Stay Ahead of the Game with Asbestos Awareness Training

Adam Fox • 12 October 2022

Protect Your Health, Your Employees and Your Business

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was widely used in construction materials up until the late 20th century. It's known for its heat-resistant and insulating properties, making it a popular choice in building materials such as insulation, roofing, and flooring. However, asbestos is now recognized as a highly hazardous material that can cause serious health problems, including lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis.

As a business owner or employer, it's essential to prioritize the safety of your employees by providing them with adequate asbestos awareness training.

What is asbestos and why is it dangerous?

Asbestos is a group of six naturally occurring minerals that are made up of fine, fibrous crystals. When these minerals are disturbed, microscopic fibres are released into the air, which can be inhaled and cause serious health problems. Asbestos exposure can lead to lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis, which are all life-threatening diseases.

Although asbestos has been banned in many countries, it can still be found in older buildings and materials. If asbestos-containing materials are disturbed during renovations or demolition, the fibres can become airborne and pose a risk to everyone in the area. This is why it's essential to have proper asbestos awareness training in place to protect employees and ensure compliance with legal requirements.

Legal requirements for asbestos awareness training

Under regulation 10 of The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 there is a legal requirement for employers to provide asbestos awareness training to employees who may come into contact with asbestos-containing materials. Any employee who may be exposed to asbestos fibres during their work must receive proper training. This includes employees who work in construction, maintenance, and other industries where asbestos-containing materials may be present, as well as those who manage those employees or influence how they undertake their work.

Who needs asbestos awareness training?

Asbestos awareness training is essential for any employee who may come into contact with asbestos-containing materials as part of their work duties. This includes employees who work in construction, maintenance, and demolition, as well as those who work in buildings that may contain asbestos-containing materials, such as schools and hospitals.

It's also important to note that asbestos awareness training is not just for employees who work directly with asbestos-containing materials. Anyone who may be in an area where asbestos fibres are present, such as during renovations or demolition, should also receive proper training. This includes contractors, architects, and building inspectors.

Benefits of asbestos awareness training

Providing proper asbestos awareness training to employees has many benefits for both the employer and the employee. For the employer, it can help to protect against potential legal liabilities and reputational damage. In the event of an accident or illness caused by asbestos exposure, having a proper training program in place can demonstrate that the employer took reasonable steps to prevent harm to their employees.

For employees, asbestos awareness training is essential for protecting their health and wellbeing. By understanding the risks associated with asbestos exposure and how to handle asbestos-containing materials safely, employees can avoid exposure and minimise their risk of developing asbestos-related diseases.

Elements of an effective asbestos awareness training program

An effective asbestos awareness training program should cover the following topics:

  • What asbestos is and why it's dangerous
  • How to identify Asbestos Containing Materials
  • Emergency procedures in the event of accidental exposure to asbestos
  • How to manage the risks posed by Asbestos Containing Materials effectively
The training should be tailored to the specific needs of the employees and should be delivered by qualified trainers. The program should also be regularly reviewed and updated to ensure that it remains up-to-date with the latest regulations and best practices.

Choosing the right asbestos awareness training provider

When choosing an asbestos awareness training provider, it's important to consider the qualifications and experience of the trainers. Look for a provider who has extensive experience working in the asbestos industry and who has a track record of delivering high-quality training programs. At Consulo Compliance, our training team have over 3 decades of asbestos industry experience making us one of the leading providers of asbestos management services in the United Kingdom.

You should also make sure that the training program meets the legal requirements. Ask for references and read reviews from other businesses who have used the provider to ensure that they have a good reputation and can deliver the training you and your employees need.

Asbestos awareness training for employees vs. contractors

It's important to remember that anyone who may come into contact with asbestos-containing materials, including contractors and other third-party workers, should also receive proper asbestos awareness training. This can be challenging, as contractors may only be on site for a short period of time and may not have access to the same training resources as regular employees.

To address this, it's important to have a clear process in place for ensuring that all contractors and third-party workers receive proper training before beginning work on a project. This should involve requiring any contractors you employ to attend in-person training sessions before starting work.

Asbestos management plan

In addition to providing proper asbestos awareness training, it's also important to have an asbestos management plan in place to minimise the risk of exposure. This plan should include regular inspections of buildings and materials to identify any asbestos-containing materials, as well as procedures for handling and disposing of these materials safely.

The plan should also include procedures for dealing with accidental disturbance and exposure to asbestos, including medical monitoring and follow-up.

By having a comprehensive asbestos management plan in place, businesses can help to protect their employees and minimise the risk of legal liabilities.

Check out our article on asbestos management plans here

Conclusion: The importance of prioritising asbestos awareness training for your business and employees.

Asbestos awareness training is not only a legal requirement but is essential for protecting the health and wellbeing of employees who may come into contact with asbestos-containing materials as part of their work duties. Failure to provide proper training can result in significant legal and financial liabilities as well as reputational damage.

By providing proper asbestos awareness training and having an asbestos management plan in place, businesses can help to protect their employees and minimise the risk of exposure to asbestos. This not only protects the health of employees but also safeguards the reputation and financial stability of the business.

by Adam Fox 9 April 2025
Asbestos and the Circular Economy: Why It's Time to Stop Burying the Problem Twenty-five years after asbestos was banned in the UK, we’re still digging a hole—literally and metaphorically. Every day, across the country, asbestos waste is double-bagged, labelled, loaded into skips, and driven to landfill, where it will sit indefinitely, taking up valuable space, creating ongoing liability, and adding to our already bloated environmental burden. And yet, 2025 presents a different path. A smarter one. One that replaces disposal with repurposing, and turns a dangerous waste product into a useful, circular resource. The technology exists. So the question we should be asking isn’t “Can we recycle asbestos?” It’s “Why the hell aren’t we doing it already?” Landfill is Failing Us—But We’re Still Relying On It Let’s start with the basics. There are still over 1.5 million buildings in the UK that contain asbestos, most of them now approaching the end of their useful life. As these structures age or undergo refurbishment, the volume of asbestos waste is only going to increase. Right now, we handle that waste the same way we did decades ago: • Identify it • Remove it (usually under fully controlled conditions) • Seal it in heavy-duty plastic • Drive it to landfill • Bury it • Forget about it Except we don’t forget, do we? Because landfill space is running out. Disposal costs are going up. And the environmental cost? We’re only just starting to count it. There’s a Better Way—and It Already Works Here’s what most duty holders don’t realise: We no longer have to bury asbestos. Thanks to recent advances in thermal treatment technology, we now have a method that can safely denature asbestos, breaking down its fibrous structure and rendering it harmless. Companies like Thermal Recycling in the UK are already proving this is not science fiction. They’re using high temperatures to transform asbestos cement products—like corrugated roofing sheets—into an inert ceramic material that’s completely safe. But here's the best bit: That material isn’t just neutral. It’s useful. It can be crushed and graded into aggregate, which can be used in road construction, paving, and concrete mixes. Instead of creating a waste burden for the next generation, we’re creating a valuable, low-carbon building material. Why Aggregate Matters in the Carbon Equation The production of virgin aggregates—through mining and quarrying—is energy-intensive and environmentally damaging. It contributes significantly to CO₂ emissions and destroys natural landscapes. So by replacing some of that demand with recycled aggregate from denatured asbestos, we: • Cut carbon emissions • Reduce dependence on extraction • Shrink the environmental footprint of infrastructure projects • Extend the life of quarries and reduce waste tonnage That’s not just a win for waste management. That’s a win for the entire construction supply chain. And yet most people in the industry don’t even know it’s possible. Why Are We Still Burying What Could Be Reused? As someone who’s worked in asbestos compliance for over 20 years—and now helps business leaders manage risk more intelligently—I’ve seen the same patterns play out time and time again: • “We’ll just do what we’ve always done.” • “This project’s tight on budget—landfill’s cheaper, right?” • “We’re just following the usual route—it’s less risky.” Let’s be honest. That mindset is outdated, short-sighted, and lazy. Cost may always be a factor, but the belief that landfill is “cheaper” needs to be challenged. Once you factor in: • Long-term environmental costs • Reputational risk • Rising disposal fees • And the public pressure for sustainable practices Thermal recycling is already starting to make sense. Especially when the output is something usable, not something buried. Licensed Contractors: You Don’t Get a Free Pass Either This isn’t just about clients or duty holders. Licensed Asbestos Removal Contractors (LARC’s) have a moral obligation here too. And I say that not from a place of opinion—but from first-hand experience, day in and day out for over two decades. Too often, LARCs put profits over progress. They default to landfill because it’s faster, easier to price up, and keeps their margins clean. They know the alternatives exist—but they don’t explore them, let alone offer them to their clients. When you hold a licence from the HSE, you’re not just a business—you’re a guardian of public health. That comes with responsibility. Choosing the most sustainable, forward-thinking disposal route should be part of that. Especially when the technology is available, proven, and legal. It’s time for the industry to stop hiding behind what’s convenient and start leading from the front. A Moral Obligation for Everyone Involved Whether you’re a: • Local authority managing public buildings • Developer under pressure to go green • Commercial landlord looking to reduce liability • Or a licensed contractor with influence over disposal routes —you have a responsibility to look beyond the cheapest or fastest option. If there’s a proven, safe, and more sustainable way to manage asbestos, you have a duty to understand it before choosing to ignore it. Because let’s be honest: “We didn’t know” isn’t going to wash when the public starts asking why we’re still filling landfill sites with a problem we already have the technology to eliminate. So What Can You Do Differently? No one’s asking you to overhaul your entire waste strategy overnight. But you can—and should—start asking better questions: • “Is landfill our only option here?” • “Could this waste stream be recycled instead of buried?” • “What suppliers, contractors, or experts do we know who can help us explore this?” You don’t have to be a global pioneer. But if you’re in a position of responsibility, you should at least be aware that the old way isn’t the only way anymore. Final Thought: The Future Is Circular—Whether You Join In or Not Asbestos will be with us for decades to come. That’s a fact. But how we handle it—and whether we choose to keep repeating the past or do something smarter—is up to us. Thermal recycling and other denaturing technologies offer a rare opportunity to do something that actually moves the industry forward. Not just ticking the compliance box. Not just burying the problem. But solving it—and turning it into something useful in the process. If you’re involved in asbestos management in even the slightest way, ask yourself this: Are you part of the problem, or part of the solution?
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