Is Asbestos Awareness Training Enough for Workers?

Awareness Training: The Legal Minimum

The HSE August update highlights important information on Asbestos Awareness training and, crucially, when awareness alone is not enough.

Under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, employers must provide information, instruction, and training to workers who may encounter asbestos.

At a minimum, this means Asbestos Awareness training. According to the HSE, asbestos awareness helps workers and supervisors:

Recognise asbestos and understand its risks
Learn how to avoid disturbing asbestos during normal work
Know what to do in the event of accidental disturbance

However, the HSE is clear: awareness training will not prepare workers, or self-employed contractors, to carry out work with asbestos-containing materials (ACMs).

Asbestos Training: Awareness vs. Non-Licensed Work – What’s the Difference?

For many trades, asbestos awareness alone is not enough. The HSE guidance highlights that workers who plan to carry out work that will disturb asbestos require additional training.

This applies to a wide range of occupations, including:

General maintenance workers, electricians, plumbers, joiners
Painters, decorators, plasterers, roofers, shop fitters
Gas fitters, heating and ventilation engineers
Demolition workers, telecoms engineers, alarm installers, data installers
Architects and building surveyors

For these trades, the appropriate level of competence is usually Non-Licensed (Cat B) Asbestos Training.

While awareness training explains the “what” and “why” of asbestos, Cat B training covers the “how”:

Safe methods of working when asbestos may be disturbed
Correct use of PPE and RPE
Waste handling and disposal
Emergency procedures
Legal obligations and notifications

Do Your Employees Need More Than Asbestos Awareness?

Employers should take a moment to self-check:

Do my employees carry out tasks that could disturb ACMs?
Could routine jobs such as drilling, cutting, or removing materials expose them to asbestos?
Would awareness training alone make them competent to do this safely?

If the answer is yes to the first two questions, or no to the third, then awareness training alone is not enough.

E-Learning: A Viable Delivery Method, but Not Sufficient for All Work

The HSE recognises the use of e-learning as a viable delivery method for asbestos awareness training, provided it satisfies the requirements of Regulation 10 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 and the supporting Approved Code of Practice L143 ‘Managing and working with asbestos’. However, it’s important to note that e-learning is not sufficient for licensable work with asbestos.

Workers who plan to carry out work that will disturb asbestos require a higher level of information, instruction, and training, in addition to asbestos awareness. This should take account of whether the work is non-licensed; notifiable non-licensed work (NNLW); or licensed work and should be job-specific.

Awareness ➝ Cat B: A Cost-Neutral Progression Route

Here’s the good news: meeting compliance and building competence doesn’t have to mean increasing your training budget.

Through carefully planned CITB grant-eligible variations, we can structure routes that remain cost-neutral when all grants are claimed back in just 1 day of training.

That means you get:

Compliance + Competence – a workforce trained to the correct HSE level
Reduced Risk – safer practices and fewer incidents on site
Commercial Advantage – being able to demonstrate Cat B competence to clients and regulators
Cost Neutrality – training that pays for itself once grants are secured

At Workforce Skills Support, we’ll design the right progression pathway for your team — ensuring you stay compliant, competitive, and cost-efficient.

Final Word

The HSE’s August update reinforces a crucial message: asbestos awareness training is the minimum requirement, but in reality, many trades require more than awareness.

With our Level 2 Award in Asbestos Awareness and cost-neutral progression to Cat B training, you don’t just stay compliant — you give your workforce the competence they need to work safely and give your business a powerful advantage.

Get in touch with our advisors for more information or to book your asbestos training – 01623 287830

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the minimum asbestos training required by law?

Asbestos awareness training is the legal minimum under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. It teaches workers to recognise asbestos, understand the risks, and know what to do if it is accidentally disturbed.

Is asbestos awareness training enough for all trades?

No. Workers who may disturb asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) need higher-level Non-Licensed (Cat B) training, which covers safe work methods, PPE usage, waste handling, emergency procedures, and legal obligations.

Can e-learning be used for asbestos training?

Yes, e-learning is suitable for awareness training, but it is not sufficient for workers performing tasks that disturb asbestos.

How can employees progress from awareness to Cat B training?

Employees can start with the Level 2 Award in Asbestos Awareness and then progress to Cat B Non-Licensed training. This progression can be cost-neutral through CITB grant-eligible routes.

Why should companies invest in Cat B training?

Cat B training ensures workforce competence, reduces risk of incidents, demonstrates compliance to regulators and clients, and builds a safer work environment.

You might also be interested in

CITB Short Qualification Grant – Find out how you can claim funding support for approved short qualifications to reduce training costs.

Statement – Clarification on course duration for the Level 2 Award in Asbestos Awareness – Clear guidance on course delivery timescales, funding, and why this regulated qualification stands above CPD alternatives.

ARCA AMI Skills Card – Industry-recognised card for asbestos professionals, proving competence and access to asbestos removal sites.

ACAD Skills Card – The official asbestos card from ACAD, supporting competence recognition and site access for asbestos workers.

Is Asbestos Awareness Training Enough For Your Workforce