Asbestos: October 2024 news and updates

 

View as a webpage

Health and Safety Executive

Asbestos ebulletin

Issued: 29 October 2024

Visit HSE’s website for more guidance about managing and working safely with asbestos.

Shining a light on asbestos-related diseases

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month

HSE is shining a light on occupational lung diseases and how we can work together to protect workers’ health 

It is estimated that 12,000 people die from work-related lung diseases every year.

These deaths, linked to exposure to hazardous substances at work, include lung cancer and approximately 5,000 asbestos-related disease deaths.

HSE is currently running 2 campaigns to highlight the risks of asbestos and how to stay safeFor free resources and information, visit our campaign pages:  

  • Asbestos – Your Duty provides guidance and templates to support dutyholders with the legal duty to manage asbestos in buildings  
  • Asbestos and You highlights the risk of asbestos to tradespeople and includes a free quick guide for tradespeople to download  

 


Locations of asbestos and taking the right action  

Asbestos remains in millions of homes and buildings today and it can become dangerous when disturbed or damaged

Whether you are a worker, building owner, landlord, employer or person responsible for building maintenance, you should be aware of where asbestos is most frequently found in buildings in order to protect yourself and others. 

HSE’s updated image gallery can help you identify asbestos in typical locations and take the right action to minimise exposure. For each asbestos product type, the page explains: 

  • where they are found 
  • what they look like 
  • who can work on them 

Further resources

Additional asbestos resources are available from HSE's website

Asbestos can be present in any building that was built or refurbished before 2000 and can be hidden. HSE has:

Stay informed: asbestos updates on social media 

Keep up to date with our asbestos campaigns by following HSE on social media at: