Employee Guide
Your rights and training explained
Asbestos Awareness Guide for Employees in Ireland.
Everything employees need to know about Asbestos Awareness at work - your rights, your responsibilities, how to recognise asbestos containing materials, and how to protect yourself from fatal asbestos-related disease.
CAR 2006 compliant
Instant certificate
Valid 3 years
Works on any device
Your rights
Know your rights, stay safe, and get certified in under an hour.
Irish law protects employees from unsafe Asbestos Awareness. Understand what you are entitled to and what is expected of you at work.
- Training before performing risky tasks
- Access to appropriate equipment
- Raise concerns without penalty
Full course price
€33 · final price
4
Key employee rights
45 min
To complete the course
3 Years
Certificate validity
24/7
Access on any device
Your rights
Employee Rights Regarding Asbestos Awareness.
Irish health and safety law gives employees important rights relating to Asbestos Awareness at work.
Right to Training
Your employer must provide asbestos awareness training before you carry out any work that could disturb ACMs.
Right to Information
You can ask to see the asbestos register and survey so you know where asbestos is before you start work.
Right to Safe Systems
Your employer must put safe systems of work in place that prevent asbestos being disturbed, including using licensed contractors for higher-risk work.
Right to Report Concerns
You can report suspected asbestos or unsafe work without fear of negative consequences from your employer.
Your responsibilities
Your Responsibilities as an Employee.
While employers have primary responsibility for workplace safety, employees also have legal duties under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005:
- Attend training - Complete the asbestos awareness training your employer provides
- Check first - Check the asbestos register and survey before disturbing any building
- Do not disturb - Never drill, cut or break suspected asbestos
- Report hazards - Tell your supervisor about suspected asbestos or unsafe conditions
- Use PPE and RPE - Wear and look after any protective equipment as instructed
You have a duty to take reasonable care of your own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by your actions at work.
Understanding Asbestos Awareness Training
Asbestos awareness training teaches you how to recognise asbestos, avoid disturbing it, and report it safely. The training covers:
- What asbestos is - The types of asbestos and why the fibres are so dangerous
- Health risks - Mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis and pleural thickening, and why there is no safe level of exposure
- Recognising ACMs - Where asbestos is commonly found, from lagging and insulating board to cement and floor tiles
- The register and survey - How to check what is present before work starts
- STOP-CHECK-REPORT - Exactly what to do, and what not to do, if you find or suspect asbestos
Good asbestos awareness training empowers you to protect yourself. The fibres you cannot see today can cause fatal disease decades later - knowing how to recognise and avoid them protects your whole working life.
Can I Complete Training Myself?
Yes. While employers should provide or arrange training, you can also complete an Asbestos Awareness Course independently. This is useful if:
- You are job seeking and want to be ready for employment
- Your current employer has not yet organised training
- You want to refresh your knowledge
- You work in a casual or contract role
Our online course costs €33 and provides an instant certificate upon completion. Many job seekers complete the course to improve their employability.
How to Protect Yourself at Work
Beyond formal training, here are practical steps to protect yourself from asbestos-related disease:
- Check before you start - Look at the asbestos register and survey before drilling, cutting or stripping anything out
- Assume it is asbestos - Treat any suspect material in a pre-2000 building as asbestos until proven otherwise
- Stop if in doubt - If you find or suspect asbestos, stop work straight away
- Do not disturb it - Do not drill, cut, scrape, sweep or clean up the material
- Warn others - Keep colleagues away from the area
- Report it - Tell your supervisor or duty holder so it can be assessed
- Wait for clearance - Only restart when you are told it is safe
FAQs
Questions Employees Ask.
Common questions from Irish workers about Asbestos Awareness Training and their rights.
Does my employer have to pay for my asbestos awareness training?
Yes. If your work could disturb asbestos containing materials (ACMs), your employer must provide asbestos awareness training at no cost to you, before that work starts. Training should also take place during working hours where possible.
What should I do if I find or suspect asbestos at work?
Follow the STOP-CHECK-REPORT rule. Stop work and do not disturb the material, check the asbestos register and survey and warn anyone nearby, then report it to your supervisor or duty holder. Do not start again until you are told it is safe.
How often do I need refresher asbestos awareness training?
The standard recommendation is every 3 years, though some employers refresh annually. Your asbestos awareness certificate is valid for 3 years from the date of issue.
Can I refuse work I believe will disturb asbestos unsafely?
You have a duty not to put yourself or others at risk. If you genuinely believe work will disturb asbestos that has not been properly identified or assessed, you can raise your concern and should not be penalised for doing so. Never disturb suspected asbestos - stop the work and report it.
Get Your Asbestos Awareness Training.
Protect yourself at work with proper training and certification. Complete the course in about 45 minutes and download your certificate instantly.
Related resources
Explore More.
More guidance to help you train, stay safe, and succeed at work.
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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