HEALTH AT WORK

Industrial Health

Asbestos at Work: Health Risks, Legal Duties and Safe Management

Health at Work · Health at Work

Asbestos was once celebrated as a miracle material — fireproof, durable and cheap. For decades it was used in construction, shipbuilding, manufacturing and insulation. Today, it is recognised as one of the most dangerous occupational carcinogens in the world. Despite widespread bans, asbestos-related diseases still kill more workers each year than any other single occupational hazard. If your workplace involves older buildings, maintenance, renovation or demolition, understanding asbestos risks is not optional — it is a legal and moral obligation.

What Is Asbestos and Why Is It So Dangerous?

Asbestos is a group of naturally occurring silicate minerals whose fibres are microscopic, odourless and invisible to the naked eye. When asbestos-containing materials are disturbed — through drilling, cutting, sanding or demolition — these fibres become airborne and can be inhaled deep into the lungs. Once lodged in lung tissue, they cannot be expelled by the body. Over time, they cause chronic inflammation, scarring and cellular damage. The diseases caused by asbestos exposure include mesothelioma (a rare and almost always fatal cancer of the lining of the lungs or abdomen), asbestosis (progressive and irreversible lung scarring), lung cancer, and pleural disease. What makes asbestos particularly insidious is the long latency period — symptoms may not appear for 20 to 40 years after initial exposure, meaning workers harmed today may not receive a diagnosis until well into retirement.

Who Is at Risk? Identifying High-Risk Occupations and Settings

While asbestos use has been banned or heavily restricted in many countries, the legacy of past use means millions of workers are still at risk. Buildings constructed before the 1990s frequently contain asbestos in roofing materials, floor tiles, pipe insulation, ceiling panels, textured paints and boiler cladding. The workers most at risk include construction workers carrying out maintenance or renovation of older buildings, plumbers, electricians and HVAC technicians, demolition crews, school and hospital maintenance staff, and shipyard workers. Even secondary exposure is a documented risk — workers who carried asbestos fibres home on their clothing have exposed family members. A thorough asbestos survey of any older premises must be completed before any intrusive work begins. Employers have a duty to know whether asbestos is present and to manage it accordingly.

Legal Duties and Risk Management: What Employers Must Do

In most jurisdictions, employers who manage non-domestic premises built before the relevant cut-off date are legally required to identify the presence of asbestos-containing materials, assess their condition, and maintain a written asbestos management plan. This plan must be kept up to date and shared with anyone likely to disturb the material, including contractors. Workers who may encounter asbestos must receive adequate information, instruction and training before beginning work. Licensed contractors are required for the highest-risk asbestos removal work. Personal protective equipment — including appropriate respiratory protection and disposable coveralls — must be provided, and strict decontamination procedures must be followed. Air monitoring during and after work, as well as medical surveillance for exposed workers, are additional layers of protection that responsible employers should implement. Asbestos that is in good condition and unlikely to be disturbed is often safer to manage in place than to remove — but this decision must be based on a professional assessment, not assumption.

Supporting Workers Exposed to Asbestos: Health Surveillance and Wellbeing

Workers with a history of asbestos exposure deserve ongoing occupational health support. Health surveillance programmes allow early detection of pleural changes and other indicators of disease, improving outcomes and ensuring workers receive appropriate follow-up care. Equally important is psychological support — a diagnosis of asbestos-related disease, or even the knowledge of past exposure, can cause significant anxiety. Occupational health professionals play a key role in counselling workers, coordinating with specialist respiratory physicians, and supporting return to work where possible. At Health at Work, we help employers put in place robust asbestos health surveillance programmes and provide expert guidance on regulatory compliance. If you are unsure whether your workplace has an adequate asbestos management strategy in place, our team is ready to help you build one — before a risk becomes a tragedy.