Guidance Document

The Health and Safety Authority published a comprehensive guidance document on asbestos in 2013.
This document requires an update due to the new 2025 Asbestos Regulations and the upcoming EU Guidance Documents. However, much of the information remains relevant. We have included some clarifications below. Any queries should be directed to contactus@hsa.ie

• Information on types of asbestos and asbestos containing materials (ACMs) in buildings.
• Health effects of asbestos and associated risks to different types of workers.
• Risk assessment of ACMs and use of various risk assessment algorithms.
• Various legislation applicable to asbestos in Ireland. The new Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Exposure to Asbestos) (Amendment) Regulation 2025 will also apply. See Latest News - Health and Safety Authority for most recent updates.
• Managing ACMs in workplaces and developing an Asbestos Management Plan (AMP)
• Protocol for Management Asbestos Surveys (MAS) and a Pre-refurbishment/demolition survey (RDAS).
• Bulk sampling and analysis.
• Training, instruction and information requirements. These have been updated. See  Asbestos Training Requirements - Health and Safety Authority
• Personal Protective Equipment for working with asbestos and ACMs. Additional PPE and/or RPE with increased Assigned Protection Factors will be required depending on the site-specific risk assessment.
• Protocols for lower risk work with asbestos and ACMs /Protocols for higher risk work with asbestos and ACMs./Contents of Plans of Work (method statements) for asbestos work. The terminology regarding ”lower risk” and “higher risk” work is changed to “asbestos work”. More asbestos work will be notifiable due to the change in the OELV. Additional controls and precautions will now be required in the Plan of Work and site specific risk assessment.
• Role of the Independent Analyst, Four stage Clearance procedure and Certificates of Reoccupation .
• Health surveillance and exposure registers. More asbestos workers will be required to have health assessments. The exemptions in relation to the assessment of the health of employees under Regulation 5(b) of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Exposure to Asbestos) Regulations 2006-2010 are being removed.
• Notification requirements - These have changed. More asbestos work will be notifiable, and the notification period has been reduced to 10 days. The provision for waiver application remains unchanged. The Asbestos Notifications - Health and Safety Authority is being updated to reflect this.
• Advice for management and disposal of asbestos and ACMs.
• Personal Monitoring - The requirements for this have changed to take account of operational phases. This information will be in the Code of Practice. 

You can download a PDF copy of the asbestos guidelines here.