Do You Need an Asbestos Awareness Certificate?
If you work in construction, maintenance, refurbishment or property services, you’ve probably been asked for an asbestos awareness certificate at some point.
Even if you’ve never knowingly worked with asbestos, the risk is that you might accidentally disturb asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) in older buildings—especially those built or refurbished before 2000.
This guide explains who needs asbestos awareness training, when it’s legally expected, when awareness training isn’t enough, and a straightforward route to certification using SAMS LTD’s UKATA asbestos awareness online course.
What is an asbestos awareness certificate?
An asbestos awareness certificate is evidence that you’ve completed an asbestos awareness course (sometimes called asbestos awareness training or training in asbestos awareness). The purpose isn’t to teach you how to remove asbestos—it’s to teach you how to recognise potential asbestos risks, avoid disturbing ACMs, and follow correct procedures if asbestos is suspected.
Asbestos awareness training supports workplace compliance with Regulation 10 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, which requires employers to ensure appropriate information, instruction and training is provided.
Who needs asbestos awareness training?
You’ll typically need asbestos awareness training (online or classroom) if your work could bring you into contact with the building fabric—anything that involves drilling, cutting, chasing, removing panels, lifting ceiling tiles, or accessing voids.
Common trades and roles that often require asbestos awareness include:
- Electricians and installers
- Plumbers and heating engineers
- Builders and general contractors
- Joiners and kitchen fitters
- Painters and decorators
- Facilities and maintenance teams
The key point is that awareness training helps workers recognise ACMs and know what to do if they find them—so they can avoid unsafe disturbance and stop work where necessary.
Do you legally have to have a Asbestos certificate?
The law focuses on training being provided, not on a specific “certificate requirement” for every person in every scenario.
However, if employees are liable to be exposed to asbestos during work, employers must ensure they receive adequate information, instruction and training under Regulation 10 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012.
In day-to-day practice, many sites and clients treat evidence as essential.
You’ll often be asked for a certificate as part of:
- Site inductions and principal contractor requirements
- Approved supplier or subcontractor onboarding
- Contractor accreditation and compliance checks
- Insurance and risk management policies
- Tender applications and pre-qualification questionnaires
So while the legal duty is “ensure training,” the practical site requirement is often “show proof.”
When asbestos awareness training is NOT enough
This is where people get caught out.
Asbestos awareness training is designed to help you avoid disturbing asbestos, not to make you competent to carry out work on asbestos-containing materials.
Suppose your job requires you to intentionally disturb materials that may contain asbestos (even where work is classed as non-licensable or notifiable non-licensed). In that case, you may need additional task-specific training and controls. Awareness training is not a substitute for training to work with asbestos.
A simple rule of thumb:
If you need training so you can recognise risk and stop, awareness training is the right level.
If you need to work on materials that may contain asbestos, you need a higher level of training.
How long does an asbestos awareness certificate last?
Most employers and sites expect asbestos awareness training to be refreshed regularly, often annually, so knowledge stays current and site requirements are met. Certificates are commonly valid for 12 months from the date of issue (this can vary by provider and employer policy).
Can you do asbestos awareness training online?
Yes. Online learning is widely used for asbestos awareness training when it meets the required learning outcomes. For many workers and businesses, online training is a practical option because it’s:
- Fast to complete without travelling
- Consistent across teams (everyone receives the same content)
- Cost-effective for individuals and group training
- Easy to evidence with downloadable certificates
Recommended option: UKATA Asbestos Awareness Online Course
If you need a recognised asbestos awareness course online, SAMS LTD offers a video-based UKATA asbestos awareness online course designed to fit around working schedules.
What you can expect:
- Video-based learning with clear, practical examples
- Approximately 2 hours to complete (depending on your pace)
- An asbestos awareness test at the end
- Certificate available to download immediately after completion
- Options suitable for individuals and for organisations’ training staff
- Progress tracking tools for companies using the learning system
- Technical requirements to note, including using a modern browser (Safari is not recommended)
Quick checklist: Do you need an asbestos awareness certificate?
You probably do if you answer “Yes” to any of these:
Do you work in older buildings?
If you work on properties built or refurbished before 2000, asbestos is a realistic possibility—especially in hidden areas like voids, risers, plant rooms, behind panels, and service routes.
Do you do intrusive tasks?
If your work involves drilling, cutting, sanding, removing boards, lifting ceiling tiles, pulling cables through voids, or breaking into building fabric, awareness training is strongly advisable because accidental disturbance is the main risk.
Do your site rules require proof?
Many principal contractors and clients require valid asbestos awareness certification to access sites. If you’re being asked for it, you effectively need it to work.
Are you responsible for staff or subcontractors?
If you supervise others, you need enough knowledge to prevent unsafe work, spot risky situations early, and ensure correct reporting and escalation procedures are followed.
If any of the above applies, completing an asbestos awareness course online is often the quickest and most practical way to meet expectations and reduce risk.
If you or your team work in older buildings, don’t leave asbestos risk to chance.
Refresh your knowledge, meet site requirements and protect everyone on the job by completing SAMS LTD’s UKATA Asbestos Awareness Online Course.
It’s quick to complete, easy to access from anywhere, and you can download your certificate as soon as you pass—ideal for tradespeople, contractors and businesses needing proof of training.
Contact the team at SAMS LTD today for more information