New Asbestos Guidelines in Ireland: What Employers Need to Know About Health Surveillance

New Asbestos Guidelines in Ireland: What Employers Need to Know About Occupational Health Surveillance

Asbestos remains a significant workplace health risk in Ireland, particularly in older buildings and during refurbishment, demolition, and maintenance work. New asbestos regulations and updated guidance have increased employers' responsibilities to assess exposure risks, control hazardous work, and ensure appropriate occupational health surveillance is in place for affected workers.

Why asbestos is still a major issue

Although asbestos use has long been restricted, asbestos-containing materials are still present in many Irish workplaces, especially in buildings constructed before modern bans and controls took effect. When these materials are disturbed, fibres can become airborne and create serious long-term health risks, including asbestosis, mesothelioma, and asbestos-related lung cancer.

For employers, the risk is not limited to demolition contractors. Maintenance teams, electricians, plumbers, facilities staff, construction workers, utilities personnel, and contractors working in older buildings may all face potential exposure if asbestos-containing materials are not properly identified and managed.

What has changed in Ireland

The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Exposure to Asbestos) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 introduced stronger legal protections for workers and aligned Irish law with updated EU requirements.[cite:12][cite:15] The Health and Safety Authority has also published a 2025 Code of Practice to support employers in meeting these obligations in practice.[cite:6][cite:9]

The main changes include:

·       A lower occupational exposure limit for asbestos fibres, reducing the maximum allowable level in workplace air to 0.01 fibres/cm³ from 21 December 2025.

·       Greater emphasis on identifying asbestos before work begins, particularly where buildings, plant, or materials may contain asbestos-containing materials.

·       Stronger requirements around training, exposure prevention, and safe systems of work for employees who may encounter asbestos.

·       A broader requirement for health surveillance of workers exposed to asbestos dust, reflecting the removal of earlier low-intensity or sporadic exposure exemptions.

These changes mean many organisations now need to review their asbestos management plans, contractor controls, training records, and occupational health surveillance arrangements.

What occupational health surveillance means

Occupational health surveillance is a structured process used to detect early signs of work-related ill health and to assess whether existing workplace controls are effective. In the case of asbestos, health surveillance is intended to monitor workers who may have inhaled asbestos fibres and to support early clinical follow-up where concerns arise.

Under current Irish requirements, employers must arrange health surveillance for employees who are, or may be, exposed to asbestos dust during their work. The surveillance must be carried out by a doctor with appropriate knowledge of asbestos risks and the employee's exposure conditions, and it should begin before exposure starts where relevant and continue at suitable intervals afterwards.

What asbestos health surveillance includes

The HSA states that asbestos health surveillance should include a review of the worker's medical and occupational history, a personal interview, and a clinical examination with attention to the chest and respiratory system. Lung function testing, including respiratory flow volumes and rates, is also part of the minimum medical assessment.

Where clinically indicated, further investigations may be advised, including imaging such as chest radiography or CT scanning.[ The exact content and frequency of surveillance should be informed by the worker's role, exposure history, and the professional judgement of the responsible occupational health practitioner.

Why surveillance matters for employers

Health surveillance is not a substitute for asbestos control measures, but it is a vital part of a compliant occupational health programme. It helps employers demonstrate that they are managing foreseeable health risks responsibly while also providing workers with access to specialist medical oversight where exposure may have occurred.

It also strengthens organisational governance. Employers may need to maintain appropriate records of exposure and medical surveillance because asbestos-related disease can develop many years after exposure. Good surveillance systems can support legal compliance, improve audit readiness, and help organisations respond appropriately if an employee develops symptoms or if historic exposure concerns are identified.

Which employers should act now

Any employer whose staff may disturb asbestos-containing materials should review their arrangements now. This is particularly relevant for organisations in construction, demolition, facilities management, property maintenance, housing, education, healthcare estates, local authorities, manufacturing, and utilities.

Even where asbestos work is outsourced, client organisations still need confidence that contractors are working under appropriate asbestos management controls and that relevant health surveillance obligations are being met. The risk is often highest where older buildings are being refurbished or repaired without up-to-date surveys, clear asbestos registers, or effective permit-to-work controls.

How Precision Health can help

Precision Health supports employers with practical, compliant occupational health surveillance programmes tailored to workplace risk. In relation to asbestos, this can include baseline assessments, periodic medical reviews, respiratory health checks, lung function testing, clinical reporting, and support with surveillance records and programme design.

A well-designed surveillance programme should fit the real exposure profile of the workforce and integrate with wider occupational health, respiratory surveillance, and fitness-for-work processes.[cite:13] For employers, the goal is not just to meet a legal requirement, but to create a defensible and clinically robust approach to worker protection.

Final thought

The latest asbestos rules in Ireland are a clear signal that employers need to take asbestos exposure seriously, even in work that may previously have been considered low intensity or occasional.[cite:1][cite:12][cite:15] Reviewing asbestos risk controls alongside occupational health surveillance is now an essential step for organisations that want to protect workers, stay compliant, and reduce long-term liability.