Last Updated on June 24, 2025 by Phil Collins

Asbestos has been banned in England since 1999, yet it remains responsible for approximately 5,000 deaths each year. Workplace misconceptions continue to put people at risk. Here are three persistent myths that need addressing…

The Minimal Exposure Myth

People often dismiss quick contact with asbestos as harmless. Unfortunately, this misconception is wrong and can be fatal.

Asbestos exposure doesn’t work like many other hazards. There’s no safe minimum dose. Medical evidence shows that even single exposures can trigger mesothelioma or lung cancer decades later.

Once asbestos fibres enter your lungs, they stay there permanently. Your body cannot eliminate them. Each fibre causes ongoing cellular damage that accumulates over time. A five-minute job today adds to exposures from previous work, creating a cumulative health risk.

The delayed nature of asbestos diseases makes this dangerous. Symptoms can sometimes appear 20 or even 50 years after exposure. Someone exposed briefly at age 25 might develop terminal illness at age 65.

This is why the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 set no minimum exposure threshold. Any contact should be documented and reported to future healthcare providers.

“Asbestos is Banned – Why Does This Still Matter?”

The 1999 ban prohibited importing and using new asbestos materials. It didn’t make existing asbestos disappear overnight.

The material remains stable when undisturbed, but building work inevitably involves disturbance.

Professional surveys estimate that managing England’s asbestos legacy will take several more decades. Current regulations don’t just cover new materials – they govern how we identify, manage and remove existing asbestos throughout building lifecycles.

The ban was the start of the solution, not the end of the problem.

Knowing When to Act vs When to Monitor

Asbestos encounters don’t all require the same response. Understanding the difference prevents both dangerous exposure and unnecessary panic.

Immediate action required:

• Damaged asbestos materials showing visible deterioration
• Unexpected discovery during building work
• Any situation creating visible dust or debris
• Power tool use on suspected asbestos materials

These scenarios demand stopping work immediately and calling licensed professionals.

Ongoing monitoring situations:

• Intact materials in good condition
• Planning future maintenance work
• General building management duties

These require awareness and proper procedures rather than emergency response.

The key is proportionate action. Panic doesn’t help anyone, but complacency has killed thousands of people in England.

What To Do Now

Asbestos management requires understanding the risks, rather than relying on outdated myths.

The correct training addresses all this, with workers learning to identify potential risks, follow established safety procedures and respond appropriately to different scenarios.

Asbestos awareness isn’t about creating panic or fear; it’s about providing the correct information needed to work safely around England’s most dangerous building material.

Published Jun 20, 2025