Mesothelioma Awareness Day 2025
Overview
Every year on 26 September, Mesothelioma Awareness Day shines a light on the consequences of asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive cancer caused almost exclusively by breathing in asbestos fibres. Although asbestos use has been banned in the UK for decades, the risks have not gone away. Many homes, schools, offices, and industrial buildings constructed before the year 2000 still contain asbestos in roofing, insulation, pipe lagging, ceiling tiles, and other materials.
For businesses, this awareness day is not only about health; it’s about legal duty and safe practice. Employers and workers must remain vigilant when dealing with older premises, ensuring asbestos is properly managed to prevent exposure.
A Short History of Asbestos
- What it is: Asbestos is a group of naturally occurring fibrous minerals once valued for their strength, insulation, and fire resistance.
- Why it was used: From the 1950s to the 1980s, asbestos was common in construction (roofing sheets, insulation boards, pipe lagging), shipbuilding, automotive parts, and household goods.
- Why it’s dangerous: When disturbed, tiny fibres become airborne and can be inhaled. These fibres lodge in the lungs and other tissues, leading to fatal diseases such as mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer.
Mesothelioma Awareness Day is a reminder that asbestos is not a problem of the past. For businesses, the message is clear: know where asbestos may be, train your people, and follow the “identify, manage, and protect” approach. If your business operates in older buildings, this is the perfect time to review your asbestos management plan and ensure your workforce stays safe.
Types of asbestos
There are several types of asbestos:
- Crocidolite (blue): highly dangerous, used in insulation and sprayed coatings.
- Amosite (brown): common in insulating boards and cement sheets.
- Chrysotile (white): the most widely used, found in cement, floor tiles, and gaskets.
Even though asbestos was banned in 1999 in the UK, the legacy remains: millions of tonnes are still present in buildings today.
Key requirements for businesses
Under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012:
- Duty to manage: Owners and those responsible for non-domestic premises must identify asbestos, assess risks, and maintain a management plan.
- Risk assessment: Before any refurbishment, demolition, or maintenance work, asbestos surveys and risk assessments are mandatory.
- Training: Workers who could disturb asbestos (plumbers, electricians, maintenance staff) must receive asbestos awareness training.
- Safe working practices: Use protective equipment, avoid breaking asbestos materials, and keep exposure below legal control limits.
- Waste disposal: Asbestos waste must be double-bagged, labelled, and taken to licensed disposal sites.
Do the risks of asbestos affect my business?
If your business involves construction, maintenance, or repair of buildings built before 2000, the answer is yes. Key sectors include:
- Plumbers and heating engineers: asbestos can be found in old pipe lagging and gaskets.
- Electricians: ceiling tiles, fuse boards, and insulation may contain asbestos.
- Roofers and builders: asbestos cement sheets and shingles are widespread.
- Maintenance and caretakers: schools, hospitals, and offices often have asbestos boards, tiles, or insulation.
- Demolition and refurbishment contractors: highest risk if asbestos is disturbed during major works.
Even businesses outside construction may be affected if they own, lease, or manage older premises. Schools, councils, landlords, and facility managers all have clear legal duties.
