Understanding the Ongoing Threat of Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos exposure remains one of the most serious occupational health threats in the United Kingdom. Despite a complete ban on its use introduced in 1999, the material is still present in thousands of buildings constructed before that date, and the consequences of past exposure continue to claim lives every single day. According to the Health and Safety Executive, around 13 people die each day in the UK from asbestos-related illness, amounting to more than 5,000 deaths annually. These are not statistics from a distant industrial past. They reflect exposures that happened decades ago, and the toll is still rising.

For workers in construction, maintenance, refurbishment, and a range of other trades, understanding the threat that asbestos poses is not a matter of academic interest. It is a practical and potentially life-saving necessity.

The scale of asbestos-related mortality in the UK is, by any measure, staggering. In 2022, the HSE recorded 2,257 mesothelioma deaths, a figure that has remained stubbornly high for several years. Alongside these, a broadly comparable number of lung cancer deaths are attributed to asbestos exposure each year, and 493 deaths from asbestosis were recorded in the same period.

What makes these numbers particularly sobering is the latency period involved. Asbestos-related diseases typically take between 15 and 60 years to develop after initial exposure. The deaths being recorded today are the result of working conditions that existed in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, when asbestos was used extensively across construction, shipbuilding, power generation, and manufacturing. This delay between exposure and diagnosis means the true scale of the problem is often underestimated, and it also means that people currently working in buildings containing asbestos-containing materials face risks that may not become apparent for decades.

Mesothelioma, the cancer most closely associated with asbestos, affects the thin lining of the lungs, abdomen, or heart. It has no cure, and median survival following diagnosis is typically measured in months rather than years. Lung cancer attributable to asbestos is equally serious, and asbestosis, a chronic scarring of lung tissue, causes progressive and irreversible loss of respiratory function. A further condition, pleural thickening, affects the lining of the lungs and can significantly impair breathing over time.

Early detection across all of these conditions is rare. The symptoms, which include persistent cough, breathlessness, chest pain, and unexplained weight loss, are common to many illnesses and tend to appear only once the disease has reached an advanced stage. This makes prevention, rather than treatment, the critical priority.

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The widespread use of asbestos in the post-war decades left a substantial and enduring legacy. Between the 1950s and the mid-1980s, asbestos-containing materials were incorporated into an enormous range of building products, from roof sheeting and pipe insulation to floor tiles, ceiling tiles, textured coatings, and cement boards. The material was valued for its fire resistance, durability, and low cost, and it was used extensively in schools, hospitals, offices, industrial premises, and residential properties.

Although the use of blue and brown asbestos was banned in 1985, white asbestos continued to be used in the UK until the full ban came into force in 1999. This means that any building constructed or significantly refurbished before that date may contain asbestos-containing materials in some form. The Health and Safety Executive estimates that around 1.5 million commercial buildings in the UK still contain asbestos.

The risk arises not from the mere presence of asbestos, but from disturbance. When materials containing asbestos are cut, drilled, sanded, or damaged, microscopic fibres are released into the air. These fibres can be inhaled and, because they are effectively indestructible within the human body, they accumulate in lung tissue and trigger the diseases described above. Workers who carry out refurbishment, maintenance, or demolition work on older buildings are therefore at elevated risk, particularly if they are unaware that the materials they are working with contain asbestos.

The following table summarises the occupations most commonly associated with asbestos exposure and the typical sources of risk in each case:

Even workers who do not handle asbestos directly may be at risk. Labourers, supervisors, and site visitors who are present when asbestos-containing materials are disturbed can inhale fibres without being aware of any exposure having taken place. This is sometimes referred to as para-occupational exposure, and it accounts for a meaningful proportion of asbestos-related disease cases in the UK.

The widespread use of asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) after World War II has left a lasting legacy. Although its use diminished in the 1980s and was banned in 1999, the residual presence of asbestos in older buildings remains a significant health risk. Workers in construction, plumbing, electrical work, and carpentry are especially vulnerable if unaware of asbestos-containing materials in their environment.

Common locations where asbestos might be found include floor tiles, ceiling tiles, pipe insulation, textured paint, cement boards, asbestos roofing felt, and vermiculite insulation. Renovation or demolition activities can disturb these materials, releasing harmful fibres into the air.

The dangers of asbestos are far from over. With thousands of deaths still linked to past exposure, vigilance and proactive measures remain critical. Through comprehensive training and awareness, the risks associated with asbestos can be effectively managed, ensuring a safer future for all workers.

To mitigate risks, proper education and training are essential. HSQE Training offers specialised Asbestos Awareness Training designed for professionals who may encounter asbestos daily. This training equips workers with the knowledge and skills to identify, manage, and avoid asbestos hazards safely.

Training is vital for builders, electricians, railway workers, construction workers, plumbers, carpenters, and managers who oversee teams in environments where asbestos exposure is possible. By investing in asbestos training, organisations can safeguard their workforce and prevent unnecessary illnesses.

At HSQE Training, we understand the risks posed by asbestos and are committed to providing Asbestos Awareness Training.

Our courses are tailored for professionals likely to encounter asbestos daily, ensuring they have the knowledge and skills to manage it safely.

If you’re looking to book a course or refresh your certification, our expert team is here to help. Contact us today to schedule your asbestos training and safeguard your workforce.

This article was written by Mathew Oldham (HSQE Consultancy Ltd).

Mathew has over 20 years of experience in health and safety and an MSc (Hons) in Construction Management. Mathew is NEBOSH Health and Safety, Construction, Fire, Environment and Diploma qualified and CertIOSH.

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