Last Updated on November 21, 2025 by Phil Collins

If you are a contracts manager in asbestos removal, you already know your certificate is only good for 12 months. What you might not have thought about is how close we are to winter and the start of 2026. Now’s the time to check your dates.

Winter is a Nightmare Without Valid Papers

December and January are crazy in this industry. Jobs need finishing before Christmas, new projects are kicking off in the new year, and the last thing you want is to be stuck without a valid certificate.

The Rules Change More Than You Think

Anyone who has been in asbestos for a few years knows the HSE does not leave things alone. Guidance gets updated, new regulations come in; techniques change. What you learned last year might not be enough this year.

That is the whole point of annual refreshers. It is not about proving you still remember everything, it’s about keeping up with what has changed. New control measures, different testing procedures, updated removal methods. Miss your refresher and you are behind before you start.

You are Responsible for Everyone on That Site

When you are the contracts manager, it is on you. The supervisors, the operatives, everyone collaborating with you is relying on your decisions. If something goes wrong because you are using outdated methods or you have missed a regulation change, that is on you.

Asbestos can kill people; not straight away, but 20 or 30 years down the line. Mesothelioma does not care that you meant well or that you were too busy to do your refresher. Your job is to know the current best practice and keep people safe. You cannot do that if your training’s out of date.

The Course Itself Is Not Difficult.

It is done in one day – 8:30am until 12.30pm. If you are already working as a contracts manager, you know most of this stuff anyway. The refresher just brings you up to speed on what is changed and assesses you on the essentials.

A multiple choice test, a bit of practical work and a 80% pass mark on both. Most people who have been doing the job pass without any trouble. You get your new certificate which is good for another 12 months.

Book It Early

Asbestos Awareness Training runs throughout the year, but they are on demand, which means you need to book ahead. Come December, everyone suddenly remembers their certificate is about to expire, and training centres get rammed.

Just Sort It Out

Have a look at your certificate right now. Check the date on it. If it is running out before next Spring, get on the phone and book your refresher.

Do not wait till you are up against the deadline. Do not assume you will fit it in later when you are less busy, you will not be less busy. Book it now while there’s space available and while you have still got time before your current certificate expires.

Winter’s nearly here, 2026 is weeks away, and you need to be ready to work through it all without any compliance issues hanging over you. One day of your time now saves you a world of hassle later. That’s it, just get it booked with us today.

Published Nov 21, 2025