Which occupations are most likely to require asbestos awareness training?

The era of UK history in which it was common for asbestos-containing materials (ACMs), such as asbestos cement roof sheets, loose fill insulation, and textured decorative coatings, to be installed in residential, commercial, and public buildings alike, is now long behind us. Indeed, all forms of the fibrous silicate mineral were banned in the UK in late 1999.

However, this outlawing of the substance’s use in new UK construction projects still left the material present in a wide range of buildings up and down the country. It is believed that to this day, there remain as many as 1.5 million UK buildings in which asbestos may still be present.

This, in turn, means that even during the 2020s, people working in all manner of occupations can still be at risk of coming into contact with this notorious carcinogen.

Given that asbestos remains the leading cause of work-related deaths in Great Britain, contributing to around 5,000 deaths per year from diseases such as mesothelioma and asbestos-related lung cancer, these risks of contact bring great reason for concern.

In this article, we will take a closer look at the specific occupations that may bring a particularly high likelihood of unintentionally disturbing ACMs at a given site. We will also explain what asbestos awareness training is, along with the associated legal obligations.

A quick introduction to asbestos awareness training

It is crucial for any individual or organisation considering asbestos awareness training, to fully understand what this training is, and what it isn’t.

As we explained in our previous guide to asbestos training, asbestos awareness training is the most basic, “entry-level” form of asbestos training. Also often referred to as “Cat A” or “category A” training, it serves as an introduction to asbestos and the risks the material can present.

What does the law say about who needs asbestos awareness training?

Regulation 10 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR 2012) – the overarching asbestos legislation in Great Britain – obliges employers to make sure anyone liable to disturb asbestos during their work, or who supervises such employees, receives the correct level of information, instruction, and training to allow them to carry out their work safely.

Arranging asbestos awareness training for their employees, helps employers fulfil this legal requirement.

However, it is important to bear in mind that this form of information, instruction, and training is meant to help workers and supervisors avoid work that could cause disturbance to asbestos, in settings where the mineral is likely to be close by.

Asbestos awareness training is not, to put it another way, aimed at people who will be knowingly and directly working with asbestos. This distinguishes it from the higher levels of asbestos training, such as:

• Category B, or non-licensed asbestos training. This is designed for people who will be working with, or who could potentially disturb, ACMs that are not considered licensable under CAR 2012.
• Category C, or licensed asbestos training. This is the highest level of training for those who will be working directly with asbestos – specifically higher-risk work for which a licence will be needed from the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Employers, supervisors, and dutyholders under CAR 2012 that fail to arrange adequate asbestos awareness training could be putting themselves at risk of legal consequences such as fines and/or imprisonment.

Which construction roles require this training?

Construction workers tend to be high on the list of people who could conceivably come into accidental contact with asbestos over the course of their work.

After all, in buildings dating to before the year 2000, there are many parts where ACMs could be encountered, such as behind walls, ceilings, and floor tiles.

So, the below are examples of especially “high-risk” construction and related workers who are required to undergo asbestos awareness training:

• General builders
• Demolition workers
• Groundworkers
• Electricians
• Plumbers
• Joiners
• Plasterers
• Roofers
• Painters
• Decorators
• Heating engineers
• Gas fitters
• Insulation installers
• Shopfitters

Who in maintenance and facilities management needs training?

People working in roles that regularly access voids, plant rooms, or ageing infrastructure must also be given asbestos awareness training.

This encompasses such workers as:

• General maintenance workers
• Facilities managers
• Caretakers
• Cleaners, who may disturb ACM dust during deep cleans or refurbishments

Are IT, telecoms, and security installers also at risk?

The short answer to this question is: yes. Such workers are often overlooked, but they frequently operate in asbestos-rich zones.

Such areas as ceiling voids, service ducts, and risers can present particular asbestos risks to individuals carrying out the installation of:  

• Data cabling
• Fire alarms
• CCTV
• Telecoms systems

Which professional and managerial staff should also be trained?

They may not be as directly involved in penetrative and disruptive work at a particular premises as some of the other workers listed in this article. However, certain professional and managerial staff making decisions about work on pre-2000 buildings will still often be present on-site.

In making such decisions, of course, managers and supervisors are also required to ensure the safe management of asbestos in areas they have responsibility for.

Asbestos awareness training, then, will help them make the most appropriate and informed decisions, including on control measures.

So, asbestos awareness training can be crucial for:

• Building surveyors
• Architects
• Designers
• Property managers
• Letting agents
• Project managers
• Site supervisors
• Principal contractors

What about landlords and self-employed tradespeople?

Both landlords and self-employed tradespeople are further examples of individuals who should undergo asbestos awareness training.

• Landlords: although CAR 2012 is chiefly aimed at non-domestic premises, it also applies to certain common parts of domestic buildings, such as the shared stairwells and communal gardens in blocks of flats. So, as well as commercial lets, even residential landlords can have a responsibility for managing asbestos risks in accordance with this law – which means they may require asbestos awareness training.
• Self-employed tradespeople: asbestos awareness training is crucial for such workers, given the legal responsibility they have to protect themselves and others. Such training allows them to identify potential ACMs, avoid disturbing it, and take appropriate steps if they do accidentally disturb such materials.

Are there other occupations you might not expect?

The following are examples of roles that are not “traditionally” associated with asbestos awareness training; nonetheless, this form of training can still be relevant to all of them:

• School caretakers and maintenance teams
• Hospital estates teams
• Theatre set builders and museum curators (who often deal with vintage items potentially containing asbestos)
• Waste facility and civic amenity site personnel
• Marine and offshore workers

How can employers decide who in their organisation needs training?

Employers in the UK will need to determine who within their organisation requires asbestos awareness training based on the job roles that could involve the accidental disturbance of ACMs. The people who oversee such work will have to undergo asbestos awareness training, too.

You can make this determination as an employer by carrying out a risk-based assessment. This process should include:

• Reviewing staff roles and buildings under management
• Identifying the potential for the disturbance of ACMs
• Considering multi-trade roles or mixed-use buildings

This risk-based assessment, and the decisions that you make leading on from it, will need to be integrated into your organisation’s broader health and safety planning.

How often should training be refreshed and in what format?

As the HSE has advised, there isn’t any legal requirement for an entire formal asbestos awareness refresher course to be repeated every 12 months. However, the regulator does state that some form of refresher training should be provided, as necessary, to help ensure a given worker maintains their knowledge of asbestos awareness over time.

Ultimately, then, you might arrange for your workers to undergo asbestos awareness refresher training annually, or at a more frequent interval than this, depending on the risk.

Nonetheless, as we have previously written about, Regulation 10 of CAR 2012 does set 12 months as a minimum interval between refresher training. So, even if you do not arrange a complete new course every time, you shouldn’t be allowing more than a year to pass since the last one for any workers of yours who could conceivably encounter asbestos.

Such refresher training can be delivered online or in-person. E-learning, of course, has become more widespread and accepted in recent years. It also doesn’t incur travel or accommodation costs, unlike the situation when learners are trying to get to a brick-and-mortar training centre.

Choosing a certified and trusted provider of asbestos awareness training can give you peace of mind about the relevance, quality, and thoroughness of the training. Here at Oracle Solutions, for instance, we have a fully bespoke, UKATA-accredited modern training centre.

Don’t forget, too, to keep a record of the information, instruction, training that each individual in your organisation receives in relation to asbestos awareness. This will help you, as an employer, to undertake ongoing analysis of the training needs of your staff.

What are the common pitfalls to avoid?

We would urge you to steer clear of these common mistakes and pitfalls when it comes to asbestos awareness training:

• Assuming only licensed asbestos workers require training
• Failing to train supervisors or contracted workers
• Overlooking less “obvious” job roles that may need asbestos awareness training
• Not tailoring the training to the language and experience levels of your staff
• Missing refreshers and compliance documentation

Summary: how to stay compliant and protect your team

Ultimately, asbestos awareness training is not merely a formality for many dutyholders, managers, supervisors, and workers – it is a legal safeguard, and a moral obligation.

The key takeaways are that you must: 

• Know who needs asbestos awareness training
• Choose quality training
• Keep your records up to date

For further guidance on this subject, please don’t hesitate to turn to the online resources of the HSE, UKATA, and/or professional asbestos consultants.

It is a straightforward process, too, to contact our own experts at Oracle Solutions – and when you do, we will be pleased to provide a competitive quote.