As we approach Global Asbestos Awareness Week (1 – 7 April), the HSE is calling on your support to share their asbestos campaigns with your networks to protect workers’ health.   

Asbestos did not disappear when it was banned in the UK in 1999. Asbestos remains in millions of homes and buildings today and can become dangerous when disturbed or damaged.  

The HSE are currently running 2 asbestos campaigns: 

Asbestos and You – which highlights the risk of asbestos to tradespeople
  
Asbestos – Your Duty to raise awareness of the legal duty to manage asbestos in buildings  

Through these campaigns, the HSE provide free resources to help prevent exposure to asbestos fibres.

Asbestos and You campaign

HSE’s Asbestos and You campaign urges tradespeople to stay aware of hidden asbestos and protect themselves and others from exposure to asbestos fibres during their work.  

Every tradesperson is likely to undertake work in a building that contains asbestos at some point. Those carrying out repairs or refurbishment work are at a higher risk of disturbing asbestos, especially when working in houses built before the year 2000. 

For more information about what to look for and what to do when you come across asbestos: 

download the quick guide for trades 
view Asbestos Essentials task sheets 
watch the video – Silent Killer: the tragic story of asbestos victims  
download campaign assets to share on your channel

Asbestos – Your Duty campaign

What buildings does the duty to manage asbestos apply to?  

The campaign aims to reach those responsible for maintenance and repair of non-domestic buildings built before the year 2000.

This includes factories, warehouses, offices and shops; and public buildings like hospitals, schools, premises used for religious worship, museums and libraries. 

To comply with the law, asbestos in these buildings must be properly managed. Watch our short video that outlines the steps to the duty to manage asbestos in buildings.  

A range of free resources is available to support those with the legal duty to manage asbestos: 

download our digital poster with all our duty to manage asbestos resources at the click of a button  
view our guidance and asbestos management plan template  
share our campaign assets on your channels

Not sure if you have the legal duty?

Answer a few questions to help you identify who has the legal duty to manage asbestos. 

If you’re concerned about asbestos compliance – or just want a friendly word of advice – contact us today here.