TL;DR: Within demolition, asbestos remains a major respiratory risk, causing serious illnesses such as mesothelioma and lung cancer, because of this, asbestos awareness and safe working practices are built into the Certificate of Competence for Demolition Operatives (CCDO) card requirements, helping ensure operatives recognise hazards and follow the right protocols on site.

 

Asbestos is a crucial factor to be aware of for anyone working with older buildings, whether demolishing them or carrying out refurbishment and strip-out works. It is a dangerous substance that can cause life-changing and often life-ending respiratory illnesses when fibres are inhaled.

Demolition and refurbishment activities are among the higher-risk tasks for disturbing asbestos, which is why Asbestos Awareness and safe working practices are embedded within the CCDO accreditation scheme. Competent operatives must know how to avoid exposure, how to respond if asbestos is suspected, and when to stop work and escalate concerns.

In this article, we look at why asbestos is relevant in demolition, what illnesses it can cause, and how CCDO accreditation helps keep operatives, colleagues and the public safe.

 

Why asbestos is relevant in demolition?

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was widely used in building materials for insulation, fire protection and strength. It can still be found in many buildings constructed or refurbished before the year 2000, including homes, schools, hospitals and industrial premises.

In a demolition context, asbestos is particularly relevant because of:

  • Where it can be found
    • It may be present in ceiling tiles, pipe lagging, sprayed coatings, cement sheets, floor tiles and other materials. Some asbestos-containing materials are obvious; others are concealed behind finishes or within structural elements.
  • When it becomes dangerous
    • Asbestos is only a risk to health when fibres are released into the air and breathed in. This can happen when materials are cut, drilled, broken or disturbed during demolition or refurbishment work.
  • How it affects people
    • Once inhaled, asbestos fibres can lodge in the lungs and chest lining. Over time, this can lead to serious asbestos-related diseases, often many years after exposure.

Demolition operatives therefore need to understand what asbestos is, where it might be, and how to avoid disturbing it. That awareness is a key part of safe, competent demolition.

 

Illnesses that can arise from asbestos inhalation

Breathing in asbestos fibres can lead to several serious diseases, most of which develop slowly and are usually diagnosed many years after exposure. The main illnesses include:

  • Mesothelioma
    • An aggressive cancer of the lining of the lungs and chest (and sometimes abdomen) that is almost exclusively linked to asbestos exposure. It is usually fatal.
  • Asbestos-related lung cancer
    • Lung cancers where asbestos exposure is a significant contributing factor, often alongside other risks such as smoking.
  • Asbestosis
    • A scarring of lung tissue caused by heavy, prolonged exposure to asbestos fibres. It leads to breathlessness and can severely limit a person’s ability to work and carry out daily activities.
  • Pleural thickening
    • A thickening of the lining of the lungs that can cause chest pain and breathlessness.

Asbestos is classed as a category 1 human carcinogen and remains one of the biggest causes of work-related deaths in the UK. This is why asbestos management, control and awareness are central to demolition safety.

 

How the CCDO accreditation scheme supports safe working

The CCDO accreditation scheme is designed to demonstrate competence and promote safe working across the demolition industry. Asbestos awareness is a key requirement within this framework for all CCDO cards.

Key aspects include:

  • Safety through renewable cards
    • CCDO cards are time-limited and must be renewed, which helps ensure operatives’ knowledge stays current. This includes up-to-date asbestos awareness, health and safety understanding, and practical competence.
  • Asbestos Awareness requirement
    • Asbestos awareness is mandatory for every CCDO card. Operatives must hold a current, approved asbestos awareness certificate, and higher-level asbestos training is accepted where appropriate. Training from providers such as NDTG, UKATA, ACAD and ARCA is recognised within the scheme.
  • Competence & Protocol
    • Asbestos Awareness training does not licence workers to carry out licensed asbestos removal. Instead, it ensures they can:
      • Recognise suspect materials
      • Understand when and how not to disturb them
      • Know the correct protocol if asbestos is uncovered, including stopping work, isolating the area, and escalating to the appropriate duty holder or specialist

By embedding Asbestos Awareness within all CCDO cards, the industry helps ensure that operatives are not only technically capable of carrying out demolition tasks, but also equipped to recognise and respond safely to one of the most serious hazards they may encounter.

 

Asbestos remains one of the biggest health risks in demolition, particularly when working on older buildings where materials may still contain fibres that can be released if disturbed. The consequences of exposure, such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis and other diseases, are severe and often fatal.

Through competency-based training and CCDO accreditation, demolition operatives can build the awareness and skills needed to recognise asbestos risks, follow the right protocols and keep themselves and others safe on site. Ensuring your workforce holds the correct CCDO cards, backed by current asbestos awareness training, is a key part of responsible demolition practice.

 

If you want to support your team in developing this competence, speak to NDTG about CCDO training and Asbestos Awareness courses that align with industry standards and help protect operatives for the long term.

Get started today. 

 

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