If you employ people who could disturb asbestos, the law puts a clear set of duties squarely on your shoulders. These are not vague aspirations - they are specific, enforceable obligations under CAR 2006, and the HSA can inspect against them.
This guide lays out asbestos employer responsibilities in Ireland as a practical checklist, so you can see exactly what compliance looks like. Meeting these duties protects your workers, your business and your standing with main contractors.
Key takeaways
- Employers must identify whether ACMs are present and keep an asbestos register.
- They must assess and control the risk before work that could cause exposure.
- They must provide adequate training to anyone who could be exposed, kept current.
- They must inform contractors of the register before work begins.
- They must keep dated records of training, registers and assessments.
Identify and assess
Your first duties are to identify whether ACMs are or may be present in the premises and work, to keep an asbestos register, and to carry out a risk assessment before any work that could cause exposure. This is the foundation - you cannot control a risk you have not identified. The assessment itself is covered in asbestos risk assessment.
Control and manage
Next, put suitable controls in place, manage ACMs through a written plan, and ensure that contractors are informed of the register before they start work. Managing asbestos in place, where it is sound, is often safer than removal - the framework is in the management plan. The goal is to keep fibres locked in materials and out of the air.
Ready to get certified? Complete the Train your team and stay compliant online in about 45 minutes for EUR 35 and download your Asbestos Awareness Certificate the moment you pass.
Train and inform
You must provide adequate information, instruction and training to anyone who could be exposed to asbestos, and keep it current with refreshers. This is where the Asbestos Awareness Course fits, and where online delivery makes compliance straightforward across a whole workforce - see training for employers. Training is a duty, not a courtesy.
Record and review
Finally, keep dated training records, registers, surveys and assessments, and review them when things change. Good records do double duty: they evidence compliance to the HSA and to main contractors during pre-qualification. Disorganised or missing records are a common, avoidable weakness that turns a routine inspection into a problem.
Why it matters beyond the law
Beyond avoiding enforcement, meeting these duties is simply good business. It protects the health of the people who work for you, it keeps you eligible for contracts that require demonstrable asbestos compliance, and it builds a safety culture that pays off across every other risk. Awareness training is one of the lowest-cost, highest-value steps an employer can take.
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
What are my main duties as an employer?
Identify ACMs, assess and control the risk, provide training, manage ACMs, and keep records - all under CAR 2006.
Do I have to train every employee?
You must train anyone who could be exposed to asbestos through their work.
What records should I keep?
The asbestos register, risk assessments, the management plan, and dated training certificates.
What happens if I do not comply?
You risk worker harm and HSA enforcement, as well as losing contractor approvals.
Is online training enough to meet my duty?
For general awareness, yes; roles that involve working on ACMs need additional specialist training and supervision.
Related Asbestos Awareness guides
- Asbestos Employee Responsibilities in Ireland
- Asbestos Risk Assessment in Ireland: A Practical Guide
- The Asbestos Management Plan Explained
- Asbestos Awareness Training for Employers in Ireland
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