When is Asbestos Awareness Training required?

Legal requirements for Asbestos Awareness Training

Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Exposure to Asbestos) Regulations 2006 and 2010 (SI 386/2006, SI 589/2010), employers must identify whether asbestos is present before work begins and provide awareness training to any worker who is liable to disturb asbestos containing materials (ACMs).

The regulations focus on the work, not the job title. In practice, asbestos awareness training is required when:

• Work could disturb a building, plant or structure built or refurbished before 2000
• Tasks involve construction, refurbishment, maintenance, installation or demolition
• Work means drilling, cutting, sanding or breaking into the fabric of a building
• Workers enter roof spaces, risers, ceiling voids, plant rooms or service ducts
• Asbestos may be present and could be disturbed before it is identified and controlled

The key test is simple: could your work disturb asbestos containing materials? If it could, awareness training is required before you start.

Who needs Asbestos Awareness Training?

Asbestos awareness training is needed by anyone whose work could disturb the fabric of an older building. The groups most at risk in Ireland include:

Construction, refurbishment and demolition

General operatives, labourers, site supervisors and demolition crews are the highest-risk group of all. Drilling, cutting, stripping out and demolishing pre-2000 buildings regularly disturbs hidden ACMs such as insulating board, lagging and asbestos cement.

Maintenance, facilities and caretaking

Caretakers, facilities teams and housing maintenance staff work daily in older buildings where ACMs may be present in risers, ceiling voids, plant rooms and service ducts. Even small repair jobs can release fibres if the register is not checked first.

Building services trades

Electricians, plumbers and heating engineers routinely drill, chase walls and work around old pipe lagging, boiler insulation, flues and panels - all common asbestos containing materials in older properties.

Surveyors, architects and building managers

Anyone inspecting older premises or planning a fit-out, refurbishment or office move needs awareness so asbestos is identified and managed before any work starts. The training need is based on the work, not the job title.

Refresher training requirements

The standard recommendation is to complete refresher training every 3 years. However, refresher training may be needed sooner if:

1. Your role changes and you start work that may disturb ACMs
2. You begin working on different older buildings or sites
3. Asbestos is accidentally disturbed or a near-miss occurs
4. Your employer policy requires it
5. You have been away from work for an extended period

Our online Asbestos Awareness Refresher Course builds on existing knowledge and updates learners on current best practice, so your certification stays valid and your workplace stays compliant.