Asbestos management

Learn more about our commitment to asbestos management.

On this page

Asbestos at the University

The Campus Division Compliance team support the University of Bristol's duty to manage asbestos in all its owned or leased buildings. University of Bristol staff and contractors have a legal obligation to adhere to the Asbestos Policy and procedures for asbestos management.

Asbestos is a recognised Class 1 carcinogen that poses a threat to human health and the environment. It was commonly used in the UK until late 1999 in building materials and equipment for purposes such as soundproofing and thermal insulation. Asbestos does not pose a risk when it is in good condition and remains undisturbed. The health hazard arises when asbestos fibres are released and inhaled.

The age and listed heritage of our estate means that the University has asbestos in some properties. We therefore have a duty to manage the associated risks. To address this, the University has a Campus Division Asbestos Policy. Implementing this policy ensures that the University meets its legal obligations and protects staff, students, contractors, and visitors from exposure to airborne asbestos fibres.

Suspected asbestos disturbance - what to do in an emergency

If you suspect that asbestos has been disturbed, contact our Compliance team or Security Services:

  • Monday to Friday, from 7 am to 7 pm (excluding bank holidays and University closure days), call the Help Desk on 0117 928 9898. Alternatively, email the Compliance Team at grp-complianceasbestos@groups.bristol.ac.uk.
  • During times outside of the above working hours, call Security Services on 0117 3311223.

Read our emergency procedures for more information and what to do.

Information for staff and students

We have procedures in place to identify, monitor, and control asbestos risks within our buildings. These measures help to ensure everyone's safety.

To keep yourself and others safe:

  • Do not cause any damage or disturbance to the fabric of the building. This includes drilling holes, lifting or damaging ceiling tiles.
  • Immediately report any damage that might have occurred to the building fabric. This will ensure it is checked for asbestos.

Staff

There is further information for staff on our Asbestos SharePoint site. Here you will find:

Asbestos Management Plan

The Asbestos Management Plan (PDF, 1,039kB) provides a practical and detailed framework to support the University to manage asbestos risk. It's in place to ensure the safety of staff, students, contractors and visitors.

The plan sets out:

  • the division of responsibilities
  • the procedures which are needed for assessing, remediating, removing and disposing of Asbestos Containing Materials (ACMs)
  • emergency procedures
  • training requirements
  • how we monitor and review the plan itself
  • how asbestos will be governed and reported on.

If you would like to view the document in another format, email campus-division-safety@bristol.ac.uk.

Frequently asked questions

Visit our frequently asked questions page to learn more about asbestos and how it's managed at the University.

Emergencies

Immediate steps

If you suspect asbestos has been disturbed, you should stop work immediately. Evacuate the area and isolate potentially contaminated persons.

Report the emergency

You should report the emergency to:

Monday to Friday, 7 am to 7 pm (excluding bank holidays and University closure days)

Contact the Help Desk on 0117 928 9898. They will pass the information to the Compliance team. Alternatively, you can email the Compliance team directly at grp-complianceasbestos@groups.bristol.ac.uk. You should also email our Health, Safety and Quality Assurance team at campus-division-safety@bristol.ac.uk.

Outside of hours

During times outside of the above working hours, call Security Services on 0117 331 1223.

Emergency procedure

View our Asbestos Emergency Procedure (PDF, 474kB) to learn what else you should do. If you would like to view the document in another format, email campus-division-safety@bristol.ac.uk.

What happens next

In the event of a suspected ACM disturbance, the Asbestos Compliance Officer will arrange for an Asbestos Surveyor to attend the site. The surveyor will conduct a risk assessment and arrange material and/or air testing as required. The Asbestos Surveyor will liaise with the Compliance Officer to prevent further contamination, advise on next steps and update the incident register.

Even if it emerges that no asbestos has been disturbed, it should be recorded as a near miss. This provides us with vital information. Ensuring that near misses are reported help to prevent future incidents and improve our systems and procedures.

Incidents and general enquiries

If you have found an ACM but have not disturbed it, or if you have a question about asbestos, you should contact:

Monday to Friday, 7 am to 7 pm (excluding bank holidays and University closure days)

  • Contractors: report to your University of Bristol Point of Contact
  • Campus Division staff: contact our Help Desk via telephone on 0117 928 9898 or Compliance Team via email at grp-complianceasbestos@groups.bristol.ac.uk
  • All other University staff: report to your building Facilities Manager
  • Students: report to your building Facilities Manager or Residential Facilities Coordinator.

Outside of hours

During times outside of the above working hours, call Security Services on 0117 331 1223.