Work Doctor OH
Asbestos Medical
Non-Licensed Medical
- Validity: Every 3 Years
- For workers with sporadic/low intensity exposure (e.g., maintenance).
- Includes Face-to-Face clinical exam and lung function test.
Licensed Medical
- Validity: Every 2 Years
- Mandatory for those working with high-risk asbestos.
- Must be performed by an HSE Appointed Doctor.
Service Details
What is an Asbestos Medical and Why is it Required?
An Asbestos Medical is a specialist health assessment required for anyone working with, or at risk of exposure to, asbestos. This medical examination ensures workers are fit to carry out their duties safely and monitors for early signs of any health effects caused by asbestos exposure.
Under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, employers are legally obliged to provide regular medical surveillance for employees who carry out licensed asbestos work. If it is licensable work Medicals must be performed by a HSE-appointed doctor and repeated every two years (or sooner if advised). Notifiable Non-licensed asbestos work requires medical assessments, depending on the level of exposure and risk.
Regular asbestos medicals are essential not only for legal compliance but also for detection of longer term health effects and conditions by detecting respiratory conditions early.
Asbestos exposure remains a significant occupational health risk within the UK, particularly in construction, demolition, refurbishment, utilities, and maintenance industries.
Work Doctor Occupational Health provides HSE-compliant asbestos medicals for both licensed and non-licensed asbestos work, delivered by experienced occupational health clinicians
Key Benefits
- Ensures Compliance
- Reduces Risk
- Boosts Productivity
- Provides a Safe Work Environment
Who Is This For?
- Employers & Managers
- HR Professionals
- Health and Safety Officers
- Individual Professionals
What Does the Asbestos Medical Involve?
At Work Doctor OH, our asbestos medicals are carried out by experienced, doctor-led occupational health professionals. The assessment typically includes:
- Medical & Occupational History – completion of a health questionnaire and discussion of any previous asbestos exposure or respiratory symptoms.
- BMI Check – height, weight and body mass index measurement.
- Spirometry (Lung Function Test) – a breathing test to assess lung capacity and detect early signs of disease.
- General Examination – where clinically indicated, to check overall fitness to work.
Following the medical, the employee will be issued a certificate of medical examination.
Pricing
Professional medical assessments for asbestos workers, ensuring full regulatory compliance:
Licenced Asbestos Worker Medical
Discounts available for group bookings.
Notifiable Non-Licensed Worker Medical
Discounts available for group bookings. Medical surveillance for employees undertaking NNLW asbestos work.
Book Your Specialist Medical
Work Doctor OH provides doctor-led occupational health services nationwide. To book asbestos medicals for your staff, please contact us on 02476959695 or email [email protected].
Questions
What does UK law mean by an “asbestos medical”?
Under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR 2012), an asbestos medical is part of statutory medical surveillance required for certain workers exposed to asbestos.
Regulation 22 places duties on employers to:
- Arrange medical examinations where required
- Maintain health records for affected employees
- Ensure examinations are carried out by an appropriate doctor, depending on the type of asbestos work
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What is a licensed asbestos medical?
A licensed asbestos medical is legally required for workers carrying out licensed asbestos work.
Under Regulation 22:
- Medicals must be carried out by an HSE-appointed doctor
- Workers cannot undertake licensed asbestos work without a valid medical certificate
- Medical examinations must be repeated at least every two years
- A health record must be kept for 40 years from the date of last entry
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Licensed work typically includes work on:
- Asbestos insulation
- Asbestos coating
- Asbestos insulating board (AIB), where exposure is not sporadic and low intensity
What is a non-licensed asbestos medical?
A non-licensed asbestos medical applies only to workers carrying out Notifiable Non-Licensed Work (NNLW).
Under Regulation 22:
- Medical surveillance is required for NNLW, but not for all non-licensed work
- Medicals can be carried out by:
- An HSE-appointed doctor, or
- An employment medical adviser, or
- A suitably qualified registered medical practitioner
- Medical examinations must be repeated at least every three years
- A health record must still be kept for 40 years
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What is the difference between non-licensed work and NNLW?
This distinction is critical:
- Non-licensed work that is sporadic and low intensity and meets the exemption criteria in Regulation 3(2) does NOT require medical surveillance
- Notifiable Non-Licensed Work (NNLW) does require:
- Notification to the enforcing authority
- Medical surveillance under Regulation 22
- Health record keeping
Examples of NNLW include short-duration work on asbestos insulation or AIB that is non-licensed but not exempt
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Who needs a licensed asbestos medical?
You need a licensed asbestos medical if you:
- Carry out licensed asbestos removal or repair work
- Supervise licensed asbestos work
- Are employed by a licensed asbestos contractor
Without a valid medical certificate, licensed work is prohibited.
Who needs a non-licensed (NNLW) asbestos medical?
You need a non-licensed asbestos medical if you:
- Carry out NNLW, as identified by risk assessment
- Are exposed to asbestos at levels above the exemption criteria
- Are required by your employer to undergo medical surveillance under Regulation 22
If work is non-licensed and exempt, no medical is legally required.
What tests are included?
The Regulations do not prescribe exact tests, but medical examinations typically include:
- Occupational and asbestos exposure history
- Respiratory health questionnaire
- Lung function testing (spirometry) where appropriate
- Clinical assessment by the relevant doctor
The scope is generally more detailed for licensed workers.
Can a non-licensed asbestos medical be used for licensed work?
No.
A non-licensed asbestos medical does not meet the legal requirement for licensed asbestos work. Only a medical carried out by an HSE-appointed doctor is valid for licensed work under Regulation 22.
What health records must be kept?
For both licensed work and NNLW, employers must:
- Create and maintain a health record for each employee
- Retain the record for 40 years
- Ensure records include:
- Personal details
- Dates of medical examinations
- Type of asbestos work undertaken
These records must be available for inspection by enforcing authorities
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Why is Regulation 22 so important?
Asbestos-related diseases often develop decades after exposure. Regulation 22 ensures:
- Long-term health monitoring
- Early identification of potential health effects
- Legal compliance for employers
- Protection for workers undertaking asbestos work
Failure to comply can result in enforcement action or prosecution.