22nd December 2025
Alan Dillon, Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment with special responsibility for Small Business, Retail and Employment, has signed into law the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Exposure to Asbestos) (Amendment) Regulations 2025. These Regulations will give legal effect to the most recent updates to the EU’s Asbestos at Work Directive, which aims to protect workers from dangerous exposure to asbestos during the course of their work. Portions of the Directive will be transposed through a Code of Practice published by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) with the consent of the Minister.
The primary objective of these Regulations, which will come into effect on 21 December 2025, is to strengthen protections for any workers who may be exposed to asbestos at work. Inhaling asbestos fibres can lead to asbestos-related diseases such as cancers of the chest and lungs, which develop over a number of years. In 2019, over 70,000 people in the EU died of illnesses related to asbestos exposure. By setting more stringent exposure limits and strengthening preventive measures, these Regulations aim to significantly reduce the risk of asbestos-related diseases among workers. The Regulations lower the maximum exposure limit value for asbestos exposure at work and update the methods for measuring asbestos.
In welcoming the Regulations, Minister Dillon said:
‘These updated Regulations are timely and in line with the Government’s objectives and commitments to renovating and retrofitting older buildings to improve energy efficiency. Working on buildings and infrastructure built prior to the 2005 EU-wide asbestos ban carries risks for the health and safety of the workers involved. These updated regulations will assist employers with their overall responsibility to ensure the safety of their employees.
I would like to extend my thanks and appreciation to the Health and Safety Authority for their cooperation on developing these regulations and for their continued work to ensure that Ireland maintains the highest standards of workplace safety.’
Minister Burke commented:
‘The updated Regulations on Exposure to Asbestos at Work will have a positive chain effect. Preventing work-related cases of cancer will not only reduce the burden and stress on families but also ease the burden on our health services. The increased safety associated with asbestos removal should also mean that companies may find it easier to recruit and retain staff, reducing the cost of recruitment and increasing the productivity of workers.’
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