STOP
Stop work immediately. Do not sweep, vacuum with a normal vacuum, drill further, break more material or carry debris through the building.
HSA-aligned guidance
PPE, RPE and STOP-CHECK-REPORT
Safe asbestos handling for Irish workplaces.
Safe asbestos handling starts before anyone drills, cuts, sands, strips, removes or opens up old building materials. Learn how to recognise ACMs, stop work at the right moment, choose the right PPE and RPE, and protect your team from asbestos fibres.
CAR 2006 aligned
45 minute course
Instant certificate
Critical first rule
Do not disturb suspected asbestos.
If a material is old, brittle, dusty, fibrous, unlabelled or missing from the asbestos register, treat it as asbestos until a competent person proves otherwise.
- Stop work immediately
- Check the asbestos register
- Report to the duty holder
- Wait for competent advice
Online course
€33 - certificate on pass
STOP
Do not disturb suspected ACMs
CHECK
Use the asbestos register
REPORT
Tell the supervisor or duty holder
45 min
Online awareness course
Plain English guidance
What safe asbestos handling really means.
Safe asbestos handling is not about being brave around dangerous materials. It is about knowing when to stop, how to prevent fibre release, and when a licensed or competent asbestos contractor must take over.
In Irish workplaces, asbestos risk is usually hidden inside older buildings: asbestos insulating board, pipe lagging, sprayed coatings, cement roofing sheets, textured coatings, vinyl floor tiles, fire doors, gaskets and plant rooms. The danger starts when these materials are damaged, drilled, cut, sanded, broken, removed or cleaned with the wrong method.
If you are not trained, authorised and given a written method, your safest action is to stop work and report the suspected ACM.
Our Asbestos Awareness Course helps workers recognise likely ACMs, understand legal duties, follow STOP-CHECK-REPORT and avoid preventable asbestos exposure.
First response
Use STOP-CHECK-REPORT when asbestos is suspected.
This simple rule protects workers before a small mistake becomes a contaminated room, a failed audit or a lifetime health risk.
CHECK
Check the asbestos register, the Asbestos Management Plan, the survey drawings and any Permit-to-Work already issued for the area.
REPORT
Report to your supervisor, site manager or duty holder. The area may need isolation, sampling, clean-up and specialist assessment.
PPE and RPE
Use PPE and RPE as the last line of defence.
Respiratory protection is vital, but it never replaces good planning, containment and dust suppression.
Respiratory protection
Common RPE includes FFP3 disposable respirators, half-mask P3 respirators and powered air RPE. Selection must match the task, wearer and exposure risk. Face-fit testing is required where tight-fitting RPE is used.
Disposable protection
Type 5 disposable coveralls, nitrile gloves and laceless footwear help prevent fibres travelling to vehicles, homes and clean areas. Coverall hoods should sit over RPE straps, not underneath them.
Controlled clean-up
Only H-class HEPA vacuums and suitable wet-cleaning methods should be used for asbestos dust. Dry sweeping and ordinary vacuums spread fibres and make exposure worse.
Practical workflow
Seven steps for safer asbestos handling.
Use this as a plain-language overview. Site-specific work still needs a competent person, a risk assessment and a written Plan of Work.
01
Check the asbestos register
Assume pre-2000 buildings may contain ACMs unless survey evidence says otherwise.
02
Confirm the task category
Awareness-only, non-licensed, notifiable non-licensed and licensed asbestos work are not the same.
03
Agree the Plan of Work
Document the method, controls, supervisor, decontamination route, waste route and emergency steps.
04
Prepare the work area
Use signage, barriers, sheeting, containment and access controls to keep fibres contained.
05
Wear suitable PPE and RPE
Choose equipment that fits the wearer and the task, then put it on and remove it in the correct order.
06
Suppress fibre release
Use wet methods, careful hand tools and H-class HEPA vacuuming. Avoid abrasive methods on ACMs.
07
Decontaminate and dispose
Double-bag waste, label it, record it and keep contaminated PPE away from clean areas.
Who this affects
Training is essential for anyone who may disturb ACMs.
If your work can open, damage or disturb old building fabric, asbestos awareness is a legal and practical safeguard.
FAQ
Safe asbestos handling questions.
What does safe asbestos handling mean in Ireland?
It means avoiding unnecessary disturbance, checking the asbestos register, using a written Plan of Work, selecting suitable PPE and RPE, controlling fibre release, decontaminating correctly and disposing of asbestos waste through permitted routes.
Can I remove asbestos after awareness training?
No. Awareness training helps you recognise and avoid asbestos risks. It does not qualify you to remove licensable asbestos. Higher-risk work needs competent asbestos professionals and the correct legal controls.
What PPE is used for asbestos tasks?
Typical controls include Type 5 coveralls, nitrile gloves, laceless footwear and suitable RPE such as FFP3 or P3 protection. The exact selection depends on the task, exposure risk and wearer.
What should I do if I drill into suspected asbestos?
Stop work, move away without spreading dust, keep others out, check the asbestos register and report to the duty holder. Do not clean it with a brush or normal vacuum.
Get compliant today
Train before the next job starts.
Complete Asbestos Awareness Training online in about 45 minutes. Get your certificate instantly when you pass.
