Health and Safety

Executive

em1
asbestos

What to do if you uncover

or damage materials that
may contain asbestos
essentials
Equipment and method sheet
Nonlicensed tasks
This information will help employers
and the selfemployed to comply with
What this sheet covers
the Control of Asbestos Regulations This sheet shows some examples of where asbestos can be found. A chart
2012. describes what to do if you find asbestos materials during a job.

It is also useful for trade union and It also applies where asbestos materials get damaged by accident.
employee safety representatives.

Only carry out work if you are

properly trained and have the right
equipment.

Remember:
Asbestos fibres can cause lung
cancer and lung diseases.
Check it out before you
start work.
Read the safety checklist on the
task sheet.

There are three colours of asbestos, but you cant tell just by the colour what you have
found; it could be mixed with other ingredients which change the appearance.

Dont assume there will always be warning Asbestos isnt always obvious. Would you spot an asbestos gasket on an old engine,
signs. There could be undiscovered asbestos cement pipes or an asbestoscontaining fuseboard? If youre not
asbestos in buildings you work on. sure, the premises owner needs to get it checked out!

Asbestos Asbestos insulating These asbestos cement pipes are labelled, so are There could be sprayed
lagging on an board (AIB) the tiles, but you might not know until you start limpet under this asbestos
old tank fire surround to lift them. cement (AC) sheeting

1 of 2 pages
 Health and Safety
Executive

Discovered or damaged materials that could contain asbestos?

MORE HELP
Stop work immediately, and
More asbestos pictures
www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/gallery.htm
Help to decide if work is licensed
Keep everyone else out Is there dust or debris on clothing?
www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/licensing/ of the area
index.htm
For information about health and
A little, A lot, eg contaminated
Report the problem to the eg dust clothes, hair, footwear
safety, or to report inconsistencies or person in charge as soon
inaccuracies in this guidance, visit on sleeve,
as possible on shoes
www.hse.gov.uk/. You can view HSE
guidance online or order priced
Stay put
publications from the website. HSE Put up a warning sign
priced publications are also available Get help
possible asbestos
from bookshops. All put on
contamination
These equipment and method (em)
RPE Call for help. All put on
RPE, helper put on PPE
sheets and task (a) sheets can be
downloaded free from www.hse.gov.uk/ Tell client to get the material
Wipe
asbestos/essentials/index.htm sampled and analysed Wipe down with damp rags
See sheet a0 for details of more
down
with damp
guidance. rags
Does it No action
NO Undress.
contain required Shower, wash hair
asbestos?

YES Put contaminated clothes,

towels etc in a plastic bag
for a specialist laundry.
The client must Leave washing facilities clean
make an Asbestos
Management Plan
and decide if the Dispose of rags as asbestos waste
task needs an
HSElicensed
contractor Keep a record of the event

Procedures

Stop this work immediately.

Follow the chart above or do a risk assessment to decide who must do the
work you may need a licensed contractor.
Minimise the spread of contamination to other areas.
Keep exposures as low as you can.
Clean up the contamination.

This guidance is issued by the

Health and Safety Executive.
Following the guidance is not
compulsory and you are free to
take other action. But if you do
follow the guidance you will This document is available at www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/essentials/index.htm
normally be doing enough to
comply with the law. Health and Crown copyright If you wish to reuse this information visit
safety inspectors seek to secure www.hse.gov.uk/copyright for details. First published as part of
compliance with the law and Asbestos Essentials Task Manual 2001.
may refer to this guidance as
illustrating good practice. Published by the Health and Safety Executive 04/12

asbestos essentials em1 What to do if you uncover or damage materials that may contain asbestos 2 of 2 pages