Global Asbestos Awareness Week 2025; highlighting the continuing threat

The first week of April (1-7) is Global Asbestos Awareness Week (GAAW), dedicated to raising awareness of the ongoing dangers of asbestos and how it causes diseases like mesothelioma. It was started by the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) in 2004, who advocate for regulations on asbestos and protecting public health.

Asbestos in construction continues to be a threat as it was used to make thousands of products from the 1930s until the early 1980s, when it was increasingly banned. Asbestos was fully banned in the UK in 1999, but in some countries it was still being produced as late as 2005. These products continue to cause issues for the health and safety of people worldwide and remain the single greatest cause of work-related deaths in the UK.

Up to 20 tradespeople die each week from asbestos related diseases, which include asbestosis, pleural thickening mesothelioma and asbestos-related lung cancer. Global Asbestos Awareness Week should serve as a reminder to employers and other duty holders to consider how they should assess, plan, manage and monitor all works where asbestos could be an issue.

Refurbishment, alteration and demolition projects are affected by asbestos in buildings.The condition of the material and the type of asbestos are key factors in the danger presented and there is a wide range fo freely available information to help understand the risks.

In partnership with international leaders such as the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) and the British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS), this year’s Global Asbestos Awareness Week (GAAW) emphasises international cooperation to highlight the persistent, and often overlooked dangers of asbestos. The 2025 campaign focusses on four main themes:

• Banning the mining, manufacturing, and use of all six asbestos fibres worldwide.
• Preventing asbestos exposure.
• Increasing compliance and enforcement of existing laws and regulations.
• Strengthening international partnerships to protect public health.

The Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA) is reminding its members of their responsibilities and duties during Global Asbestos Awareness Week as asbestos is present in so many businesses, public buildings and homes. In addition to the Government’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidance, ECA has a wealth of safety, health and environment resources available for its Members including numerous Asbestos Guidance documents, questionnaires and a Toolbox Talk. Asbestos awareness presentations are also being delivered to ECA regions across the UK.

HSE is calling on for support to share their asbestos resources with others to highlight the risks and keep people safe. It notes that asbestos could be present in any building that was built or refurbished before 2000 and can be hidden within different materials, for example:

• lagging on plant and pipework
• insulation products such as fireproof panels
• asbestos cement roofing material
• sprayed coatings on structural steel work to insulate against fire and noise

The materials become dangerous when damaged or disturbed. For example, during maintenance, remediation or renovation work. That's why HSE is running 2 crucial campaigns to raise awareness of the risks, providing free advice, downloadable resources and videos to help prevent exposure to asbestos fibres.

The Asbestos and You campaign provides essential advice to help stay safe. Resources include the HSE free 'quick guide for trades' to learn what to watch for, and what to do should one come across it.

The second campaign is Asbestos – Your Duty campaign which provides a range of resources to support duty holders with the legal duty to manage asbestos in buildings.

This article is based on content from the following announcements, 'ADAO Leads Global Efforts to Raise Awareness, Prevent Exposure, and Protect Public Health from Asbestos-Related Diseases', 'ECA raises awareness for asbestos global week', and 'HSE Campaigns on Global Asbestos Awareness Week: 1 to 7 April'

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