Asbestos awareness in the UK: certificates, legal duties and what training you actually need
Asbestos remains an important workplace safety issue in the UK, particularly for people working in construction, maintenance, facilities management and other roles where older buildings may contain asbestos-containing materials (ACMs).
If your work could disturb asbestos, it is important to understand what training you need, what asbestos awareness training does and does not cover, and when additional training is required.
This guide explains the main levels of asbestos training, certificate and refresher expectations, employer responsibilities and the difference between awareness, non-licensable and licensable asbestos work.
What asbestos training do you need?
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) identifies three main levels of information, instruction and training:
- Asbestos awareness
- Non-licensable work, including Notifiable Non-Licensed Work (NNLW)
- Licensable work
The correct level depends on the worker's role and the type of work they are expected to carry out. Training should be appropriate to the work and supported by suitable instruction, assessment and experience.
Asbestos awareness training
Asbestos awareness training is aimed at people who could encounter asbestos during their normal work but are not intending to disturb it.
This can include:
- Electricians
- Plumbers
- General maintenance workers
- Joiners
- Painters and decorators
- Roofers
- Construction workers
- Heating and ventilation engineers
- Building surveyors
- Facilities management staff
The training helps workers understand:
- What asbestos is and why it is dangerous
- Where asbestos may be found
- What asbestos-containing materials may look like
- How to avoid disturbing asbestos
- What to do if asbestos is suspected
- How to respond to an accidental disturbance
HSE recognises e-learning as a suitable method for delivering asbestos awareness training, provided the training meets the relevant requirements.
What asbestos awareness training does NOT allow you to do
This is one of the most important points to understand.
Completing asbestos awareness training does not prepare you to carry out work on asbestos-containing materials.
For example, awareness training does not give you permission to:
- Drill into asbestos-containing materials
- Remove asbestos-containing materials
- Repair asbestos-containing materials
- Cut or disturb ACMs
- Carry out planned work that will disturb asbestos
If your work will disturb asbestos, you need additional training appropriate to the work being undertaken.
Non-licensable asbestos work
Some asbestos work can be carried out without an HSE licence, but this does not mean that specialist training is unnecessary.
Workers undertaking non-licensable work need appropriate training covering areas such as risk assessment, control measures, safe working methods, PPE and emergency procedures.
Some work may also be classed as Notifiable Non-Licensed Work (NNLW), which has additional requirements including notification and medical examinations. Whether work is licensed, NNLW or non-licensed depends on the material, its condition and the task being carried out.
HSE – Non-licensed asbestos work
Licensable asbestos work
Higher-risk asbestos work must generally be carried out by a licensed asbestos contractor.
Workers carrying out licensable work require appropriate specialist training, competence and supervision. An asbestos licence is held by the contractor or business rather than simply being an individual's training certificate.
How long does asbestos awareness training last?
There is no single legal expiry period for asbestos awareness training.
HSE does not require a complete formal awareness refresher course every 12 months. However, employers should provide refresher information and training when necessary to keep workers' knowledge up to date.
For non-licensable and licensable asbestos work, refresher training should generally be provided annually, or more frequently where necessary.
Some training providers may put an expiry date on their certificates, so always check the requirements of your employer or client.
Do you receive an asbestos certificate?
Many training providers issue certificates when learners successfully complete their training and assessment.
However, a certificate is evidence that training has been completed — it is not proof of competence by itself.
Employers should keep appropriate training records and ensure workers have the knowledge, skills and experience required for their role.
What evidence should employers keep?
Organisations should keep appropriate records of asbestos training. This may include:
- Training certificates
- Training records
- Training matrices
- Refresher training dates
- Risk assessments
- Relevant asbestos survey information
For NNLW and licensable work, additional records and requirements may apply.
UKATA, IATP and CPD: what's the difference?
You may see different approval or recognition schemes when looking for asbestos training.
UKATA and IATP are organisations involved in asbestos training and training-provider schemes, while CPD relates to structured professional learning.
The HSE does not require every asbestos awareness course to carry a particular logo. However, employers, clients or procurement frameworks may specify a particular approval or provider.
Always check what your organisation or client requires before choosing a course.
What should you do if you find suspected asbestos?
Stop and don't disturb it.
Follow your organisation's procedures and seek advice from a competent person. Workers should know how to recognise potential asbestos-containing materials and what to do if they encounter them.
Having an appropriate asbestos survey and management arrangements in place is also essential for managing the risk.
Online asbestos awareness training
Safeguard E-Learning provides tutor-led, video-based asbestos awareness training that can be completed online.
The course helps learners understand the risks associated with asbestos, recognise where it may be found and understand how to avoid disturbing asbestos-containing materials.
The course is for awareness purposes and does not qualify learners to carry out work that disturbs asbestos.
You can also access the first module for free before purchasing the course.
Asbestos Awareness Course and Asbestos Awareness Training Online Certificate
Asbestos Awareness Online Course & UKATA Online Training - IATP
Asbestos Awareness for Architects and Designers - Safeguard E-Learning