Asbestos remains the single biggest cause of work-related deaths in the UK, and the buildings that contain it are still in daily use. Any building constructed or refurbished before the year 2000 may contain asbestos, which is why the training duty reaches far beyond specialist removal contractors.
Regulation 10 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 requires employers to give adequate information, instruction and training to anyone liable to disturb asbestos during their work, and to those supervising them. Envico is an independent training intermediary: we list asbestos courses from accredited providers across the UK so you can compare formats, dates and levels in one place.
Read this before booking
Asbestos awareness training is not enough if you plan to carry out any work that will disturb asbestos-containing materials. Awareness teaches people to recognise ACMs and stop. Anyone actually working on them needs additional, job-specific training on top.
The three categories of asbestos training
The Approved Code of Practice L143 splits training by the work being done, not by job title. Work out which category applies before you book anything.
| Category | Who it is for |
|---|---|
| A — Awareness | Anyone whose work could disturb asbestos without meaning to: electricians, plumbers, joiners, roofers, heating engineers, maintenance staff, surveyors, shopfitters. Teaches recognition and avoidance, not removal. |
| B — Non-licensed work | Those carrying out lower-risk work on ACMs, including notifiable non-licensed work (NNLW). Requires awareness plus task-specific training on the materials, methods and controls involved. |
| C — Licensed work | Higher-risk work, typically on sprayed coatings, lagging and insulating board, carried out only by an HSE-licensed contractor. Requires the licence as well as the training. |
Separate from all three: the duty to manage under Regulation 4, which falls on whoever is responsible for maintaining non-domestic premises. That is a management duty rather than a working-with-asbestos duty, and it has its own training.
Asbestos awareness training
Category A. For anyone whose work could disturb asbestos without meaning to. Covers what ACMs look like, where they are typically found, the health effects of exposure, and what to do when asbestos is discovered. It does not qualify anyone to work on asbestos.
The standard Category A course, following the HSE syllabus. Suitable for electricians, plumbers, joiners, roofers, heating engineers and general maintenance staff.
IATP Asbestos Awareness (Online)
E-learning audited by IATP. HSE recognises e-learning as a viable delivery method for awareness, making this a practical option for training larger groups.
Shorter course for anyone with prior awareness training. Commonly required annually by principal contractors and SSIP schemes.
Duty to manage asbestos
Regulation 4. A separate duty from working with asbestos, falling on whoever is responsible for maintaining non-domestic premises. For building owners, landlords, facilities managers, and school and NHS estates teams.
The Regulation 4 duty in full: the asbestos register, the management plan, survey types, and how the duty is discharged and evidenced in practice.
IATP Duty to Manage Asbestos (Online)
The same ground as e-learning, audited by IATP. Suited to duty holders across multiple sites who need a consistent baseline.
Keeps duty holders current on the regulations, survey requirements and management plan review cycles.
Goes further than the management duty: assessing the condition of known ACMs and prioritising them for action.
Non-licensed work with asbestos
Category B. For operatives carrying out lower-risk work on asbestos-containing materials, including notifiable non-licensed work (NNLW). This is the training awareness alone does not cover, and HSE advises annual refresher.
Asbestos Non-Licensed Operative
Working safely on lower-risk ACMs: controls, methods, decontamination and waste. Required in addition to awareness, not instead of it.
Non-Licensed Operative Refresher
Annual refresher for Category B work, or sooner if working methods, materials or equipment change.
Surveying and professional qualifications
BOHS proficiency modules for those working in asbestos surveying, analysis and management as a profession rather than as part of a trade.
Surveying and sampling strategies for asbestos in buildings. The recognised qualification for asbestos surveyors.
Management of asbestos in buildings, including asbestos removal. For asbestos managers and consultants advising duty holders.
How often is refresher training needed?
The answer differs by category, and it is commonly got wrong.
◆ Licensed and non-licensed work:
HSE advises refresher information, instruction and training every year, or more often if working methods, materials or equipment change.
◆ Awareness:
There is no legal requirement to repeat a formal awareness course every twelve months. Some form of refresher should be given as necessary, and annual refresher remains common practice and is often specified by principal contractors and SSIP schemes.
In short: annual refresher is a requirement in spirit for Category B and C work, and a widely applied convention for awareness. If a client or SSIP scheme asks for an in-date certificate, that expectation is contractual rather than statutory, but it still has to be met.
Asbestos training questions
Does the HSE approve asbestos training providers?
No. HSE does not approve, endorse or accredit training courses, providers or training associations. What matters is whether the training meets Regulation 10 of CAR 2012 and the standard set out in ACOP L143. Independent associations such as UKATA and IATP audit their members against that standard, which is why their certification is widely accepted, but neither is an HSE authorisation.
UKATA or IATP: which should I choose?
Both follow the HSE syllabus and both are accepted across the UK. UKATA is often specified in construction and is the usual route where delegates may progress to working directly with ACMs. IATP is widely used for larger groups and lower-risk roles. Check whether your principal contractor or client names one before booking, since some do.
Is online asbestos awareness training acceptable?
For awareness, yes. HSE recognises e-learning as a viable delivery method provided the course satisfies Regulation 10 and ACOP L143. For Category B and C work the training must be job specific and include practical elements, so e-learning alone is not sufficient.
Which trades need asbestos awareness training?
Anyone whose work could disturb the fabric of a pre-2000 building. That includes electricians, plumbers, gas fitters, joiners, plasterers, roofers, painters and decorators, heating and ventilation engineers, telecoms and alarm installers, demolition and general maintenance staff, plus surveyors, architects and shopfitters.
Does asbestos awareness let me remove asbestos?
No. Awareness training exists so that people recognise ACMs and avoid disturbing them. Removal or any work that disturbs asbestos requires Category B training as a minimum, and licensed work requires an HSE-licensed contractor.
Do I need duty to manage training or awareness training?
They answer different questions. Awareness is for people who might disturb asbestos while working. Duty to manage is for whoever is responsible for the building and has to maintain the asbestos register and management plan under Regulation 4. Many duty holders benefit from both.
Related training and guidance
- Asbestos guidance — background on ACMs, health effects and the regulations
- Silica Dust Awareness — the other major respiratory hazard in refurbishment work
- COSHH Training — the wider framework for hazardous substances
- PPE Training — selection, fit and limitations of RPE and PPE
HSE does not approve or endorse any training provider or association. This page is general guidance and does not replace the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, ACOP L143, or your own risk assessment.