Asbestos AsbestosSafety PublicHealth OccupationalHealth

Asbestos remains a deadly infrastructure risk across the UK

*Hazardous asbestos materials exposed following structural damage, highlighting the ongoing risks associated with ageing buildings and post-disaster contamination. Source: The Mainichi.*

More than 25 years after asbestos was banned in the UK, the material remains one of the country’s most persistent public health and building safety risks. According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), around 5,000 people die each year in Great Britain from asbestos-related diseases, making asbestos the country’s greatest cause of work-related deaths. The risk remains widespread because asbestos is still present in many buildings constructed before 2000, with industry estimates suggesting that around 1.5 million buildings may still contain asbestos-containing materials.

The problem is not limited to historic industrial sites. Exposure can occur during routine maintenance, refurbishment, retrofitting or small construction works, where asbestos-containing materials may be disturbed without proper checks. Workers who disturb the fabric of older buildings, including tradespeople and maintenance staff, remain especially vulnerable to exposure if asbestos is not properly identified and managed.

The six recognised asbestos mineral types, including chrysotile, amosite, and crocidolite, each associated with serious occupational and environmental health risks. Source: Mesothelioma Hub

A major concern is that asbestos left in place is ageing. Many buildings now contain materials that may be damaged, deteriorating or vulnerable to disturbance during everyday works. When asbestos-containing materials are damaged or disturbed, they can release tiny fibres that are invisible but dangerous when inhaled. Mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases can take decades to develop, meaning exposure today may continue to affect public health far into the future.

Microscopic asbestos fibres can become trapped inside the lungs, causing long-term inflammation, scarring, and potentially fatal diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer. Source: The Civil Engineer

Experts, charities and campaigners have argued that managing asbestos in place is no longer sufficient in all cases. They are calling for stronger inspections, transparent asbestos registers, better enforcement and a long-term national removal strategy, particularly for higher-risk public buildings such as schools and hospitals.

The UK asbestos crisis is therefore not only a legacy issue. It remains an active infrastructure safety challenge that depends on consistent regulation, accurate asbestos records, competent removal work and stronger accountability across the built environment.