Asbestos remains the single biggest cause of work-related deaths in Great Britain, claiming around 5,000 lives each year. Despite being fully banned in the UK in 1999, it is still prevalent in millions of buildings constructed or refurbished before the year 2000. For UK builders, working on older properties means a near-certain risk of encountering this hidden killer.
Your legal obligations and safety protocols are paramount. Ignoring the risk isn't just illegal; it’s deadly.
This in-depth guide outlines the essentials every UK builder and tradesperson must know to stay compliant and safe when working on older structures.
Why Asbestos is Still a Threat to UK Construction
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral once lauded for its fire resistance, insulation properties, and low cost. It was used extensively in building materials until the dangers of inhaling its microscopic fibres became fully understood.
- Buildings at Risk: Any building built or refurbished before the year 2000 is highly likely to contain asbestos-containing materials (ACMs). Buildings constructed after 2000 are generally considered asbestos-free.
- The Exposure Risk: Asbestos is only dangerous when its fibres become airborne and are inhaled. This happens when ACMs are disturbed, damaged, cut, drilled, or broken during building or maintenance work.
- Latency Period: Asbestos-related diseases, like mesothelioma and lung cancer, often take 20 to 50 years to develop after initial exposure, making it a long-term, invisible threat.
Legal Compliance: The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR 2012)
The core piece of legislation governing asbestos is the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR 2012). While the primary legal responsibility (the "Duty to Manage Asbestos") falls on the building owner or duty holder for non-domestic premises, builders and contractors have clear duties under these regulations, too.
Mandatory Pre-Work Asbestos Surveys for Refurbishment
Before any intrusive work; including refurbishment, demolition, or even non-routine maintenance commences, the site must have an appropriate asbestos survey.
- For Commercial & Non-Domestic Sites: The duty holder must provide you with the Asbestos Register and Management Plan. If your work involves demolition or major refurbishment, a destructive Refurbishment or Demolition Survey must be conducted to locate all ACMs in the work area. Do not start work until this information is provided.
- For Domestic Properties: Homeowners are not legally obliged to have a survey, but you, the builder, are responsible for protecting yourself and others. You must assume materials contain asbestos unless proven otherwise. You should advise the homeowner that a Refurbishment or Demolition Survey is the safest path before any invasive work.
Essential Asbestos Awareness Training for Builders
Every builder and tradesperson who might disturb asbestos during their work, even accidentally, must have Asbestos Awareness training. This is the minimum legal requirement.
- Training Scope: It enables you to recognise potential ACMs, know what to do if you find them, and understand the control measures needed.
- Limitation: It does not permit you to remove or work on ACMs, except for certain low-risk, non-licensed tasks.
Classifying Asbestos Work: Licensed vs. Non-Licensed Tasks
When ACMs are found, the work required is categorised into three levels of risk, which dictate the necessary training, notification, and licensing.
| Category of Work | Description & Risk Level | Who Can Do It? | Builder Requirements |
| Licensed Asbestos Work | High-risk work, typically involving removal of Asbestos Insulating Board (AIB), sprayed coatings, or pipe insulation. | Licensed Asbestos Removal Contractors only. | Stop work immediately and notify the client/duty holder. You must hire a licensed contractor for this. |
| Notifiable Non-Licensed Work (NNLW) | Medium-risk work on specific materials (e.g. some removal of asbestos cement, textured coatings, or small amounts of AIB). | Trained Non-Licensed Workers (your team), but the HSE must be notified 14 days in advance. | Specific NNLW training required. Follow HSE essential safety sheets and maintain health records for exposed workers for 40 years. |
| Non-Licensed Asbestos Work | Low-risk, short duration tasks on materials like asbestos cement sheets or textured decorative coatings (e.g. Artex). | Competently trained workers (your team) with Asbestos Awareness plus task-specific training. | No notification to HSE is required. Follow the HSE's Asbestos Essentials guidance (correct PPE, control dust, double-bag waste). |
If in doubt about any material, you must presume it contains asbestos and take the necessary precautions until it is proven otherwise by a UKAS accredited laboratory.
How to React to an Asbestos Discovery on Site
The moment you, or your team, suspect or discover an unknown material that may be an ACM, you must follow this strict safety procedure:
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Stop Work Immediately: Cease all activity that might disturb the material.
Secure the Area: Carefully dampen the area (if safe to do so) and put up physical barriers to prevent others from entering or disturbing the material further. - Report the Discovery: Immediately notify the client, building owner, or duty holder.
- Testing by Professionals: The material must be sampled and tested by a competent, UKAS-accredited surveyor or analyst. Do not attempt to take a sample yourself unless you are trained and competent.
- Control and Contain: Based on the test results and the nature of your planned work, the ACM must either be safely managed in place or removed by appropriately licensed contractors.
Best Practice for Working Near ACMs
Your professionalism in managing asbestos is vital for your safety and business reputation.
Utilise HSE Guidance: Familiarise yourself with the HSE's Asbestos Essentials; a series of task sheets providing step-by-step guidance for non-licensed work.
- Fibre Release Control: The core principle is to minimise the release of fibres. Use wet working methods, low-speed tools, and local exhaust ventilation (LEV). Never use high-speed power tools, compressed air, or sweep up debris.
- Hazardous Waste Management: Asbestos waste must be double-bagged in special, labelled red and clear asbestos waste bags, sealed, and disposed of at a licensed waste facility.
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): At a minimum, use disposable Type 5/6 overalls and an FFP3 mask (or powered respirator) when working with or near disturbed ACMs.
Conclusion
By understanding the regulations, prioritising pre-work surveys, and ensuring your team is adequately trained, you not only protect yourself and your business from severe penalties but, most importantly, you save lives.
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