Asbestos is a group of six natural minerals made up of long, thin fibres, which were widely used in the construction industry in the UK for many years, up to the late 1990s. Due to its heat-resistant properties and low cost, asbestos was used in many industrial applications, including insulation materials, electrical wiring, roofing, adhesives, and flooring.

While asbestos was widely used due to its excellent insulation and resistance properties, it was discovered that exposure to asbestos could lead to asbestos-related diseases, such as lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis. These diseases are often fatal, and there is no known cure for them. Asbestos exposure can occur via inhalation, ingestion or skin contact, which means that anyone exposed to asbestos fibres may develop these diseases.