Asbestos Awareness Terms and Glossary.

A

ACM (Asbestos Containing Material)

Any material or product that contains asbestos. ACMs range from bonded materials like asbestos cement sheets and floor tiles to highly friable materials like sprayed coatings, pipe lagging and insulating board. They are usually safe while intact, but dangerous when disturbed.

Amphibole asbestos

A group of straight, needle-like asbestos fibres that includes crocidolite (blue) and amosite (brown). Amphibole types are generally considered the most hazardous, although there is no safe type of asbestos.

Asbestosis

Long-term scarring of the lung tissue caused by breathing in asbestos fibres over time. It causes breathlessness that gradually gets worse and has no cure.

C

Chrysotile (white asbestos)

The most widely used type of asbestos, a serpentine (curly) fibre found in cement products, textured coatings and floor tiles. Still dangerous despite being more common than the amphibole types.

Crocidolite and Amosite (blue and brown asbestos)

The two amphibole asbestos types most often found in buildings. Crocidolite (blue) and amosite (brown) were widely used in insulation and insulating board and are considered the most hazardous.

D

Duty holder

The person or organisation responsible for maintenance and repair of non-domestic premises, who must manage the asbestos risk. Duties include identifying ACMs, keeping an asbestos register and management plan, and sharing them with anyone who could disturb asbestos.

Decontamination

The process of removing asbestos fibres from people, equipment and the work area. It uses damp methods and H-class HEPA vacuums - never dry sweeping - and correct disposal of contaminated PPE and waste.

F

Friable

Describes asbestos materials that crumble easily and release fibres with little force, such as sprayed coatings and pipe lagging. Friable ACMs are far more dangerous than bonded materials like asbestos cement.

FFP3 respirator

A disposable respirator that is the minimum rating for protection against asbestos fibres. It only works if it seals to the wearer's face, which is why fit testing matters.

H

HSA (Health and Safety Authority)

The national body in Ireland responsible for workplace health and safety. The HSA enforces the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and the Exposure to Asbestos Regulations (SI 386/2006 and SI 589/2010) and provides guidance on managing asbestos.

Health risks of asbestos

The diseases caused by breathing in asbestos fibres, including mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, asbestosis and pleural thickening. There is no safe level of exposure, and diseases can take 15 to 60 years to appear.

L

Lagging

Thermal insulation applied to pipes, boilers and ducts, often sprayed or wrapped. Asbestos lagging is highly friable and one of the most dangerous ACMs because it releases fibres very easily when disturbed.

Licensed asbestos work

Higher-risk asbestos work - typically on friable materials like lagging and insulating board - that may only be carried out by a licensed asbestos contractor. Awareness training does not qualify anyone to do this work.

M

Mesothelioma

An aggressive cancer of the lining of the lungs or abdomen that is almost always caused by asbestos exposure. It has no cure and is the disease most strongly linked to asbestos.

Management survey

A survey to locate asbestos that could be disturbed during normal use of a building, and to assess its condition. It informs the asbestos register and management plan for day-to-day occupation.

P

PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)

Protective clothing for asbestos work, such as Type 5 disposable coveralls, nitrile gloves and suitable footwear. PPE is single-use where possible and disposed of as hazardous waste. It is the last line of defence, not the first.

Plan of work

A written plan setting out how asbestos work will be controlled before it starts - the ACM involved, the method, controls, RPE and PPE, decontamination and waste routes, supervision and emergency procedure.

R

RPE (Respiratory Protective Equipment)

Equipment that protects the lungs from asbestos fibres, including FFP3 disposable respirators, half-mask P3 respirators and powered air units (PAPR). Tight-fitting RPE must be fit tested and face-fit checked before use.

Asbestos register

A live document that lists known and presumed ACMs in a building, their location and their condition. It must be kept up to date and checked before any work that could disturb the building fabric.

Refurbishment and demolition survey

A more intrusive survey carried out before major refurbishment or demolition, designed to find all asbestos - including hidden materials - so it can be removed or managed before intrusive work begins.

S

STOP-CHECK-REPORT

The simple rule for anyone who finds or suspects asbestos. STOP work and do not disturb the material, CHECK the asbestos register and warn others, and REPORT it to your supervisor or duty holder. Do not resume until told it is safe.

Sampling and analysis

Taking a small sample of a suspect material for laboratory testing to confirm whether it contains asbestos and which type. Carried out by competent surveyors, never by awareness-level workers.

Safe system of work (SSOW)

A planned procedure that identifies the asbestos hazard and sets out how to control it - using the survey and register, a plan of work, the right RPE and PPE, containment, decontamination and correct waste disposal.

T

Type of asbestos

The form of asbestos present - usually chrysotile (white), amosite (brown) or crocidolite (blue). The type cannot be confirmed by sight alone; only laboratory analysis of a sample can identify it for certain.

Textured coatings

Decorative wall and ceiling finishes (sometimes known by brand names) that may contain chrysotile asbestos. Common in pre-2000 buildings and easily disturbed by sanding, drilling or scraping.