Looking back on 25 years since the asbestos ban in the UK

On this day, 25 years ago, asbestos was finally banned in the UK when the Asbestos (Prohibitions) (Amendment) Regulations 1999 (also known as the asbestos ban) came into force. This ban made it illegal to buy, sell, import, or export any materials containing asbestos. It was also banned in the construction of buildings.

Fast forward 25 years and what has changed?

Acorn Analytical Services’ Managing Director, Sam Savage, has worked in the asbestos industry for 22 years.

In this latest blog, he talks about what has and hasn’t changed since the ban 25 years ago…

Three years after the asbestos ban

Embarking in the asbestos industry as a trainee back in 2002 and, following a few years undertaking surveys and managing removal works on site, I transitioned into the office and began dealing with the operational side of the business. 

I remember taking calls asking for ‘an urgent R&D’ or a call to say that someone has started work and they think they may have ‘found asbestos,’ a scenario that, astonishingly, continues to unfold more than two decades later.

25 years after the asbestos ban

2024 has seen a tremendous amount of publicity on asbestos, particularly around the recording of asbestos information and the push to eradicate asbestos from public buildings.

While I wholeheartedly support the swift removal of asbestos, this does not address the ongoing risks posed by individuals inadvertently disturbing it.

Statistics reveal a sobering reality.  In 2024, it was reported that doctors diagnose around 2,700 new mesothelioma cases in the UK annually with 2,400 people dying each year – 94% of which are considered preventable. 

Those people most at risk are plumbers, electricians, carpenters, maintenance contractors, roofers, plasterers, decorators and, more surprisingly, teachers.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) estimates that there are between 200,000 and 400,000 buildings in the UK that contain asbestos. To me, this raises significant alarm bells in the fact that we don’t even know for sure!

What can we do to eradicate asbestos in the UK?

In my view, the path forward lies not merely in eradication but in education and immediate efforts should be spent on prioritising preventing disturbances of asbestos.

I would also recommend that the following simple, yet impactful measures be implemented:

1. Individuals in roles that may have to deal with asbestos in buildings, for example, facilities managers, estate managers, project managers etc, must be legally mandated to hold the Duty to Manage Asbestos Training certificate. 
2. Asbestos training should be FREE and paid for by the government.
3. The HSE must invest more time in ensuring that adequate training is established, that thorough surveys are conducted prior to refurbishment, and that significant penalties are levied against those who violate asbestos regulations. The fines currently imposed often fail to reflect the severity of crimes.
4. Mandate that all tradespeople present an asbestos awareness certificate prior to securing business insurance. Many tradespeople, including builders and electricians, do not routinely obtain asbestos surveys for the work they carry out.

Recently, we engaged in lengthy correspondence with the HSE concerning a management plan for a school. We spent weeks refining the document to meet the requirements. However, if the recipients of this plan lack a fundamental understanding of asbestos, its implications, risks, and how to navigate its presence, our efforts are ultimately futile. This time could have been more effectively spent on education.

When I began my journey in this field, I was often told that asbestos would soon be a relic of the past.  Yet, at this rate, it seems likely to persist until my grandchildren reach retirement age – a rather disheartening prospect, especially as I do not yet have grandchildren.

As we commemorate this significant anniversary, it is imperative that we not only recognise the progress made since the ban but also confront the challenges that remain in protecting future generations from the dangers of asbestos.

Acorn is a professional asbestos consultancy helping organisations deal with asbestos compliance using asbestos surveys, asbestos air testing, and asbestos removal management. 

Please call one of the team, or use the online form to obtain your free quotation. If you would like further information or advice on asbestos and asbestos training, contact the team on 0844 818 0895 or Contact Us.