Asbestos in Construction
If you were exposed to asbestos while working in construction decades ago, symptoms might be just showing up now. If this is the case for you, it’s natural to feel uncertain, worried or concerned about what this means for your health and your future. You’re not alone, and help is available.
At Hodge Jones & Allen, we support construction workers who’ve been affected by asbestos exposure and their families. Our specialist asbestos solicitors can help you understand what’s happened, explain your options and take care of the legal process – so you don’t have to face this on your own.
“The asbestos team at Hodge Jones & Allen is both experienced and very effective with a great track record of acting for claimants in relation to asbestos-related injuries.” – Legal 500, 2025
“They were extremely professional, sensitive and showed complete compassion at all times. Their work was second to none.” – Chambers UK, 2026
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0330 822 3451How was asbestos used in building construction?
Asbestos was widely used in building construction throughout much of the 20th century, particularly from the 1960s to the 1980s as fireproofing and insulation. It was incorporated into a wide range of construction materials and building components, including:
- Lagging around pipework and boilers
- Fireproofing and thermal insulation
- Insulating boards and partition walls
- Ceiling tiles
- Roofing materials
- Wall cladding
- Rainwater goods like gutters and downpipes
What risk does asbestos pose to construction workers?
Asbestos is the biggest occupational disease risk to construction workers. Exposure can lead to several serious and often fatal conditions, including:
- Mesothelioma – a cancer of the lungs, which is always fatal
- Asbestos-related lung cancer – a serious disease that’s almost always fatal
- Asbestosis – permanent scarring of the lungs, which can be severely disabling and, in some cases, fatal
- Diffuse pleural thickening – thickening of the membrane around the lungs, which can restrict breathing and cause long-term breathlessness.
One of the most challenging aspects of asbestos-related illness is that symptoms don’t appear straight away. It can take between 10 and 60+ years after exposure for symptoms to develop, meaning many people are unaware that they’ve been harmed until decades later.
Why is asbestos still a problem in the construction industry?
Asbestos remains a risk in construction because it’s still present in many older buildings. Any property built or refurbished before 2000 may contain asbestos-containing materials.
Research shows that asbestos remains widespread across the UK’s built environment. According to ResPublica’s 2019 report, Don’t Breathe In: Bridging the Asbestos Safety Gap, an estimated six million tonnes of asbestos are still present in the UK, much of it located in around 1.5 million public buildings, including schools and hospitals.
Construction work, like maintenance, repairs or demolition, can disturb asbestos that’s been in place for decades, releasing fibres into the air during everyday tasks such as drilling or stripping out materials.
Exposure can happen without anyone realising. Asbestos fibres can’t be smelled and sometimes the fibres may not be seen. However, they can settle and remain on workers themselves, their clothing and equipment or tools. Due to the nature of asbestos diseases, this means workers will be exposed without any immediate symptoms and may be unaware that they’ve even come into contact with asbestos at the time.
It is therefore important to be aware of potential asbestos materials and to take appropriate precautions.
Who is liable for asbestos exposure on construction sites?
Liability on a construction site usually rests with the person or organisation responsible for managing the building or controlling the work being carried. This could be the building owner, employer, contractor or site manager, depending on the circumstances.
Under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, those with responsibility for a site have a legal duty to protect people from the risks of asbestos exposure. This duty applies before work begins and continues throughout any maintenance, refurbishment, demolition or other construction activity.
Before work starts, the responsible party should take steps to identify whether asbestos is present as part of their risk assessment. This involves:
- Identifying and recording where asbestos is located and its condition
- Keeping this information up to date
- Making the information available to anyone carrying out work on the building.
Access to this information helps workers and employers understand the risks so appropriate controls can be put in place. Where these duties aren’t met, people working on sites may be exposed to asbestos fibres without being properly informed or protected.
Can I make a claim for asbestos exposure on a construction site?
Yes, you may be able to make a claim if you’ve developed an asbestos‑related illness after being exposed on a construction site where proper care wasn’t taken for your health and safety.
There’s usually a three-year time limit to start a claim. This time period runs from the date you were diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness, rather than from when the exposure happened, as symptoms typically appear decades after exposure.
You don’t need to work any of this out on your own. If you’d like to talk things through, our solicitors are here to listen and can explain your options in plain English, with no obligation to go ahead.
What evidence do I need to prove asbestos exposure on a construction site?
Evidence in an asbestos claim is usually built up from a combination of work history, medical information and supporting records. Our specialist asbestos solicitors will work closely with you to identify and obtain the relevant evidence needed in your particular claim, so you’re not left trying to work it all out on your own.
Key types of evidence our specialist solicitors will obtain:
- Your work history – this will include HMRC employment records, which can confirm who you worked for and when
- Insurance information about the company who exposed you to asbestos dust – even if an employer no longer exists, if relevant insurance information can be identified, a claim can be directed to those insurers instead
- Medical evidence – this will include your GP and hospital records and the obtaining of a medical report to confirm your asbestos‑related diagnosis and how it affects your daily life.
In many cases, additional evidence may also help support a claim, including:
- Witness statements – from former colleagues who worked alongside you
- Records of similar cases – involving the same construction sites or companies, which can help establish patterns of exposure.
Once this information has been gathered, specialist medical or other types of reports may be obtained to support all parts of your claim. The solicitor dealing with your claim will analyse what reports will be helpful to obtain in your individual case.
Why trust HJA after asbestos exposure while working in construction?
Trusted support when you need it most
We’re proud to be rated ‘Excellent’ on Trustpilot, with decades of experience helping people affected by industrial disease and workplace illness, including asbestos exposure on construction sites.
Our solicitors will be by your side at every stage of your claim, offering care, compassion and clear guidance, while working hard to secure the best possible outcome for you.
Regulated and accredited expertise
Hodge Jones & Allen is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, and our asbestos solicitors are members of the Law Society. You can be confident you’re working with a team that meets the highest professional standards when handling construction-related asbestos claims.
Independently recognised legal excellence
Our specialist asbestos solicitors are ranked by respected legal directories, including Chambers and Partners and The Legal 500, and are also recognised by the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) as accredited experts in asbestos claims. These independent rankings reflect our skill and experience handling complex asbestos-related cases, including claims arising from construction work.
A client‑centred approach
Every construction-related asbestos claim is different. We take the time to understand your working history, your exposure and your personal circumstances, so we can support you properly.
You’ll see from our client stories that our commitment to our clients runs through everything we do, no matter how complex the case.
From your first conversation with us, you’ll receive a bespoke, sensitive service designed to support you through what can be a very difficult time.
No win, no fee
We handle asbestos claims on a no win, no fee basis. This means there’s no financial risk to you in pursuing a claim.
Unlike some firms, we don’t deduct legal costs or expenses from your compensation in any asbestos-related claim, so you can focus on your health and your family without worrying about fees.
Why was asbestos used in construction?
Asbestos was used in construction because it was strong, fire-resistant and inexpensive, and could be adapted for many different building purposes. Because of these properties, it was seen as a practical solution for improving safety and durability in buildings.
When was asbestos banned in the construction industry?
Asbestos was fully banned in the UK in 1999, bringing an end to its use in construction.
Blue and brown asbestos were banned in 1985, followed by a ban on white asbestos in 1999. Although asbestos is no longer used in new construction, materials installed before these bans remain in many older buildings.
Can I claim asbestos compensation if the construction company I worked for no longer exists?
Yes, you may still be able to claim, even if the construction company you worked for is no longer in business. In many cases, employers were required to hold insurance, and claims can often be made against an employer’s insurer rather than the company itself.
This means that a company closing down doesn’t automatically prevent a claim. Our specialist asbestos solicitors can help trace the relevant insurance details and advise you on whether you can pursue a claim.
If you’ve developed mesothelioma and your former employer is no longer trading and no relevant insurance can be identified, our specialist lawyers will assist you in making a claim to a compensation scheme for when these specific circumstances arise.
You don’t need to work any of this out on your own – we’re here to support you and guide you through the next steps.
Can I make a claim on behalf of someone else?
Yes – in some situations, you can make a claim on behalf of someone else who’s been exposed to asbestos while working in construction and has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related condition, especially if they’re too unwell to deal with it themselves.
In those cases, someone can usually act as a ‘litigation friend’, which simply means that person is able to handle the claim on behalf of the victim, always acting in their best interests. Our solicitors can talk you through whether this applies and take care of the legal side, so you don’t have to figure it out on your own.
Can I claim on behalf of someone who's passed away?
Yes – you might be able to make a claim on behalf of a loved one who has passed away from an asbestos‑related illness after exposure on a construction site. This is usually the Executor or Administrator acting on behalf of the loved one’s Estate.
Claims can also be pursued on behalf of people who depended on the person who has passed away, whether that be financial dependency or some sort of practical dependency.
Fatal cases can be complex to navigate but our specialist solicitors have decades of experience behind them in dealing with such claims. We know this can be an incredibly difficult time, and we’re here to support you.
What is the difference between an Executor and an Administrator?
If someone leaves a Will, they will name an Executor within it. This is the trusted person they have chosen during life to deal with their Estate when they pass away.
If no Will is left, then an Administrator will be appointed to deal with the Deceased’s Estate. The law specifies an order of people who can be appointed as an Administrator.
There can be more than one Executor/Administrator appointed.
Our solicitors deal with these matters every day and will advise you who the correct person is to deal with a fatal claim.
Are there time limits to pursue an asbestos-related claim?
If you are suffering from an asbestos-related disease, you usually have three years to issue proceedings in court from the date you knew, or ought to have known, that you had an asbestos-related condition. The three years usually starts to tick from the date of diagnosis of the condition.
If a loved one has passed away, a new three-year time limit within which to issue court proceedings starts from the date of their passing, as long as the original three-year period had not expired.
In some situations, the court may allow more time where there are exceptional circumstances.
Our solicitors can talk you through what’s possible and help you understand the next steps – so you don’t have to manage this on your own.
