Education Sector Guide
For caretakers, maintenance, contractors
Asbestos Awareness Training for Schools and Colleges in Ireland.
Essential Asbestos Awareness Training for caretakers, maintenance staff and contractors in older schools and colleges. Learn how to recognise asbestos containing materials in ceilings, partitions, lagging and science labs, and never disturb them.
CAR 2006 compliant
School schedule friendly
Team pricing
Instant certificate
Education edition
Protect maintenance teams and contractors in Irish schools and colleges.
From ceiling and partition panels to pipe lagging and science labs, older school buildings can hide asbestos that must never be disturbed.
- Fits around term time and holidays
- Meets HSA training requirements
- Team pricing for whole staff rooms
Full course price
€33 · final price
6
Key school roles covered
45 min
Per staff member
HSA
Compliant course
3 Years
Certificate validity
Education focused
Asbestos Awareness in schools and colleges.
A great many Irish schools and colleges were built or extended before the year 2000, the year asbestos was finally banned. That means asbestos containing materials are still present in countless education buildings - in ceiling and partition panels, pipe lagging, soffits and even older science lab benches.
These materials are not a danger while they are in good condition and left undisturbed. The risk arises when the building fabric is opened up - during repairs, IT cabling, putting up fixings, or refurbishment work. That is why caretakers, maintenance staff and visiting contractors are the people who most need asbestos awareness training.
Schools have a duty of care to staff, pupils and contractors. Keeping an asbestos register and training the people who maintain the building are the foundations of that duty.
Our Asbestos Awareness Course gives school maintenance teams and contractors the knowledge to recognise likely asbestos, check the register before any work, and follow STOP-CHECK-REPORT if they find something suspect.
Who needs training
Education roles that require Asbestos Awareness Training.
Anyone who may disturb the fabric of an older school building should be trained.
Caretakers
The staff most likely to drill, fix and repair around hidden asbestos containing materials.
Maintenance Staff
In-house teams carrying out repairs, fixings and small building works.
Contractors
Visiting trades doing cabling, plumbing, decorating or refurbishment in older buildings.
Lab Technicians
Science staff working with older bench panels, fume cupboards and heat-resistant materials.
Facilities Managers
The people who plan refurbishments and hold the asbestos register and management plan.
Boards and ETBs
Duty holders responsible for managing asbestos and arranging staff training.
Why schools need Asbestos Awareness Training
Schools and colleges have the same duties as any other workplace. The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Exposure to Asbestos) Regulations 2006 and 2010 (SI 386/2006 and SI 589/2010) require employers - boards of management, ETBs or patrons - to manage asbestos and to train anyone who may disturb it.
Because asbestos fibres are invisible and odourless, and the diseases they cause can take decades to appear, the danger is easy to overlook. A caretaker drilling into an old ceiling tile or a contractor opening up a partition could release fibres without realising it. Awareness training closes that gap.
There is no safe level of asbestos exposure. The safest action in an older school is always to check the register first and never disturb a suspected asbestos containing material.
Higher-risk works in schools
The activities most likely to disturb asbestos in education buildings are building and maintenance jobs, not teaching. Take extra care with:
- Putting up fixings - Drilling ceilings, walls and partition panels for shelves, boards and signage.
- IT and electrical works - Running cables through ceiling voids, risers and ducts.
- Repairs and refurbishment - Removing or replacing ceiling tiles, partitions and lagging.
- Science lab work - Disturbing older bench panels, heat mats or fume cupboard linings.
Duty holder responsibilities
Boards of management, ETBs and principals share clear legal duties:
- Asbestos register - Keep an up-to-date register and management plan for any pre-2000 building.
- Training - Provide asbestos awareness training to caretakers, maintenance staff and contractors.
- Check before work - Make sure the register is consulted before any drilling or refurbishment.
- Use competent contractors - Higher-risk asbestos work must go to trained or licensed contractors.
- Records - Maintain training records and incident reports for compliance.
FAQs
Education Asbestos Awareness questions.
Common questions from Irish schools, principals and maintenance teams.
Do schools in Ireland really contain asbestos?
Many do. A large number of Irish schools and colleges were built or extended before the year 2000, when asbestos was still in use. It is commonly found in asbestos insulating board (AIB) ceilings and partitions, pipe lagging, soffits, science lab benches and panels. The materials are safe while intact, but can release fibres if drilled, damaged or disturbed during maintenance.
Which school staff need Asbestos Awareness Training?
Anyone liable to disturb the fabric of an older school building needs awareness training. This mainly means caretakers and maintenance staff, plus any contractors carrying out repairs, IT cabling or refurbishment. Boards of management and ETBs have a duty to ensure these people are trained and that an asbestos register is in place.
Is online training accepted for school staff?
Yes. Our online Asbestos Awareness Course is CAR 2006 compliant, CPD certified and accepted by schools, colleges and ETBs across Ireland. Staff can complete it during non-teaching time or over the school holidays, with an instant certificate on completion.
Can the school pay for staff training?
Yes. The employer - the board of management, ETB or patron - should pay for required safety training. We offer team pricing for schools training several staff members, with a dashboard to assign courses and track completion. Contact us for a quote.
Train your school staff today.
Protect caretakers, maintenance teams and contractors with proper Asbestos Awareness Training. Flexible online learning that fits around the school timetable.
Related resources
Explore More.
Useful pages for principals, boards of management and school staff.
Coverage · Ireland nationwide
Asbestos Awareness Training, everywhere you work.
One CPD certified, RoSPA approved and IATP recognised Asbestos Awareness Course, aligned with the Exposure to Asbestos Regulations (SI 386/2006) - delivered online to every Irish city, every industry and every role. Instant Asbestos Awareness Certificate on passing, valid for 3 years nationwide.
Renewing? Use our fast Asbestos Awareness Refresher. Looking for IATP-recognised training? See our Asbestos Awareness IATP page. Need the basics first? Start with what asbestos actually is and the asbestos risk assessment.
Find your city
Every major Irish city has its own dedicated Asbestos Awareness Course page - the same accredited training, tuned to your local workforce.
Find your industry
Eight sector variants, from healthcare to farming, with real Irish workplace scenarios specific to your day-to-day.
Healthcare & HSE
Estates, maintenance and facilities teams in older hospitals and care homes, where lagging and asbestos insulating board are common.
Warehousing & logistics
Maintenance and fit-out crews in older industrial units with asbestos cement roofs, cladding and AIB panels.
Retail & supermarkets
Shop-fit and maintenance teams refurbishing older retail units where ACMs hide in ceilings, floors and ducts.
Construction & trades
Builders, carpenters, electricians and plumbers who can disturb hidden asbestos during refurbishment and repair.
Manufacturing
Engineering and maintenance staff working around lagging, gaskets and rope seals in older plants and factories.
Hospitality & catering
Maintenance and refurbishment teams in older hotels, pubs and kitchens where ACMs sit behind the scenes.
Office & administration
Facilities and fit-out teams in older offices with AIB ceilings, floor tiles, partitions and service ducts.
Agriculture & farming
Farmers and contractors handling asbestos cement roofs, sheds, water tanks, flues and old insulation.
Every Asbestos Awareness resource
Training, certification, refresher, online delivery and specialist guides - one accredited Irish platform, one consistent standard.
Asbestos Awareness Course
Full accredited syllabus aligned with SI 386/2006, video modules, short assessment and instant certificate - 45 minutes, any device.
Explore course
Asbestos Awareness Training
Why training matters, Irish employer duties under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Exposure to Asbestos) Regulations 2006 and 2010 (SI 386/2006, SI 589/2010) (Asbestos Awareness Regulations), and what good training looks like.
Learn more
Asbestos Awareness Certificate
How the certificate is issued, how long it lasts, and how Irish employers verify it online at any time.
See certificate
Asbestos Awareness Online
Flexible online delivery on phone, tablet or desktop - the same accredited standard on any device.
Go online
Asbestos Awareness Refresher
Renew your Asbestos Awareness Cert in 45 minutes with the latest CAR 2006 and HSA guidance - verifiable for a fresh 3-year cycle.
Refresh now
Asbestos Awareness IATP
How IATP, CPD and RoSPA accreditation work together in Ireland - and what employers actually recognise for asbestos awareness.
See accreditation
Popular Asbestos Awareness searches
Exact-match phrases Irish workers and employers search for - each one links to the right page on our site.
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