The short answer
Stop what you’re doing, leave the area, keep other people out and avoid spreading any dust. Don’t try to clean up debris yourself. Write down what happened. If you’re worried about your health, talk to your GP.
HSE says that many cases of inadvertent, short-term exposure will most likely have led to minimal exposure to fibres. The risk from asbestos builds with the amount breathed in and how often, which is why people who worked with it for years are most affected.
Step 1: stop and leave
- Stop drilling, sanding, breaking or sweeping straight away.
- Leave the room and close the door behind you if you can.
- Keep children, pets and other people out.
- Turn off fans or heating that blow air through the room, if you can do that without going back in.
Step 2: don’t spread the dust
- Don’t sweep or use a household vacuum cleaner on the debris. Both can put fine fibres back into the air.
- If you have dust on your clothes, take them off carefully, avoiding shaking them, and put them in a plastic bag.
- Wash your hands, face and hair.
- Don’t walk dust through the house or into a car.
HSE’s sheet EM1 sets out what workers should do after an accidental release, including damp wiping and bagging contaminated items as asbestos waste. Its advice is written for trained workers, but the principles of keeping dust down and not spreading it apply to everyone.
Step 3: find out what it was
Not every dusty board or old ceiling is asbestos. A sample analysed by an accredited laboratory will tell you. Don’t break off more material to check. Ask someone trained in sampling to do it. See our page on asbestos testing.
Step 4: get it cleaned up by competent people
Clean-up should only be done by people with the right training, equipment and protective gear. For lower-risk materials such as asbestos cement, that may be a trained non-licensed contractor. For higher-risk materials, such as pipe lagging, loose insulation, sprayed coatings or large amounts of insulating board, clean-up of these materials will usually be licensed work, done by a contractor holding an HSE licence. Waste must be wrapped, labelled and taken to a permitted site (see our waste disposal guide).
Step 5: record what happened
Make a note while it’s fresh:
- the date, time and place;
- what material was disturbed and how;
- roughly how long you were there and who else was present;
- any test results, photos and the names of contractors involved.
If it happened at work, report it to your employer so they can follow their own procedures.
Should I see a doctor?
If you’re worried, yes. HSE suggests you consult your GP and ask for a note to be made in your personal record about the possible exposure. HSE does not recommend routine X-rays after an accidental exposure.
Asbestos-related diseases develop slowly. The NHS says it can take 20 to 30 years for asbestosis symptoms to appear. There is no test that shows harm straight after an exposure. If you ever develop symptoms such as breathlessness, a persistent cough or chest pain, see your GP and mention the exposure.
Preventing a next time
If your home or workplace was built before 2000, check for asbestos before drilling or stripping out. A survey before renovation is the simplest way. If you need help now, contact us.
Quick answers
I drilled into an Artex ceiling once. Am I in danger?
A single, short exposure is generally low risk, according to HSE. If you’re worried, speak to your GP and ask for a note on your record.
Should I get a chest X-ray?
HSE doesn’t recommend routine X-rays after an accidental exposure. Your GP can advise on your own situation.
Can I vacuum up the dust?
No. A household vacuum can spread fine fibres. Leave clean-up to trained people with the right equipment.
What if it happened at work?
Stop work, leave the area, report it to your employer and make a note of the details.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. For the law itself, see the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 and HSE’s asbestos pages. Not sure what you’re dealing with? Ask us.