Who Needs Asbestos Awareness Training?
Asbestos awareness training is intended for workers who may encounter or accidentally disturb asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) during their normal work, as well as those who supervise this type of work.
This can include electricians, plumbers, construction workers, maintenance workers, joiners, roofers, painters and decorators, heating and ventilation engineers and many other trades working in buildings where asbestos may be present.
Under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, employers must ensure that anyone liable to disturb asbestos during their normal work, or who supervises those employees, receives the correct level of information, instruction and training.
But who actually needs asbestos awareness training, what does the law require, and what does awareness training allow you to do?
Is Asbestos Awareness Training a Legal Requirement?
The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 place legal duties on employers to protect workers from the risks associated with asbestos.
Under Regulation 10, employers must ensure that employees who are liable to be exposed to asbestos – including those who supervise them – receive adequate information, instruction and training.
The level of information, instruction and training provided must be appropriate to the work being undertaken and the worker’s role.
The HSE guidance on asbestos training recognises e-learning as a viable delivery method for asbestos awareness training, provided it satisfies Regulation 10 and the supporting Approved Code of Practice.
Self-employed workers should also make sure they have the right level of information, instruction and training to protect themselves and ensure others are not put at risk by their work activities.
Who Needs Asbestos Awareness Training?
Asbestos awareness training is intended for people whose normal work could foreseeably disturb asbestos-containing materials.
This is particularly relevant where work involves disturbing the fabric of buildings or other items that might contain asbestos. Activities such as drilling, cutting, installation, maintenance, refurbishment and repair work can create a risk of disturbing hidden asbestos-containing materials.
The requirement should therefore be based on the work being undertaken and the potential for asbestos exposure, rather than simply a person’s job title.
Trades and Roles That May Need Asbestos Awareness Training
HSE guidance identifies examples of workers whose work may disturb asbestos. These include:
- General maintenance workers
- Electricians
- Plumbers
- Joiners
- Painters and decorators
- Plasterers
- Construction workers
- Roofers
- Shop fitters
- Gas fitters
- Heating and ventilation engineers
- Demolition workers
- Telecommunication engineers
- Fire and burglar alarm installers
- Computer and data installers
- Architects
- Building surveyors
This list is not exhaustive. Other occupations may also require asbestos awareness information, instruction and training where their normal work could disturb asbestos-containing materials.
Do Electricians Need Asbestos Awareness Training?
Electricians are specifically included in HSE’s examples of workers whose normal work may disturb asbestos.
Electrical installation and maintenance can involve drilling, cutting or accessing walls, ceilings, service risers, ducts and other parts of a building where asbestos-containing materials may be present.
Where an electrician’s normal work could foreseeably disturb asbestos, the appropriate level of asbestos information, instruction and training should be provided.
What About Maintenance, Facilities and Caretaking Staff?
Maintenance workers, facilities teams and caretakers may encounter asbestos during routine repairs, maintenance or access to parts of older buildings.
Their training requirements should reflect the work they carry out and the likelihood that their normal activities could disturb asbestos-containing materials.
Workers should also be familiar with relevant site asbestos information and know what to do if they encounter a material they suspect could contain asbestos.
Do Office Workers and Managers Need Asbestos Awareness Training?
Not every employee automatically requires asbestos awareness training simply because they work in a building that may contain asbestos.
An office worker who does not carry out work that could disturb asbestos would not normally require the same asbestos awareness information and training as a maintenance worker, electrician or other trade.
However, managers and supervisors who supervise employees whose work could disturb asbestos must receive the appropriate information, instruction and training for their role.
Why Are Buildings Built Before 2000 Important?
According to HSE guidance, if a building was built or refurbished before 2000, asbestos should be assumed to be present unless there is evidence that it is not.
Asbestos-containing materials can be visible or hidden within the building fabric. They may be found in areas and products such as:
- Insulation boards
- Pipe and boiler lagging
- Sprayed coatings
- Ceiling tiles
- Textured coatings
- Asbestos cement sheets and roofing products
- Floor tiles
- Fire doors and panels
- Service ducts and risers
Before carrying out work that could disturb the fabric of a building where asbestos may be present, workers should follow the site’s asbestos management arrangements and check the relevant asbestos information.
If a suspicious material is discovered during work, stop work and follow the site’s procedures rather than disturbing it.
What Is Asbestos Awareness Training Suitable For?
Asbestos awareness training is designed to give workers and supervisors the information they need to avoid work that may disturb asbestos during normal activities.
Training should help workers understand:
- The properties of asbestos and its potential health effects
- The types, uses and likely occurrence of asbestos and asbestos-containing materials
- Activities that could result in asbestos exposure
- How to avoid the risk of exposure to asbestos
- What to do in an emergency or if asbestos is accidentally disturbed
Important: Asbestos awareness training does not prepare or qualify someone to carry out work with asbestos-containing materials.
Workers who plan to carry out work that will disturb asbestos-containing materials require further information, instruction and training appropriate to the work being undertaken.
Need asbestos awareness training?
Does Asbestos Awareness Training Allow You to Work With Asbestos?
No.
Asbestos awareness training is intended to help workers recognise situations where asbestos may be present and avoid work that could disturb it.
HSE identifies three main levels of asbestos information, instruction and training:
- Asbestos awareness – for workers and supervisors who need information to avoid work that may disturb asbestos.
- Training for non-licensable work with asbestos, including Notifiable Non-Licensed Work (NNLW) – for workers whose work will intentionally disturb certain asbestos-containing materials.
- Training for licensable work with asbestos – for higher-risk asbestos work that must be carried out by appropriately trained and competent workers under the applicable licensing requirements.
Someone who has completed asbestos awareness training should not assume this qualifies them to remove, repair or otherwise work on asbestos-containing materials. The level of information, instruction and training must be appropriate to the work being carried out.
How Often Should Asbestos Awareness Training Be Refreshed?
There is no legal requirement to repeat an entire formal asbestos awareness refresher training course every 12 months.
However, HSE guidance on asbestos refresher training states that some form of refresher should be given as necessary to help ensure asbestos awareness knowledge is maintained.
Refresher awareness can be provided through methods such as e-learning, other health and safety updates or an appropriate workplace safety talk.
A realistic approach should be based on individual abilities and training needs. Employers should therefore consider whether workers’ knowledge needs refreshing rather than assuming that completion of one course means asbestos awareness never needs to be revisited.
IATP or UKATA: What’s the Difference?
IATP (Independent Asbestos Training Providers) and UKATA (United Kingdom Asbestos Training Association) are separate organisations associated with asbestos training in the UK.
The HSE asbestos training guidance lists both IATP and UKATA among training associations whose members provide asbestos training. HSE makes clear that providing these links is not an endorsement, and it remains the employer’s responsibility to determine whether a training provider is suitable.
Online Training Store provides an IATP-approved online Asbestos Awareness Course.
Want a more detailed comparison? Read our guide: IATP vs UKATA Asbestos Awareness Training: What’s the Difference?
Asbestos Awareness Training FAQs
Is asbestos awareness training a legal requirement?
Employers have a legal duty under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 to ensure employees who are liable to be exposed to asbestos, including those who supervise them, receive adequate information, instruction and training. The level required must be appropriate to the work and potential risk.
Do electricians need asbestos awareness training?
Electricians are specifically included in HSE’s examples of occupations whose normal work may disturb asbestos. Where their work could foreseeably disturb asbestos-containing materials, the appropriate asbestos information, instruction and training should be provided.
Can I work with asbestos after completing asbestos awareness training?
No. Asbestos awareness training is designed to help workers avoid disturbing asbestos. Anyone planning to carry out work that will disturb asbestos-containing materials requires further information, instruction and training appropriate to that work.
Does asbestos awareness training have to be renewed every year?
There is no legal requirement to repeat an entire formal asbestos awareness refresher course every 12 months. However, refresher information, instruction or training should be provided as necessary to help maintain asbestos awareness knowledge.
Is IATP the same as UKATA?
No. IATP and UKATA are separate organisations. HSE lists both among training associations whose members provide asbestos training. Online Training Store’s Asbestos Awareness Course is IATP-approved.
Need Asbestos Awareness Training?
Our IATP-approved Asbestos Awareness Course is completed online, allowing learners to undertake the training at their own pace.
On successful completion, learners receive a certificate confirming completion of the course.
