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Global Asbestos Awareness Week runs from 1–7 April 2026 and shines a spotlight on the ongoing risks of asbestos and the lives still being lost every year. Despite being banned in the UK over 25 years ago, asbestos exposure continues to cause around 5,000 deaths annually from diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis. This year, the Health and Safety Executive’s Work Right campaign is asking dutyholders and tradespeople alike to use the week to check what they

A recent Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecution serves as a stark reminder of the deadly risks of cutting corners on asbestos management during demolition work. ​ Incident Overview Demolition work at a site on Greenheath Road, Cannock, ground to a halt when asbestos was found amid ongoing activities. An urgent refurbishment and demolition (R&D) survey revealed approximately 218 m² of asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) and debris scattered across the site. Despite thi

A recent prosecution of a Manchester construction firm working on the former Unicorn Public House in Eccles shines a harsh light on what “duty to manage” asbestos really means in practice. The case shows how quickly things can go wrong once asbestos debris is discovered and how failing to revisit the asbestos assessment can lead straight to court. This is directly relevant to property owners, estates teams, dutyholders, and contractors who manage or work on older buildings wh

A Long-Standing Duty to Manage Regulation 4, known as the “duty to manage,” was introduced in 2002 and came into force in May 2004. This regulation requires those responsible for non‑domestic premises to locate asbestos, assess its condition, and put a written management plan in place. Although the regulations have been updated since (now the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012), the core duty to survey, record, and manage asbestos has been continuous since 2004. Audits cond

Asbestos enforcement is very much alive, and recent prosecutions show that regulators will impose substantial fines where asbestos is poorly managed, even if no illness  has yet been diagnosed. For dutyholders, the message is clear: having an asbestos management survey that is up accurate and up to date combined with  an effective an  implemented asbestos management plan has been a legal necessity since May 2004  – Regulation 4 of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2