Asbestos Awareness BiKBBI Refresher Course 2025

Introductory notes about the scope of the course and how best to learn the content.

This introduction will provide you with a summary of the purposes of the course, the scope of what it will cover and what it will enable you to do with relation to asbestos.

Work relating to asbestos can be broadly defined as Licensed or Non-Licensed Work. Non-Licensed Work is split into either Notifiable Non-Licensed Work or Non-Licensed Work.

Category A is only aimed at making entrants understand the dangers involved with unknowingly coming into contact with asbestos

Non-Licensable Asbestos Work with Asbestos Containing Materials including Non-Licensable Asbestos Works

Licensed Asbestos Removal

Asbestos was first used at least 4,500 years ago and has been used consistently throughout history thanks to its numerous properties.

Asbestos refers to six naturally occurring minerals, commonly known by their colours, as blue asbestos, brown asbestos, white asbestos, and green asbestos.

As seen earlier, asbestos has seen widespread use throughout history.

Asbestos is the single greatest cause of work related deaths in the UK.

While asbestos is only a risk to health if asbestos fibres are breathed in it must be remembered that there is no cure for the main asbestos-related diseases.

As the use of asbestos was so widespread it may be found in any building (commercial and residential) built before 1999.

Risk of Exposure Rankings for ACM – High to Low Risk

Loose asbestos lagging was used as a filling material for heat-proofing and sound-proofing and as protection against fire for pipe ducts, loft insulation and insulation between floors.

These uniform coatings were used to add fireproofing as well as thermal and sound proofing and anti-condensation insulation.

Given its thermal retardation properties Asbestos was frequently used for insulation.

Asbestos Insulation Boards (AIBs) and asbestos textiles were mainly used for thermal and acoustic insulation and fire protection.

Asbestos Paper, Felt, Cloth and Rope

Asbestos tiles and cements had a considerable range of uses. From industrial, commercial, domestic and public buildings, tiles and cements were used for roofing, flooring, cladding and insulation.

Unlike the spray coatings, textured coatings contained less asbestos, usually around 3-5%.

Its versatility meant asbestos was widely used within composite materials, including plastics, resins, roofing felts and sealants. Depending on use the addition of asbestos could add properties such as strength (reinforcing), flexibility and heat-resistance.

Exposure to asbestos fibres is always dangerous, so you must constantly vigilant so as not to put yourself at undue risk.

If asbestos is disturbed or damaged it could become hazardous through the release of fibres into the air. Disturbing asbestos that is not in a sound condition, for example flaking or crumbling surface, or drilling, cutting, sawing or breaking ACMs can release fibres. ACMs fall into two different friability categories; Friable and Non-Friable.

If ACMs are disturbed or damaged, fibres can easily become airborne.

There are two types of survey that should be completed by your employer prior to starting any work

The purpose of the Management Survey is to locate and assess ACMs within the environment you’ll be working and gauge if these ACMs will be disturbed or damaged as a result of the proposed work.

If the work to be carried out goes beyond the scope of what is covered by the Management Survey then a Refurbishment and Demolition Survey (R&D) is required.

The Asbestos Register plays an important part in recording and understanding how best to manage any asbestos found or expected to be found in the relevant building(s). The register should include information on the presence and condition of any asbestos in the building.

The Duty holder is responsible for writing an ‘asbestos management plan’.

Any work involving maintenance, repair or even refurbishment can create the risk of damaging ACMs. In some instances, the damage caused may be accidental.

By their nature ACMs can be difficult to recognise and find, so there may be times that they are found even after following your Pre-Work Assessment.

The last 40 years has seen the passing and introduction of many laws and regulations relating to asbestos.

Legislation requires employers, landlords and building owners to protect employees, tenants and occupants from exposure to asbestos whilst they are living, working or visiting their premises.

Looking closer at the Control of Asbestos Regulations (2012) (CAR12)

Congratulations! You’ve reached the end of the Asbestos Awareness course.