Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was widely used throughout the UK in the construction industry, from the 1950s until the 1980s. It was used in a vast range of building materials, including insulation, cement, roofing, flooring, and more. Although it was a popular material at the time, asbestos was eventually found to cause serious health problems, such as asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma.

Despite being banned in the UK in 1999, many buildings built before this date still contain asbestos-containing materials. This means that if you occupy, own or manage a property or building built before the year 2000, there is a chance that there might be asbestos-containing materials present.

Asbestos fibers are incredibly small, which means that they can easily become airborne, making it easy to inhale them. Once inhaled, they can cause serious health problems, including lung cancer, mesothelioma, and other respiratory illnesses.