Asbestos safety is not only the employer's job - workers have legal duties too, and meeting them is part of being a safe, employable professional. The law recognises that the person holding the drill is often the last line of defence against a dangerous exposure.
This guide explains asbestos employee responsibilities in Ireland: what you must do to protect yourself and others, and how to meet those duties on site. None of it is complicated, and most of it comes naturally once you have had proper awareness training.
Key takeaways
- Workers must take part in the awareness training their employer provides, and apply it.
- They must follow the risk assessment, method statement and safe systems of work.
- They must use the PPE and RPE provided, correctly.
- They must never knowingly disturb suspected asbestos - stop and report instead.
- Their duty extends to not endangering colleagues or the public.
Engage with training
You must take part in the awareness training your employer provides, and actually apply it on the job - not just sit through it. Completing the Asbestos Awareness Course is the practical way to meet this duty, and keeping it current with refreshers shows you are taking it seriously. Training only protects you if you use what it teaches.
Follow safe systems of work
Follow the risk assessment, the method statement and the controls set for the work. If a safe system of work has been put in place, working around it - to save time or because you think you know better - undermines the whole protection. Use the PPE and RPE provided, correctly, where the safe system requires it; the role and limits of PPE are explained in asbestos PPE awareness.
Ready to get certified? Complete the Meet your duties with awareness training online in about 45 minutes for EUR 35 and download your Asbestos Awareness Certificate the moment you pass.
Do not disturb, and do report
Never knowingly disturb suspected ACMs. If you find or accidentally disturb asbestos, the duty is to STOP and REPORT it, not to carry on or quietly tidy up - the correct steps are in what to do if you suspect asbestos. Reporting promptly is a responsibility, and it is exactly what protects the people who come after you.
Look after others
Your legal duty extends beyond your own safety to not endangering colleagues, other trades or the public. Keeping people away from a suspected ACM, warning others when something is disturbed, and not carrying fibres into shared or clean areas are all part of the job. Asbestos exposure has historically spread far beyond the person doing the work, which is why this matters.
Why it is in your own interest
These duties are not just legal box-ticking - they are how you protect your own lungs for the decades after the job is done. The diseases asbestos causes are incurable and often appear long after exposure, so the discipline you apply today is genuinely about your future health. Knowing your role is part of being a professional who goes home safe and stays healthy.
What this course does and does not cover
This online course builds awareness and understanding. It helps you recognise asbestos-containing materials (ACMs), understand the health risks, and follow the correct STOP - CHECK - REPORT response if you suspect asbestos during your work.
It does not authorise you to remove, survey, test, sample or deliberately disturb asbestos. Licensed asbestos removal, asbestos surveying and air testing each require separate, specialist qualifications. Employers may still need to provide task-specific training, supervision and a written risk assessment before any work near ACMs begins.
Frequently asked questions
Do employees have legal duties around asbestos?
Yes - workers must engage with training, follow safe systems of work, use the protection provided, and not endanger themselves or others.
What should I do if I find asbestos?
Stop work, keep others away and report it to your supervisor or duty holder. Do not disturb it.
Must I use the PPE provided?
Yes - you must use the PPE and RPE provided, correctly, where the safe system of work requires it.
Can I be held responsible for unsafe work?
Workers can be held accountable for failing to follow safety duties, so engaging with training matters.
Why should I care if my employer is responsible?
Because it is your health on the line - the diseases are incurable and appear decades later, so your discipline protects your future.
Related Asbestos Awareness guides
- Asbestos Employer Responsibilities in Ireland
- What to Do If You Suspect Asbestos
- Asbestos PPE Awareness: What Protection Actually Works
- Asbestos Training Ireland: What Every Worker Should Know
Start your Asbestos Awareness Training today
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