What is Asbestos Awareness Training & Who is it for?
Asbestos is a dangerous substance that can be found in any building built before the year 2000. It can be present in any building, including houses, hospitals, factories, offices and schools and it is estimated to cause around 5000 deaths every year.
When materials that contain asbestos are disturbed or damaged, fibres are released into the air and when inhaled, can cause series diseases. Asbestos related diseases can take many years to develop, including mesothelioma, lung cancer and other non-malignant diseases.
Asbestos was fully banned for use in the UK in 1999 due to it being extremely hazardous to health. It is now illegal to use asbestos in construction or refurbishments, however, as it is resistant to heat, fire and general degradation, much of it is still in place in buildings across the UK.
Is Asbestos Awareness a legal requirement?
Asbestos training is a legal requirement under regulation 10 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2021. This regulation states that “Every employer must ensure that [their] employee[s] are given adequate information, instruction and training where that employee is, or is liable to be, exposed to asbestos, or if that employee supervises such employees.”
Asbestos Awareness Training is a requirement for any person who may encounter asbestos, but who is not required to work with it. It is an employers legal duty and responsibility to provide the relevant training to any workers that could encounter asbestos in their role.
What job roles could require Asbestos Awareness training?
Asbestos Awareness training is a legal requirement for any person that may encounter asbestos, in environments where the fabric of a building are being worked on.
Potential job roles include:
- Roofers
- Demolition workers
- Construction workers
- Plasterers
- Carpenters
- Plumbers
- Heating and Ventilation Engineers
This list is not exhaustive. It is an employers responsibility to assess the risks that each employee could be exposed to, including asbestos, and the training required should be planned accordingly.
Please be aware, that any workers carrying out work which will disturb asbestos, then they may require a higher level of instruction and training.

Asbestos Awareness Online Training
Online training is a popular method of providing Asbestos Awareness training, and is recognised by the HSE.
Online courses, or eLearning, is fast becoming one of the most common forms of training. This is due to the practicality for delegates, as training can be undertaken any where, at any time on any device that can access the internet. It is also popular due to reduced costs for employers, that are saying goodbye to travel fees, expenses and time off work for training. Online training is ideal as it suits all worker’s schedules, regardless of what shift they work.
Our accredited online courses are interactive and engaging, and upon completing the course, the delegate immediately receives their training certificate that can be verified by employers on our website.
Our Asbestos Awareness online course is suitable for any worker that could potentially be exposed to asbestos or who works on the fabric of buildings. Our short course will provide delegates with an understanding of what asbestos is, why it can be dangerous, what the law says and what to do if asbestos is discovered in the workplace.
We hope you found the above information useful. Should you have any questions, doubts or concerns, please don’t hesitate to get in touch!
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