Asbestos Removal in Ireland: Safe Handling Matters

20 Nov 2025

Across Ireland, asbestos keeps turning up in older houses, barns, and industrial buildings. Unfortunately, most people don’t even know it’s there until renovation or demolition work starts, and by that point, it may have already harmed someone in the vicinity. 

Asbestos was popular for decades because it was tough, cheap, and fire-resistant. The problem is what happens when it’s damaged. Tiny fibres get released into the air and can cause long-term illnesses such as asbestosis and mesothelioma. 

That’s why asbestos removal in Ireland is so tightly controlled. If there’s any chance it’s present, trained and licensed contractors are the only ones allowed to handle it.

How Proper Asbestos Removal Should Work

If you suspect the material might be present in your building, the next step is to call an expert who will carry out an asbestos survey.  A qualified inspector will identify where the material is and how bad it is, after which, a workplace risk assessment sets out the safest way to manage or remove it.

When removal is needed, crews follow a strict sequence:

• The area is sealed off and put under negative pressure

• Materials are carefully stripped out using specialist gear

• Waste is double-bagged, labelled, and sent to an authorised facility

• Air tests are done before anyone goes back in

Those steps sound technical, but they’re what protect workers and the public while keeping projects compliant with Irish workplace safety law.

Keeping on the Right Side of Regulations

Exposure to Asbestos Regulations 2006 make it clear: untrained people can’t remove or transport asbestos. It’s for obvious reasons, as only qualified people have the skill needed to keep everyone safe. 

Also, building owners and employers must keep a register of known asbestos, maintain a management plan, and use licensed asbestos removal teams for any work involving the material.

Protecting Irish Businesses Against Asbestos Since 2001

OHSS helps businesses and property owners across Ireland deal with asbestos safely - something we’ve been doing since 2001. Our health and safety consultants and occupational hygiene experts can help you with everything required to keep your staff safe.

So, if you think you might have asbestos in your building, contact us on 01 690 5907 and we’ll do everything we can to help

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