Global Asbestos Awareness Week is held every year between the 1st and 7th April. The awareness week was established in 2004 by the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organisation (ADAO) to educate the public about the risks of asbestos exposure and to advocate for a global ban on the six types of asbestos fibre.
Blue and brown asbestos were banned in the UK in 1985, and white asbestos was banned in 1999, however it is still present in millions of homes, schools and commercial buildings. Globally, 107,000 people die from asbestos related exposures every year. Millions of people are still being exposed throughout the world. Some countries including Russia, China, India, Kazakhstan, Brazil and Indonesia still mine, import, export and use asbestos.
Consequences of Failing to Comply with Asbestos Regulations:
In March 2026 three separate companies involved with the demolition of a building at a site in Birmingham were prosecuted for failure to comply with regulations. The client for the project was prosecuted for failing to appoint an appropriately competent Principle Contractor to manage the works, despite having commissioned an asbestos survey which identified asbestos was present on the site.
The company they appointed to carry out the demolition proceeded with the demolition work, despite being aware asbestos was present. The Client then arranged for a company, who was neither licenced or competent to do the work, to dispose of the asbestos. This company failed to ensure there were proper measures in place to prevent the exposure to, and spread of, asbestos fibres.
Client/Site Owner: £74,900 fine, £3,658 costs, £2,000 statutory surcharge.
Demolition contractor: £13,400 fine, £1,359 costs, £2,000 statutory surcharge.
Waste contractor: 26 weeks imprisonment, suspended for two years. Electronic curfew tag between 19:00 and 07:00 hours for three months. Director disqualification for 5 years. Up to two years in prison if orders are breached. Costs £5,899. Statutory surcharge £154.
Further details on this article can be found here: Two companies and site manager prosecuted following large-scale asbestos disturbance – HSE Media Centre
Consequences for People Who are Exposed to Asbestos in the UK:
2025 figures show that in the UK there are around 5000 deaths from asbestos exposure every year.
Asbestos was used extensively in Great Britain following World War II. Following the UK ban on asbestos products in 1985 and 1999, the number of deaths continued to rise due to the long latency of the disease (20 to 60 years). The number of deaths per year peaked in the decade between 2010 and 2020 and now appear to be falling very slowly.
Over 70% of annual deaths now occur in those aged over 75 years and the annual number of deaths in those aged 65 and below is slowly declining.
Types of Asbestos:
There are six main forms of asbestos, the main ones used being:
- Amosite – brown asbestos
- Crocidolite – blue asbestos
- Chrysotile – white asbestos.
Myth: we don’t need to worry about white asbestos, its brown and blue asbestos that are the harmful types.
Fact: White asbestos accounts for thousands of deaths due to its widespread historical use.
Although chrysotile is often considered less potent than blue or brown asbestos, it is still classified as a human carcinogen and causes severe diseases, including lung cancer and mesothelioma. There is no safe level of asbestos exposure.
Chrysotile accounts for 95% of all asbestos used ever and is the main form still likely to be present in buildings now. The sheer quantity of white asbestos present in buildings means that people are far more likely to be exposed to white asbestos than any other type of asbestos these days.
What Do Businesses Need to Do?
- Establish whether asbestos is present, or likely to be present.
- Keep an up-to-date record of asbestos-containing materials.
- Assess the risk of anyone being exposed.
- Prepare and maintain an asbestos management plan.
- Review the management plan at regular intervals.
- Share asbestos information with anyone liable to disturb it (such as contractors).
- Ensure that any planned refurbishment or demolition triggers a new, more intrusive Demolition and Refurbishment Survey.
- Ensure that the guidance is followed when asbestos is likely to be disturbed or removed – to determine if the work is licenced or unlicensed and the type of contractor who needs to be appointed.
- Ensure that anyone who could come into contact with, or who is required to work with asbestos, is suitably trained.
Who Should Complete an Asbestos Survey?
Both Management Surveys and Refurbishment/Demolition Surveys should be completed by a competent asbestos surveyor for all buildings constructed before 2000. If you have a newer premises it is unlikely to contain asbestos, however, old machinery which has been brought into the new premises could contain asbestos in rope seals, insulation, gaskets, electrical switchgear and heat resistant panels.
How Often Should Your Asbestos Survey Be Reviewed?
Review your asbestos management survey AT LEAST annually, as a minimum.
Review the condition of materials that are in a poor or deteriorating condition more frequently.
Asbestos Management Plans
An asbestos management plan is a document that explains where asbestos is in a building, what condition it is in, and how we prevent exposure using key management controls.
This is based on the findings of the asbestos survey, which identifies asbestos-containing materials and feeds into the asbestos register. You must ensure you have this in place and that you keep it up to date.
Who Can Conduct the Annual Review/Reinspection?
Sometimes the annual inspection can be done internally for low risks sites if you have somebody who is suitably trained and competent to understand the risks.
An internal employee who is trained may be suitable where the presence of asbestos is limited, such as a roof or downpipe made from chrysotile in good condition, as they will be able to detect changes such as cracks and holes.
However, if you have lots of asbestos, asbestos that is in poor condition, or which is located in difficult to access locations, or have higher risk friable types of asbestos such as pipe lagging, it is generally better to have the review conducted by an external, professionally qualified person each year.
Even for low risk sites, where an internal competent employee is carrying out the annual inspections, it is strongly advised that the asbestos is subject to reinspection by an external specialist periodically.
Be aware that if a report states that somewhere was not accessible during the survey, you must arrange for these areas to be surveyed at a later date or presume that they contain asbestos. If the area is accessed regularly but could not be accessed at the time of the original assessment, arrange for a reinspection. If the area is only likely to be disturbed for refurbishment, demolition or invasive works, this area would need to be subject to a new survey in the event of access being required to the area.
How Can you Participate in Asbestos Awareness Week?
Individuals and organisations can support the initiative by:
- Sharing Education: Using hashtags like #2026GAAW to spread facts and resources.
- Wearing Blue: Many participants wear blue to show solidarity with mesothelioma victims.
- Training: Workers in trades like plumbing and electrics are encouraged to take HSE-recognised training to learn how to identify and avoid disturbing asbestos.
- Attending a virtual vigil on 7th April.
How to Join the 2026 Vigils:
The primary global vigil is hosted online by the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organisation (ADAO). You can participate through the following steps:
- Submit a Name: You can submit a “Mesothelioma Warrior’s” name to be included in the official 2026 Candle Lighting List.
- Light a Virtual Candle: On 7th April, ADAO provides a dedicated digital portalwhere you can “light” a candle that burns for 48 hours in remembrance of loved ones.
- Share on Social Media: Participants are encouraged to share photos of their own candles or stories of those they are honouring using hashtags like #MesotheliomaWarriors, #2026GAAW, and #BanAsbestos.
Do You Need Help Managing Asbestos?
If you are unsure whether your asbestos arrangements are suitable and sufficient, Sentient can support you in understanding your obligations, interpreting asbestos surveys, and planning next steps. Either talk to our team, or learn more about our health & safety services.
For more information on your duties to comply with the asbestos regulations can be found here: The duty to manage asbestos in buildings: Overview – HSE or members can access information on our members area here: Asbestos – SentientUK Resources
UKATA approved asbestos training providers can be found here: Find a Training Provider – UKATA
The UKATA offers a search facility to help you find trained and competent asbestos surveyors here: Industry Associate Directory – UKATA
UK Asbestos related disease support groups can be found here:
- Events – A.A.S.C
- Meso Warriors (Facebook group, founded by Mavis and Ray Nye).
- Mesothelioma UK Mesothelioma UK | Supporting people with this asbestos cancerand support line 0800 169 2409
- Support Groups | Mesothelioma UK