Busting The Asbestos Myths: Why Awareness and Compliance Matter
Asbestos has been the UK’s biggest industrial killer for over 40 years. The fibrous minerals – known for their resistance to heat, electricity, and corrosion – were used in a wide range of building materials before 1999 and are known to cause respiratory cancers such as mesothelioma and lung cancer, and other serious lung diseases such as asbestosis and pleural thickening.
Shockingly, one person dies every 90 minutes from an asbestos-related disease. That is more than three times more deaths than road traffic accidents annually in the UK. Unfortunately, despite predictions upon its ban in 1999, the long latency period of asbestos-related diseases means the death rate has not decreased in 30 years.
This was just one of the shocking truths revealed by andwis’ asbestos expert, Jess Scott of Oracle Solutions, at a recent customer event.
There are many misconceptions surrounding asbestos management and few people realise that it remains one of the UK’s most significant industrial hazards. Jess cited that the most significant challenge of asbestos management is awareness! Awareness of the risk and the requirements necessary to remain asbestos compliant today and in the years to come.
In a bid to debunk some of the common myths surrounding asbestos, this blog delves into the misconceptions of asbestos management and why a proactive approach is critical to decreasing the death rate.
Myth 1: Asbestos is a Thing of the Past
Despite all forms of asbestos being banned in the production of various building materials, in 1999, it remains a significant hazard in buildings that predate the year 2000.
While asbestos has been used in buildings for 4500 years, its adoption in building materials peaked between 1930 and 1970. Given that there were over 3,000 asbestos-containing products manufactured and extensively implemented before its eventual ban, we must presume that asbestos is present in all buildings constructed before 2000.
When you consider there are approximately 25-27 million buildings in the UK that predate the year 2000, and we have a demolition rate of 50,000 buildings per year, asbestos will remain a concern now and for centuries to come.
Consequently, every building that predates the year 2000 requires ongoing asbestos management under UK regulations.
Myth 2: Managing Asbestos Risk is Too Expensive
What’s more expensive—a £500 compliance check or a £500,000 fine? Can you afford to put a price on the health of the people who occupy, visit, and work within your building?
Consequently, businesses and the individuals who are responsible for a building can face significant legal and financial penalties for non-compliance.
Failure to manage asbestos correctly can result in:
- Unlimited fines – Crown Court fines for breaches can reach millions of pounds.
- Prison sentences – Up to two years for those responsible for asbestos mismanagement.
- Reputational damages – It’s been well documented that large companies – high street brands – have received significant penalties for non-compliance for what could be perceived as a minor offence.
Legal and financial penalties highlight the importance of proper asbestos management—it’s not just about compliance, its about protecting lives, which you should not put a price on.
To summarise, non-compliance is far more expensive!
Myth 3: Managing Asbestos Risk is Easy, Just Get a Survey
A survey without a management plan is like having a fire alarm with no evacuation plan—it’s useless when things go wrong.
To achieve full compliance, you need to address 70 specific asbestos management requirements, not just conduct a survey. Key aspects include:
- An Asbestos Survey – Identifying ACMs (Asbestos-Containing Materials) with the correct type of survey (Management or Refurbishment/Demolition).
- An Asbestos Register – Maintaining a record of all known or presumed ACMs.
- An Asbestos Management Plan (AMP) – A legally required document detailing how asbestos risks are managed.
- Ongoing Monitoring and Re-Inspection – Ensuring ACMs remain safe.
- Training – Ensuring staff and contractors understand asbestos risks.
- Licensed Contractors – Engaging HSE-licensed professionals for high-risk work.
- Regulatory Compliance – Adhering to the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012.
- Emergency Procedures – Preparing for accidental disturbances.
- Independent Verification – Using accredited professionals for asbestos monitoring.
- Regular Reviews – Ensuring plans remain up to date.
Myth 4: Asbestos Information Only Needs Updating Once a Year
Would you let a contractor drill into a wall without knowing what’s inside?
The risks of exposure to asbestos change when circumstances change. For example, the majority of commercial properties will require occasional works; there will be deterioration within the property; and accidental damage does occur. These all pose a risk of exposure to undetected asbestos. Therefore, merely updating your records annually is not enough.
Records need to be updated and monitored when:
- ACMs (Asbestos-Containing Materials) deteriorate or sustain damage.
- Maintenance or refurbishment occurs.
- New ACMs are discovered.
- An incident disturbs asbestos.
- Periodic reinspections (typically every 6–12 months) detect changes.
If you’re planning invasive work to a property, then you are legally required to carry out a Refurbishment/Demolition Survey BEFORE any work commences on site. You cannot make it the sole responsibility of your contractor.
A Management Survey asbestos register is simply not sufficient when carrying out work that disturbs a building’s structure.
Without the correct survey:
- Hidden ACMs could be disturbed, releasing dangerous fibres.
- Workers and occupants are at risk of exposure.
- Regulations (such as the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012) are breached.
- Untrained contractors can misinterpret asbestos data.
Before any work is undertaken, it is necessary to carry out a proper asbestos risk assessments and training.
Failing to update asbestos records can lead to accidental exposure, legal penalties, and unnecessary project delays.
Myth 5: Achieving Full Compliance is a Lengthy, Impossible Task
Compliance is manageable with the right tools and support. At andwis, our experts offer industry-leading asbestos management solutions to ensure you remain compliant at all times.
Here’s what we offer:
- Asbestos Health Check
Our asbestos Health Check is the first step to asbestos compliance. This 30–60 minutes online consultation covers:
- Gap analysis
- Compliance shortcomings
- Clear action plan
- Teams Database Portal
This is a comprehensive digital solution for real-time asbestos compliance management:
- Live updates ensure compliance with HSE regulations
- Automated alerts for training, audits, and re-inspections
- Complete record-keeping for hassle-free HSE inspections
- User-friendly interface for simplified asbestos management
Key Benefits
- Effortless compliance – we handle all 70 compliance areas
- Proactive management – automated reminders keep compliance up to date
- Peace of mind –asbestos safety and legal compliance at all times
- HSE-ready records –adherence to regulations instantly
- Customised support – tailored solutions for every business
Watch Our Presentation
You can watch the full presentation at the andwis Building Tech & Compliance Event from Jess at Oracle Solutions on our YouTube channel.
Next Steps
Asbestos management is not just a regulatory obligation—it’s a critical safety measure that protects lives and businesses. By dispelling these myths and embracing modern compliance tools, organisations can ensure a safer, legally compliant, and well-managed environment.
Asbestos compliance doesn’t have to be a burden. With andwis it’s a straightforward, achievable process that brings peace of mind and long-term safety.
To discover more, please contact us.