ASB/General/TBT-ASB-014

Asbestos Awareness Refresher

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Asbestos awareness training must be refreshed annually for all workers who may disturb asbestos during their work.
There is no safe level of asbestos exposure — a single significant exposure can cause fatal disease decades later.
Mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis are the three main diseases caused by inhaling asbestos fibres.
The UK still records over 5,000 asbestos-related deaths each year from past occupational exposure.
Asbestos is found in buildings constructed or refurbished before 2000 — it is not just an old-building problem.
Common locations include roof sheets, floor tiles, textured coatings, insulation boards, pipe lagging, and gaskets.
You cannot identify asbestos by looking at it — only laboratory analysis can confirm its presence.
If you suspect you have disturbed asbestos, stop work immediately, leave the area, and report it.
The asbestos register must be checked before any drilling, cutting, or fixing work in any building.
The duty to manage asbestos under Regulation 4 requires building owners to identify and manage ACMs.

Fatal disease	Asbestos kills over 5,000 people per year in the UK — construction workers remain the most at-risk group.
Hidden hazard	Asbestos looks like ordinary building material — workers disturb it unknowingly without awareness training.
Annual requirement	Asbestos awareness training refresher is required annually to keep knowledge current and reinforce safe behaviour.

Don't

Complete your asbestos awareness refresher training every year without fail
Check the asbestos register before drilling, cutting, or fixing into any surface
Stop work immediately if you suspect you have disturbed asbestos-containing material
Leave the area, prevent others entering, and report the suspected disturbance
Assume suspect materials contain asbestos until laboratory analysis proves otherwise
Know the common locations where asbestos is found in pre-2000 buildings
Look for labels, warnings, and register entries before starting intrusive work
Report any unlabelled suspect materials to your supervisor for investigation
Attend your annual asbestos awareness refresher and sign the training record
Support the duty to manage asbestos by reporting damaged or deteriorating ACMs

DON'T drill, cut, sand, or scrape any material you are not certain is asbestos-free
DON'T try to identify asbestos by appearance alone — only lab analysis is reliable
DON'T assume modern-looking buildings are asbestos-free — refurbishments used ACMs until 1999
DON'T continue working if you think you have disturbed asbestos — stop and report
DON'T sweep, vacuum, or blow suspected asbestos debris with standard equipment
DON'T skip your annual asbestos awareness refresher — it is a mandatory requirement
DON'T ignore the asbestos register — checking it takes seconds and could save your life
DON'T remove or handle suspected ACMs yourself — call the specialist asbestos team
DON'T eat, drink, or smoke in an area where asbestos may have been disturbed
DON'T dismiss asbestos risks because you have worked with buildings for years without problems

See also: Asbestos Awareness | Asbestos Types and Where Found

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