Working with asbestos remains a critical challenge in many industrial, construction, maintenance and demolition settings. This article will guide professionals through the essential facts, risks, regulatory requirements and best practices associated with working with asbestos. Whether you’re a project manager, safety officer, contractor or maintenance professional, you’ll gain actionable insights to support safe operations, compliance and risk management when handling asbestos-containing materials (ACMs).
Understanding Asbestos and Its Risks
What is asbestos?
Asbestos is a group of naturally occurring mineral fibres, known for their heat-resistance and past widespread use in building materials. The main types include chrysotile (white), amosite (brown) and crocidolite (blue), among others.
Because of their fibrous nature, when asbestos-containing materials become disturbed (cut, ground, broken) they can release tiny fibres into the air; inhalation of these fibres is the root of most health risks.
Why professionals working with asbestos must pay attention
Every occupational exposure to asbestos increases the risk of disease—there is no safe level of exposure. According to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA):
“Every occupational exposure to asbestos can cause injury or disease; every occupational exposure to asbestos contributes to the risk of getting an asbestos-related disease.”
What this means for professionals: even short-duration tasks that disturb asbestos may carry significant risk if controls are inadequate.
Who is at risk
- In the U.S., an estimated 1.3 million construction and general-industry workers remain potentially exposed to asbestos during tasks such as repair, renovation, removal and maintenance of older buildings.
- Globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that more than 125 million people are still exposed at work to asbestos.
- High-risk occupations include construction trades (carpenters, plumbers, electricians), shipyard workers, auto-mechanics (brake/ clutch work), insulation workers and demolition crews.
Health outcomes and statistics
- Globally, occupational asbestos exposure leads to more than 200,000 deaths each year, representing over 70 % of all work-related cancer deaths.
- In the U.S., research shows that between 1990 and 2019 deaths attributable to occupational asbestos exposure increased by 20.2 %, from ~33,927 to ~40,764.
- For the disease mesothelioma alone, one study found that in 2019 some 26,820 deaths worldwide (95 % UI 24,312-28,622) were attributable to occupational asbestos exposure; and 91.7 % of all mesothelioma deaths were linked to occupational exposure.
These numbers underscore the ongoing importance of robust asbestos-safety practices, particularly for professionals overseeing or performing work that may disturb asbestos-containing materials.
Key Professional Responsibilities When Working with Asbestos
Identification and assessment
When planning work, professionals must assume that existing building materials may contain asbestos until proven otherwise. Key steps include:
- Conducting surveys of older buildings and materials (pre-1980s in many regions) to identify ACMs.
- Classifying materials by condition (friable vs non-friable) and potential to release fibres.
- Estimating the scope of disturbance and potential airborne release.
Planning and risk-control measures
Professionals should design a work plan that minimises risk, using the hierarchy of controls: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment (PPE).
Examples:
- Engineering controls: local exhaust ventilation, negative-pressure enclosures, HEPA filtration.
- Administrative controls: work scheduling to reduce exposure, signage, restricted access zones.
- PPE: respirators (rated for asbestos), disposable overalls, boot covers, gloves.
Regulatory/licensing compliance
Compliance is critical. For example:
- OSHA and regulatory authorities require establishment of regulated areas, specifying work practices and controls when asbestos is disturbed.
- In the UK, the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 require anyone who may be exposed to asbestos at work to receive training, that work disturbing asbestos may require a licensed contractor, and exposure limits be adhered to. (Wikipedia)
Professionals should ensure that all contractors, subcontractors and vendors engaged in the project are properly licensed, trained, and documented.
Air-monitoring and clearance
- Before, during and after asbestos-disturbing work, air-sampling is often required to verify fibre levels are within safe limits.
- Clearance testing and certification are necessary before re-occupancy of the area.
- A documented chain of custody, lab results and reporting should be maintained as part of compliance and due-diligence.
Waste handling and disposal
Asbestos waste must be handled as hazardous material: sealed, labelled, and disposed of according to local regulations. Avoid contaminating other areas, and ensure transport and disposal are executed by authorised facilities.
Best Practice Strategies for Professionals
Pre-work surveys and historic-material records
- Gather building records, prior renovation histories and original construction drawings to locate likely ACMs.
- Conduct a certified asbestos survey (bulk sampling, fibre-counting if needed) before any major renovation or demolition.
- Document all known ACMs and ensure the project team is briefed.
Communication and training
- All workers and subcontractors should receive asbestos-awareness training: recognise materials, safe working practices, emergency procedures.
- Clear signage and restricted-area access help maintain control and accountability.
Work sequencing and control zones
- Sequence tasks so that potential asbestos disturbance is handled first, then isolated from other trades.
- Establish clean rooms, decontamination zones (entrance/exit), negative-pressure enclosures and ensure air-flows are controlled.
- Use HEPA vacuums for cleanup.
Respirator and PPE management
- Select appropriate respirators certified for asbestos fibre protection; train workers in fit-testing and maintenance.
- Provide disposable overalls, foot covers, gloves; ensure correct donning/doffing procedures and disposal of PPE in sealed bags.
Post-work verification and clearance
- Conduct clearance air-sampling to confirm fibre levels meet the required standard.
- Only allow re-occupancy when clearance certificate is issued.
- Maintain all documents—surveys, air-monitoring results, disposal receipts and training records—for compliance and future liability-management.
Continuous improvement and auditing
- Implement periodic audits of asbestos work practices, contractor performance, training records and incident logs.
- Analyse near-misses or breaches of control to update procedures and reinforce training.
Common Mistakes Professionals Should Avoid
Assuming “non-friable” means “safe”
Materials that seem intact (non-friable) can still release fibres when cut, sanded or disturbed. Never assume absence of hazard without proper survey and controls.
Inadequate contractor oversight
Outsourcing asbestos work does not relieve the project owner of responsibility. Verify licences, training, insurance, and oversight of all subcontractors.
Skipping air-monitoring or clearance
Bypassing clearance testing or relying solely on visual inspection risks re-occupancy before airborne fibre levels are safe, which can create liability and health risk.
Poor record-keeping
Regulatory compliance demands documentation: training records, worker exposure logs, air-monitoring reports, waste manifests. Lack of records impairs audits, compliance defences and corporate risk-management.
Ignoring long latency of asbestos-related disease
Diseases like mesothelioma may appear 20-40 years after first exposure. Professionals must plan for long-term monitoring of workers and project legacy liabilities.
Why Professional Oversight Matters – The Bigger Picture
Working with asbestos is not just a “specialty contractor job” — it has significant health, legal and business-risk implications. Key factors:
- A substantial portion of work-related cancer deaths globally is caused by asbestos exposure (70 %+).
- Liability can extend decades due to latency periods and legacy exposure.
- Regulatory non-compliance can result in fines, project delays and reputational damage.
- Effective asbestos management builds professional credibility, protects workforce health, and supports sustainable project delivery.
Conclusion
For professionals in construction, maintenance and industrial settings, working with asbestos demands rigorous attention, planning and execution. By comprehensively assessing risk, enforcing strong controls, maintaining documentation and never treating asbestos work as “routine,” you safeguard worker health, ensure compliance and reduce long-term liability. What steps will you take to integrate these asbestos-safety strategies into your next project?
FAQs
Q: Is there a safe level of asbestos exposure at work?
A: No. According to OSHA, there is no safe level of exposure, every occupational exposure contributes to disease risk.
Q: Which trades are most at risk when working with asbestos?
A: Construction trades (e.g., carpenters, plumbers, electricians), auto mechanics (brakes, clutches), shipyard workers, and demolition crews face higher exposure risk.
Q: How long after asbestos exposure may disease appear?
A: Asbestos-related diseases often have latency of 20-40 years; some mesothelioma cases appear decades after exposure. (
Q: Do older buildings still pose a risk of asbestos exposure?
A: Yes. Buildings constructed before asbestos bans or restrictions may contain ACMs; disturbing them during renovation, removal or demolition can release fibres.
Q: What documentation should professionals maintain when working with asbestos?
A: Surveys identifying ACMs, training records, air-monitoring results, clearance certificates, material disposal logs, contractor licences and inspection/audit records.
Meta Description: A comprehensive guide for professionals working with asbestos: risks, regulations, best practices and key statistics to ensure safe, compliant operations.