Asbestos Awareness Training Online (Category A) - CPD Certified

Asbestos awareness training is designed to help workers recognise where asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) are likely to be found, understand the serious health risks associated with asbestos exposure, and know what to do if they suspect asbestos is present or have accidentally disturbed it. It does not train workers to remove or work with asbestos — it is awareness-only training aimed at preventing accidental disturbance in the first place.

Yes. Regulation 10 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 places a legal duty on employers to provide adequate information, instruction, and training to any employee who may be exposed to asbestos, or who supervises such employees. This applies to a wide range of workers — not just those in the construction industry. If your employees work in any building constructed or refurbished before 2000, this training is a legal requirement.

Category A refers to asbestos awareness training — the entry-level tier under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. It is intended for workers who may accidentally come into contact with asbestos during their normal activities but who are not expected to work directly with it. This includes tradespeople such as electricians, plumbers, and joiners, as well as facilities staff, maintenance workers, and anyone regularly working in older buildings. This course meets the Category A standard.

Yes. The course covers all the subject areas outlined in the HSE's guidance on asbestos awareness training, including the properties of asbestos, where it is found, the health risks it presents, how to recognise ACMs, relevant legislation, and what action to take if asbestos is found or disturbed. Employers are required to ensure training is "adequate and appropriate" for the role — this course is designed to meet that standard for Category A workers.

No. There is no legal requirement for asbestos awareness training to be delivered by a UKATA (UK Asbestos Training Association) or IATP-accredited provider. The law requires that training is adequate and appropriate — it does not specify which organisation must approve it. UKATA accreditation is a quality mark that some clients and principal contractors choose to mandate on specific sites or contracts, but this is a commercial requirement rather than a legal one. For the vast majority of employers and employees, a well-structured course that covers the correct content and provides evidence of completion is fully sufficient.

For most workplaces, yes. CPD accreditation confirms that the course has been independently reviewed and meets recognised standards for structured learning. Combined with a completion certificate and training records, this provides credible, documented evidence that your legal training obligation has been met. If the adequacy of training were ever questioned — by an HSE inspector, an insurer, or following an incident — your defence rests on the content covered and the records you hold, not on which body accredited the course. This course covers all the subject matter required for Category A asbestos awareness training.

Anyone who works in a building built or refurbished before 2000 and whose work could disturb the fabric of the building should complete this course. This includes — but is not limited to — electricians, plumbers, gas engineers, plasterers, joiners, decorators, HVAC engineers, facilities managers, caretakers, housing maintenance staff, and school or public sector workers. If in doubt, it is better to train than not to — the consequences of accidental asbestos exposure are severe and irreversible.

Yes. The course is delivered entirely online. There are no scheduled sessions to book — you can start immediately after purchase and complete the training at a time and pace that suits you. This makes it ideal for inducting new starters quickly or rolling out refresher training across a team without disrupting operations.

The course takes approximately 30 minutes to complete. There are no time restrictions — you can pause and return to the course at any point, making it straightforward to fit around a busy working day.

Yes. Upon successfully passing the final assessment, you will receive an instant digital Asbestos Awareness Certificate confirming CPD accreditation. This can be downloaded, printed, or stored electronically as part of your training records. Employers purchasing for teams can track completions through the online platform.

The certificate itself does not have a fixed expiry date, but the HSE recommends that asbestos awareness training is refreshed annually. This is because workers need to maintain up-to-date knowledge, and regular refresher training also demonstrates ongoing compliance. Many employers, insurers, and contractors expect to see training completed within the last 12 months. At £14 per learner, annual refresher training is a straightforward and cost-effective way to stay compliant.