I think I've been exposed to asbestos. What now?

Today — within the first few hours

1. Stop the activity. Don't keep drilling, cutting, sweeping, vacuuming.
2. Leave the room. Close the door behind you.
3. Ventilate. Open windows from outside if possible. Don't run a fan that blows dust around.
4. Remove clothing that may have fibres on it. Either wash separately on hot or bag and dispose with the eventual asbestos waste.
5. Shower and wash your hair before spending time in other parts of the property.
6. Don't vacuum or sweep with ordinary household equipment. It spreads fibres rather than capturing them. A HEPA-rated industrial vacuum used by a permit-holder is the correct tool.
7. Don't dispose of the material in a household bin — see the disposal guide.
8. Document the incident. Date, time, location, what was disturbed, for how long, what controls were (or weren't) in place, who was present. Keep this record.

This week

1. Get a survey of the disturbed material. Confirming what it is determines the next steps. See the testing guide.
2. Don't re-occupy the disturbed area until you have the survey result.
3. For significant disturbance, professional decontamination by a permit-holding contractor is appropriate. The contractor will use HEPA-filtered vacuums, wet-strip surfaces, and conduct an air clearance test before sign-off.
4. If you are anxious about the exposure, speak to your GP. Bring your incident documentation. They will assess based on your individual circumstances and decide whether any clinical action is appropriate.
5. If the exposure was at work, report it to the HSA and to your employer. Workplace exposure incidents are reportable.

Longer term

• Keep the documentation. Date, location, material, exposure duration, witnesses. Asbestos-related disease has decades of latency — the record may matter much later.
• Tell future GPs about the exposure. If you change practice or move country, mention the incident in your medical history.
• Be aware of the symptoms — see the symptoms guide — but don't self-diagnose based on internet checklists. Most people with brief exposure events do not develop disease, and the symptoms listed have many possible causes.
• Avoid further exposure. The most important thing you can do for long-term risk is not get exposed again.

Who to contact

• Your GP — for any medical concern.
• The HSA (hsa.ie) — for occupational incidents, building disturbance events, or guidance on a specific exposure scenario.
• A surveyor — to identify what the disturbed material was. We can pass your enquiry to one.
• A permit-holding contractor — for decontamination of the disturbed area, removal of the material, and clearance certification.
• A solicitor — if there is a question of liability or future compensation for a workplace incident.

Frequently asked questions

I just had an exposure. What is the most important thing to do?

Stop the activity that caused the exposure, leave the area, and ventilate it. Don't vacuum or sweep with normal household equipment — that spreads fibres. Don't go back into the area or try to clean up further. Then arrange a survey of the disturbed material before any more work happens. If you are anxious, see your GP and document the incident in writing for your records.

Should I report it to the HSA?

If the exposure happened at work — to you or to other workers, members of the public, or building occupants — yes. Workplace asbestos incidents are reportable. The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations cover dangerous occurrences. The HSA has a contact line for reporting incidents. If the exposure was domestic (a homeowner or renovator disturbing material on their own property), the HSA does not generally need a report — but they can still be contacted for guidance.

What about the children / other people in the house?

If other occupants were present during a significant disturbance event, they should follow the same advice — leave the area, change clothes, shower, and avoid the area until decontamination. Don't panic, but do treat it seriously. Their GP can be informed of the exposure for the medical record. Children's longer life expectancy means longer time for asbestos-related disease to potentially develop, which is why minimising additional exposure matters.

Will I be able to claim compensation if I get sick later?

Compensation for asbestos-related disease in Ireland depends on whether the exposure happened in the course of employment, on premises owned by an identifiable party, or as a result of a specific actionable event. Civil claims for occupational exposure can be brought under tort law, with strict time limits. Document any exposure incident now — date, location, materials, controls in place, who was responsible, witnesses — even if you have no current symptoms. The record may matter decades later. This is general information, not legal advice — consult a solicitor for a specific situation.