New Asbestos Regulations
As published in the January/February 2026 edition of the Health & Safety Review magazine, the amended Asbestos Regulations 2025 (S.I. No. 632 of 2025) will impact greatly upon the Irish construction industry. The Occupational Exposure Limit Value (OELV) has been reduced ten-fold to 0.01 fibres/cm3, with exposure reduced to ‘as low as technically possible’. Employers, property owners, contractors and designers must identify asbestos before any work activities and complete an exposure risk assessment. Enhanced training requirements apply for all persons working with asbestos-containing materials. The enslosed extract from the Health & Safety Review magazine outlines the challenges arising from industry as a result of the changes. Also accessible here: https://cif.ie/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/HSR26-New-Asbestos-Regs-Spark-Strong-Reaction.pdf