Complete ban on all forms of asbestos (including chrysotile) under the Asbestos (Prohibitions) (Amendment) Regulations 1999, effective 24 November 1999 — five years ahead of the EU-wide ban. Currently governed by the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR 2012), which establishes a criminal 'duty to manage' asbestos in non-domestic premises.
Nellie Kershaw, textile worker at Turner Brothers Asbestos in Rochdale, dies of pulmonary asbestosis — first documented asbestos death in the UK. Dr. W.E. Cooke publishes the case in the BMJ in 1927, coining the term 'pulmonary asbestosis'
↗ SourceAsbestos Industry Regulations 1931 (SI 1931/1140) — first asbestos-specific regulations. Required exhaust ventilation in factories and prohibited employment of young people in asbestos manufacturing
↗ SourceThe Asbestos Regulations 1969 (SI 1969/690) expand protections beyond asbestos factories to all factories, building sites, and engineering construction. Introduced first quantitative exposure limits
↗ SourceNancy Tait founds the Society for the Prevention of Asbestos and Industrial Diseases (SPAID) — the world's first asbestos victims' pressure group, after her husband died of mesothelioma in 1968
↗ SourceAsbestos (Prohibitions) Regulations 1985 ban import and use of blue asbestos (crocidolite) and brown asbestos (amosite). White asbestos (chrysotile) — 95% of use — remains legal
↗ SourceControl of Asbestos at Work Regulations 1987 (SI 1987/2115) introduce statutory control procedures for worker exposure, protective clothing requirements, and workplace designation as 'asbestos areas'
↗ SourceJune Hancock wins landmark case against J.W. Roberts Ltd (Turner & Newall) — first UK case establishing environmental exposure liability for a mesothelioma victim who never worked with asbestos
↗ SourceAsbestos (Prohibitions) (Amendment) Regulations 1999 (SI 1999/2373) — total ban on all forms of asbestos including chrysotile, effective 24 November 1999. Five years ahead of the EU-wide ban
↗ SourceControl of Asbestos Regulations 2006 (SI 2006/2739) consolidate previous regulations. Increased emphasis on training for all workers who may encounter asbestos
↗ SourceControl of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (SI 2012/632) — current primary regulation. Establishes criminal 'duty to manage' asbestos in non-domestic premises. Non-compliance: unlimited fine and/or 2 years imprisonment
↗ SourceHSE concludes public consultation (January 9, 2026) on proposed changes to CAR 2012, focusing on improving survey quality and surveyor competence
↗ SourceThe people who fought for change.
First recognized asbestos death in the UK
A textile worker at Turner Brothers Asbestos in Rochdale, her death at age 33 became the first documented case of asbestos-caused death. Dr. W.E. Cooke published her case in the BMJ in 1927, coining the term 'pulmonary asbestosis' — though Turner & Newall denied all responsibility.
↗ SourceFounded SPAID, the world's first asbestos victims' group
After her husband died of mesothelioma in 1968, she published 'Asbestos Kills' in 1976 — a pioneering booklet documenting the hazards of all asbestos types. In 1978 she founded the Society for the Prevention of Asbestos and Industrial Diseases (SPAID), the world's first asbestos victims' pressure group.
↗ SourceWon landmark environmental exposure case
A resident of Armley, Leeds who never worked with asbestos, she won the first UK case establishing environmental exposure liability for mesothelioma in 1995 — awarded £115,000 in damages against Cape plc. The June Hancock Mesothelioma Research Fund, created in her name, has raised over £1.5 million for research.
↗ SourceFounder and coordinator of IBAS
Founded the International Ban Asbestos Secretariat (IBAS) in 1999, building the world's most comprehensive database of asbestos ban chronology and country regulations. Over 25 years of research and advocacy, she helped launch ban networks across Asia and coordinates the global asbestos ban movement.
↗ SourceContext and sources behind the numbers
All forms of asbestos have been banned since 1999. Buildings constructed before this date may still contain asbestos materials.
35.4 cases per million people per year. Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer caused almost exclusively by asbestos exposure, with a latency period of 20–50 years.
This is among the highest rates globally, reflecting decades of heavy industrial asbestos use.
Source year: 2023
Estimated scope of asbestos-containing materials still present in the built environment.
The period when asbestos was most heavily used in construction. Buildings from this era have the highest probability of containing asbestos materials.
Common materials still present in buildings
1950–1985
1930–1980
1930–2000
1920–1980
1950–1980
1920–2000
1940–1980
Enter your building's age and type for a personalized asbestos risk assessment.
Check My Property's RiskLast updated: 2026-03-21
Information aggregated from public sources including IBAS, EPA, and WHO. Not legal or medical advice.
How we source our data →