Save the date: Mesothelioma Awareness Day
Mesothelioma is a cancer which is almost exclusively related to asbestos exposure.
It can take 20 to 30 years after being exposed to asbestos before symptoms appear. By the time it is diagnosed, it is almost always fatal.
Symptoms can include:
- shortness of breath
- persistent cough
- wheezing
- extreme tiredness (fatigue)
- pain in your chest or shoulder
Put Mesothelioma Awareness Day on Friday 26 September in your diary and support HSE’s campaigns to help raise awareness of asbestos and how to manage it safely.
Latest
Health and Safety Executive ebulletin
Construction firm fined after workers exposed to asbestos risks
A construction company has been fined £5,360 after workers were put at risk of exposure to asbestos during work at a former pub.
A1 Property Maintenance Management Limited was acting as principal contractor when HSE inspectors discovered that 12 square metres of asbestos insulation board had been illegally removed without the proper controls in place.
The company failed to carry out a full asbestos survey to confirm that all asbestos-containing materials had been removed before allowing further construction work to continue.
This prosecution demonstrates the serious consequences of failing to properly manage asbestos risks, and underscores why HSE runs 2 dedicated asbestos campaigns:
reminds tradespeople about the dangers of asbestos exposure and the importance of working safely with it
- Asbestos - Your Duty informs those responsible for the ongoing maintenance and repair of non-domestic buildings of their legal duty to manage the risks of asbestos to those who use the building
Read the full press release: Construction firm fined after workers exposed to asbestos risks
HSE Asbestos training course
Managing asbestos in buildings
29 January 2026
If you are responsible for maintenance and repair of non-domestic buildings or multi-occupancy domestic premises, you have a legal duty to manage asbestos in a building.
'Managing asbestos in buildings' is our 1-day, in-person training course held at HSE's Science and Research centre in Buxton. It will cover:
- legislation, guidance and the responsibilities of dutyholders
- how to commission and understand asbestos surveys
- the different methods of managing asbestos in buildings
- how to assess the risks and formulate an asbestos management plan
- dutyholder responsibilities around commissioning and managing asbestos removal projects
Find out more and book: Asbestos Management in Buildings
The cost of working unsafely with asbestos
- Asbestos and You: for tradespeople to know what to watch for, and what to do should you come across asbestos
- Asbestos – Your Duty: for those responsible for maintenance and repair of non-domestic buildings
Builder sentenced for unlicensed asbestos removal during house renovation
A builder has been fined after carrying out unlicensed asbestos removal work at a house being renovated.
Despite being warned by the customer that asbestos was potentially present in the fascia boards, the builder proceeded to remove the asbestos-containing materials.
This type of work should only be undertaken by a licensed asbestos contractor with appropriate safety controls in place.
He was sentenced to a 12-month Community Order with 180 hours Unpaid Work and ordered to pay £2,000 in costs.
Read our full press release here.
Contractor sentenced after uncontrolled spread of asbestos in garden
A self-employed roofing contractor has been ordered to undertake unpaid work after the uncontrolled spread of asbestos in a back garden.
The spread of asbestos in the garden put two young workers and local residents at risk.
HSE began an investigation after a local resident raised concerns about debris that had fallen into their garden during the work. Analysis confirmed the debris contained chrysotile asbestos.
Watch the doorbell-cam footage and read the full article.
Community order for builder after man fell through barn roof containing asbestos
A self-employed builder has been told to complete 200 hours unpaid work after a man fell more than 13 feet through a barn roof on his first day on the job.
His horrific injuries included a brain haemorrhage as well as multiple fracturs including to his skull, the sternum, the spine and the shoulder.
An investigation by HSE found that as well as failing to consider the work at height, the roof in question also contained asbestos fibres.
HSE is calling on your support to share our asbestos resources with others to highlight the risks and keep people safe.
Despite being banned in the UK 25 years ago, asbestos is still responsible for approximately 5,000 deaths in Great Britain each year.
Asbestos-related diseases typically take decades for symptoms to occur following exposure. As Global Asbestos Awareness Week approaches, we are reminding people where they might encounter asbestos and what action to take to prevent exposure.
Why it matters
Asbestos could be present in any building that was built or refurbished before 2000 and can be hidden within different materials, for example:
- lagging on plant and pipework
- insulation products such as fireproof panels
- asbestos cement roofing material
- sprayed coatings on structural steel work to insulate against fire and noise
These materials become dangerous when damaged or disturbed. For example, during maintenance, remediation or renovation work.
That's why HSE is running 2 crucial campaigns to raise awareness of the risks, providing free advice, downloadable resources and videos to help prevent exposure to asbestos fibres.
The impact of exposure to asbestos is not just long-term health, it will cost your business too.
Exposure to asbestos is the greatest cause of work-related deaths in Great Britain. If disturbed, harmful fibres are released into the air and can cause fatal diseases when inhaled. Symptoms typically take decades to develop and there is no cure.
Below are several prosecutions of businesses and self-employed trades who have failed to comply with law. As well as being fined and receiving negative publicity, people and communities have been affected by the harm caused.
Make sure you have the correct controls in place to protect yourself and others.
Find out more about HSE’s campaigns
Help raise awareness of guidance and resources.
Further information
Access a range of asbestos guidance on HSE’s website:
- view our asbestos essential task sheets for practical, step-by-step guidance
- follow a step guide: Introduction to asbestos safety
- find out about: A workers' guide to asbestos safety which includes videos summarising the guidance for workers.
access further information about the locations of asbestos and taking the right action
2025 Annual Science Review published
HSE's Annual Science Review illustrates how we use innovative science and evidence to protect people and places, helping everyone lead safer and healthier lives.
HSE Global Asbestos Awareness Week: 1 to 7 April
HSE is calling on your support to share our asbestos resources with others to highlight the risks and keep people safe.
Despite being banned in the UK 25 years ago, asbestos is still responsible for approximately 5,000 deaths in Great Britain each year.
Asbestos-related diseases typically take decades for symptoms to occur following exposure. As Global Asbestos Awareness Week approaches, we are reminding people where they might encounter asbestos and what action to take to prevent exposure.
Why it matters
Asbestos could be present in any building that was built or refurbished before 2000 and can be hidden within different materials, for example:
- lagging on plant and pipework
- insulation products such as fireproof panels
- asbestos cement roofing material
- sprayed coatings on structural steel work to insulate against fire and noise
These materials become dangerous when damaged or disturbed. For example, during maintenance, remediation or renovation work.
That's why HSE is running 2 crucial campaigns to raise awareness of the risks, providing free advice, downloadable resources and videos to help prevent exposure to asbestos fibres.
Protect your future: take action this April
If you're a tradesperson, you're likely to encounter asbestos during your work at some point.
Our Asbestos and You campaign provides essential advice to help you stay safe. Resources include our free 'quick guide for trades' to learn what to watch for, and what to do should you come across it.
Read our recent blogs on the devastating impact of asbestos-related disease.
For those responsible for non-domestic buildings (including offices, factories, schools, and public buildings), there is a legal obligation to manage asbestos risks.
Our Asbestos – Your Duty campaign provides a range of resources to support dutyholders with the legal duty to manage asbestos in buildings.
Further information
Access a range of asbestos guidance on HSE’s website:
- view our asbestos essential task sheets for practical, step-by-step guidance
- follow a step guide: Introduction to asbestos safety
- find out about: A workers' guide to asbestos safety which includes videos summarising the guidance for workers.
access further information about the locations of asbestos and taking the right action
2025 Annual Science Review published
HSE's Annual Science Review illustrates how we use innovative science and evidence to protect people and places, helping everyone lead safer and healthier lives.
HSE Asbestos campaign updates
Asbestos and You
New research reveals that nearly half of tradespeople view asbestos as a problem of the past.
According to a recent survey, over a quarter of respondents (26%) also stated that they have not followed the correct procedures when they have encountered asbestos.
The survey was commissioned by an independent training provider, unrelated to HSE.
No matter what safety equipment you have, if you’re not adequately trained, you shouldn’t be working with asbestos. It is illegal to work on asbestos containing materials without proper training. Find out more about:
- HSE's Asbestos and You campaign for tradespeople
- asbestos information, instruction and training
Asbestos - Your Duty
HSE’s Asbestos - Your Duty campaign is calling on your support to share our campaign resources with your networks to keep people safe from asbestos.
This now includes the duty to manage asbestos guidance in Welsh. This contains a downloadable PDF to improve understanding of what the legal duty to manage asbestos involves.
The campaign has a range of free resources available to support those with the legal duty to manage asbestos. You can:
- watch our short video that outlines the steps to the duty to manage asbestos in buildings
- visit our webpage to access and download campaign assets
- view our guidance and asbestos management plan template
