When your employees start work on a site where asbestos is present, you are legally required to first determine whether their tasks carry a risk of exposure. Not every task poses the same risk: a superficial inspection requires different measures than demolition or breaking work. The nature of the task therefore determines which protective measures are necessary—ranging from personal protective equipment to site containment and ventilation.

In other words, make sure you have a clear understanding in advance of who will do what, where, and with which materials. Only then can you implement appropriate measures and minimize the risk to your employees.

  • There are three types of asbestos work. The rules you must follow depend on exactly what your employees will be doing:

    • Sporadic tasks: small, short interventions with no risk of fiber release.

    • Simple tasks: work with a slight chance of exposure, such as removing certain applications.

    • Removal by a certified company: high-risk work that requires official certification.

  • This includes, for example, short maintenance of asbestos cement, encapsulating asbestos in good condition, or taking samples or air measurements. Normally, no fibers are released during this type of work.

    What should you do?

    • Apply only basic precautionary measures.

    • No reporting is required.

    • No special training is needed.

    • No additional documentation is necessary.

  • If the work involves removing asbestos in good condition, lightly damaged outdoor applications, or cleaning lightly contaminated areas, this is considered “simple tasks.” The risks are limited, but the obligations are significantly higher than for sporadic tasks.

    Before work starts:

    • You must notify the Workplace Wellbeing Inspectorate 15 days in advance and submit details via the e-loket 30bis. This notification should include the location of the site, what is being removed, the number of employees involved, and the safety measures you will take.

    During preparation:

    • Have a destructive asbestos inventory prepared and conduct a risk analysis.

    • If there are indications that exposure limits may be exceeded, you are required to create a work plan, detailing the methods, protective measures, and communication to your team.

    For your employees:

    • Ensure all involved employees have completed an 8-hour training on simple asbestos tasks. This certificate must be renewed annually.

    • Maintain a personnel register of everyone potentially exposed.

    • Send them for an annual health check with the occupational physician.

  • You must hire a certified asbestos removal company when the work involves high-risk asbestos tasks, such as:

    • Removing friable, damaged, or loose asbestos that can easily release fibers

    • Performing demolition or renovation where asbestos materials are difficult to access or handle safely

    • Large-scale removal of asbestos-cement roofs, facades, or other hazardous applications

    Certified companies have the training, equipment, and official authorization to safely remove asbestos, contain fibers, and dispose of materials according to legal requirements.

    Hiring a certified firm ensures maximum safety for workers, building occupants, and the environment, and ensures compliance with the law.

     

     

  • Stop work immediately, evacuate the area, and prevent others from entering.
    Have a certified laboratory take samples and wait for the results. Only after receiving the analysis should you take further measures or decide how to continue the work.

  • As soon as asbestos is present on a site, certain actions are legally prohibited because they pose too great a risk of fiber release.

    • Never reuse or encapsulate asbestos-containing materials. Damaging them is also forbidden—no sanding, breaking, or throwing. Even installing solar panels or a new roof over an asbestos-cement roof or facade is not allowed.

    • Do not use fast-spinning power tools on asbestos materials at any time. Drills, grinders, circular saws, high-pressure washers, or blasting equipment can release fibers and are strictly prohibited.

    • Asbestos work may never be carried out by temporary workers, young workers, student workers, or interns. Experience and proper training are required for these high-risk tasks.

  • Everyone working on a site where asbestos may be present must have access to the asbestos inventory. This applies to both your own employees and any external contractors or subcontractors.

    The purpose is clear: everyone needs to know where the risks are so they can take the proper precautions. The inventory is therefore not just a paperwork formality—it is an active tool for working safely.

  • Certainly. If you are active in the construction sector, you can rely on the support measures of Constructiv. They help you comply with your obligations, organise training courses, and provide practical, tailored advice.

    In addition, the Flemish government also offers subsidies and support measures for the removal of asbestos in commercial buildings. These include, for example, investments in vacant properties, the replacement of asbestos roofs, or remediation as part of renovation projects.