotile), brown (amosite), and blue (crocidolite).
You cannot identify asbestos by colour or appearance alone — only lab testing is conclusive.
Asbestos was used in over 3,000 building products and is found in most pre-2000 buildings.
Common locations include textured coatings, floor tiles, pipe lagging, roof sheets, and fire barriers.
If in doubt, stop work immediately and treat any suspect material as asbestos until proven otherwise.
Even a single brief exposure to asbestos fibres can lead to fatal disease decades later.
Applicable Legislation: Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 · Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 · HSG264 (Asbestos Survey Guide)