Asbestos: When Should You Worry?

25 Aug 2026

When you discover asbestos in a building, it's understandable to be
worried. After all, asbestos exposure is linked to serious illnesses
including asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma.

But does simply having asbestos in your building mean that you're in danger?

Not necessarily.

The problem is when asbestos-containing materials are damaged or
disturbed and fibres are released into the air. These fibres can then
be breathed in, potentially causing serious health problems many years
later.

So, when should you actually worry about asbestos?

When Does Asbestos Become Dangerous?

Asbestos was used extensively in construction for many years because
it was strong, durable and resistant to heat and fire. It can still be
found in older buildings across Ireland, in everything from roofing
materials and insulation to floor coverings, ceilings and pipe
lagging.

If asbestos-containing materials are in good condition and left
undisturbed, they may not present an immediate risk.

The problems start when someone begins working on them.

Drilling, cutting, sanding, breaking or removing asbestos-containing
materials can release fibres into the air. This is why construction,
maintenance, renovation and demolition work can all create a risk of
asbestos exposure.

And the worrying thing is that you may not even realise you're
disturbing asbestos until you've already started the work.

What Should You Do If You Suspect Asbestos?

If you think you have found asbestos, STOP.

Don't drill into it, cut it, sand it or try to remove it yourself. You
can't always tell whether a material contains asbestos just by looking
at it, and disturbing it could release fibres into the air.

If you're unsure, get professional advice.

An asbestos survey can identify materials that may contain asbestos
and assess their condition. If you're planning refurbishment or
demolition work, this should be done before the work starts.

It's much better to find out that asbestos is present before the
contractors arrive than to discover it halfway through a project,
after materials have already been disturbed.

 Why Is Asbestos Still a Concern?

One of the reasons asbestos remains such a serious problem is that the
effects of exposure don't necessarily appear straight away.

Someone can be exposed to asbestos fibres and feel perfectly healthy
for many years. Asbestos-related diseases can take decades to develop,
which means that exposure that happened many years ago can still have
consequences later in life.

This is why preventing exposure in the first place is so important.

It's also worth remembering that removing asbestos isn't always the
best option. If asbestos-containing material is in good condition and
isn't going to be disturbed, it can sometimes be safer to leave it in
place and manage it properly.

However, if it is damaged, deteriorating or needs to be disturbed
because of building work, it needs to be dealt with safely by
competent professionals.

 Don't Take Chances With Asbestos

Asbestos may have been banned from use in Ireland many years ago, but
it hasn't disappeared. It's still sitting inside older homes, offices,
factories, schools and other buildings across the country.

If you're planning renovation, maintenance or demolition work, don't
assume that asbestos isn't there simply because you can't see it.

If you suspect asbestos may be present, STOP before carrying out
any work that could disturb it and get professional advice.

At OHSS, we've been protecting Irish businesses against the dangers of
asbestos since 2001. If you need an asbestos survey, risk assessment,
air monitoring or advice on asbestos removal, call us today on (01)
6905907 or visit www.ohss.ie to find out
more about our services.

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