Asbestos in Construction: What Senior Professionals Must Know

Asbestos is the leading cause of occupational death in the UK. Each year, approximately 5,000 people die from asbestos-related diseases, exceeding the number of fatalities from road traffic accidents. The effects of exposure may not become evident for decades, so failures in management today may only be realised by future generations. For construction professionals working on buildings constructed before 2000, effective asbestos management is an essential responsibility.

Where It Is Found

Asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) were widely used in UK buildings until the complete ban in 1999. In commercial and public buildings, ACMs may be found in roof sheets, pipe lagging, ceiling tiles, artex coatings, floor tiles, insulation boards around structural steel, and electrical panels, as well as other locations. The presence of ACMs does not present an immediate risk. The risk occurs when these materials are disturbed, damaged or removed without appropriate controls.

The Legal Duties

The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 place duties on both those responsible for non-domestic premises and those carrying out construction work. Before any refurbishment or demolition, a survey must be carried out by a competent surveyor, not simply rely on an existing management survey. This distinction matters: using the wrong survey type for intrusive work is a serious compliance failure and a common one. Licensable asbestos work must only be carried out by an HSE-licensed contractor. For all other notifiable non-licensed work, notification to the HSE and medical surveillance requirements apply. Anyone liable to disturb asbestos — including tradespeople carrying out seemingly routine tasks — must receive appropriate training.

Responsibilities Under CDM

Asbestos is a significant element of pre-construction information under CDM 2015. The client must provide known asbestos information before work begins; the Principal Designer must integrate it into the pre-construction risk picture; and the Principal Contractor must ensure it is addressed in the Construction Phase Plan. A full understanding of CDM duty holder responsibilities is essential context for managing asbestos across a project. Senior professionals managing refurbishment programmes must verify that asbestos surveys are adequate before mobilisation. It is not sufficient to assume that the existence of a document confirms the correct survey has been completed. This level of strategic oversight demonstrates genuine competence, rather than procedural compliance, and is a key focus in programmes such as the Level 7 Award in Strategic Health and Safety Leadership and Management.

What Goes Wrong

Common failures include the use of inadequate survey types for refurbishment work, failure to check asbestos registers before subcontractors begin, lack of communication to workers about ACM locations, and unlicensed contractors undertaking licensable removal. Prosecution for asbestos-related breaches frequently results in substantial fines. The reputational impact is significant, and the human cost cannot be reversed. Managing these risks is a regular focus during HSE site inspections, especially on older buildings. Organisations that approach asbestos management as an ongoing operational responsibility, rather than a pre-construction formality, are better prepared for regulatory scrutiny.