Irish Asbestos Rule Changes Now Fully in Effect

15 May 2026

At the end of 2025, the updated EU rules governing asbestos removal and disposal were fully introduced into Irish law.  Asbestos has been regulated for a long time, but these changes have a stronger focus on lowering the chance of people being exposed. 

Asbestos remains a problem for businesses in older buildings that predate the ban on the material at the end of the 1990s. Risk exists in their maintenance and renovation, but the new guidelines put more emphasis on finding problems early. 

Naturally, this raises expectations for how employers should handle compliance on a daily basis - something we explore here.

What Do the New Asbestos Regulations Say?

The overall framework of asbestos rules in Ireland will still feel familiar, but the latest updates make several important changes that employers need to know about.

In real life, these are:

• Lower exposure limits - The maximum level of exposure has been lowered because people are becoming more aware that even low levels of asbestos exposure can be bad for their health in the long run.

• Stricter rules for identifying asbestos - It's more important to find asbestos before any work starts, especially when you're renovating or tearing down a building.

• A stricter approval process - Some kinds of asbestos work now need more formal permission, moving away from notification-based methods.

• New expectations for training - Employers must make sure that everyone who works with or near asbestos has the right training for their job and that that training is up to date.

• Better checks - More workers who might be exposed now have to get ongoing medical checks.

• Better monitoring - Newer testing methods are being used to find and measure asbestos fibres more accurately.

These updates set a higher standard for how those duties are carried out in real life. As such, employers should check their current plans for managing asbestos, risk assessments, and training to make sure they still meet expectations.

The Right Asbestos Support Keeps Everyone Safe

Even small mistakes, like not getting enough training or not filling out surveys, can lead to enforcement action or an increased risk to your employees. The new rules have changed the focus, but the central goal - keeping people safe - is the same.

If you're not sure if your current approach meets these new requirements, get in touch with the OHSS team today on 01 6905907. We’ll give you the peace of mind of knowing everything is covered.

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