Licensed Asbestos Medicals
Statutory medical surveillance for workers carrying out licensable asbestos work, conducted by an HSE-appointed doctor.
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UK Occupational Health Specialists
Asbestos medicals for UK employers and workers
Asbestos Medicals helps employers, contractors and workers understand and arrange the medical examinations required for different types of asbestos work, from licensed asbestos medicals to notifiable non-licensed (NNLW) surveillance.
Aligned with the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012
Clear licensed & non-licensed guidance
Straightforward booking enquiries
Statutory medical surveillance
What is an asbestos medical, and who is it for?
Some work with asbestos comes with a legal duty to keep workers under medical surveillance. Which surveillance applies, and how often it is needed, depends on the type of work being done rather than on a job title.
That is where we come in. Whether you are an employer booking in a team, a contractor keeping a workforce in date, or a worker sorting out your own medical, we will help you find the right asbestos medical service and arrange it with as little disruption as possible, wherever you are in the UK.
See who needs an asbestos medical- Licensed asbestos work, surveillance at least every 2 years, by an HSE-appointed doctor.
- Notifiable non-licensed work (NNLW), surveillance at least every 3 years.
- Respiratory focus, history, a lung function test and a specific chest examination.
- Clear documentation, a certificate of medical examination for employee and employer.
What we help with
Asbestos medical services
Focused occupational health services for asbestos work. Each links to a detailed page explaining who it is for, the regulations that apply and how to arrange it.
Non-Licensed Asbestos Medicals (NNLW)
Medical surveillance for workers undertaking notifiable non-licensed work with asbestos (NNLW).
Learn moreAsbestos Medical Surveillance
Understand the medical surveillance duties that apply to employers and the self-employed under UK asbestos regulations.
Learn moreCorporate & Employer Asbestos Medicals
Group booking enquiries and workforce medical surveillance planning for employers and asbestos contractors.
Learn moreAsbestos Medical Certificates
What the certificate of medical examination confirms, who receives it and how long records are kept.
Learn more
Know the difference
Licensed or non-licensed: which medical do you need?
The category of asbestos work decides which medical applies, how often it is needed and which doctor can carry it out. Here is the difference at a glance.
Licensed Asbestos Medical
- Who it is for
- Workers carrying out licensable asbestos work (e.g. most removal of sprayed coatings, pipe lagging and much asbestos insulating board work).
- Examination interval
- Routine examination at least every 2 years.
- Who can carry it out
- An HSE-appointed doctor (a “relevant doctor” under the regulations).
- Legal basis
- Medical surveillance under regulation 22 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012.
Non-Licensed (NNLW) Medical
- Who it is for
- Workers undertaking notifiable non-licensed work (NNLW), a defined subset of non-licensed work that must be notified to the enforcing authority.
- Examination interval
- Routine examination at least every 3 years.
- Who can carry it out
- A relevant doctor, which, for non-licensed work, can be a suitably registered medical practitioner holding a licence to practise, as well as an HSE-appointed doctor.
- Legal basis
- Medical surveillance under regulation 22 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012.
Who needs a medical?
Who needs an asbestos medical?
Medical surveillance applies to people whose work falls into specific categories under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. It is the task that counts, not the trade, so the same worker may need a medical for one job and not for another.
- Licensed asbestos removal operatives
- Workers carrying out notifiable non-licensed work (NNLW)
- Demolition and refurbishment workers disturbing asbestos
- Maintenance workers whose tasks qualify as NNLW
- Self-employed tradespeople doing qualifying work
At your appointment
What happens during an asbestos medical?
It is a short, focused appointment centred on your breathing. The regulations require an examination of the chest, while any further tests or X-rays are only arranged if the examining doctor sees a clinical reason for them.
A chest X-ray is not routine
HSE does not advocate routine X-rays for medical surveillance. An X-ray is arranged only where there is a clinical reason to do so.
Medical & occupational history
A review of your health, work history and any previous asbestos exposure.
Respiratory questionnaire
A short questionnaire about breathing and respiratory symptoms.
Lung function test
A breathing test to check how well your lungs are working.
Chest examination
A specific examination of the chest, as required by the regulations.
Certificate of medical examination
Documentation confirming the examination took place, issued to you and your employer.
Why Asbestos Medicals
Why choose a specialist for your asbestos medicals?
We focus on asbestos medicals and medical surveillance, and build the whole process around the way employers and workers actually arrange them.
Specialist focus
A service built around asbestos medicals and medical surveillance, not a general clinic add-on.
The right medical, first time
Clear guidance on licensed versus non-licensed work so you book the examination the regulations actually require.
Employer support
Help planning workforce surveillance, group bookings and renewal dates around your work schedule.
Plain-English information
Accurate, jargon-free explanations of the rules, the appointment and the paperwork.
Straightforward enquiries
A simple enquiry and booking process, with a clear quotation rather than hidden fees.
Grounded in HSE guidance
Content and process aligned with the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 and current HSE guidance.
For employers & contractors
How do employers arrange medicals for a workforce?
If you employ or engage people who work with asbestos, the duty to arrange their medical surveillance usually falls to you. We help employers and asbestos contractors plan and book examinations for individuals and whole teams, and keep track of when each one is due.
- Group booking enquiries for multiple workers
- Workforce medical surveillance planning
- Individual and multiple-worker appointments
- A single point of contact for your bookings
Transparent by design
What does an asbestos medical cost?
There is no single set price, because the cost depends on a few practical things. We give you a clear quote on enquiry, so you know exactly what is included before you commit.
Type of medical
Licensed or non-licensed (NNLW) surveillance, and any additional assessments requested.
Number of workers
Individual appointments or group bookings, which are usually priced per person.
Location & delivery
Where the examination takes place and whether it is arranged on-site or at a clinic.
Scheduling
One-off examinations or a planned surveillance programme across renewal dates.
Common questions
Your asbestos medical questions, answered
Straight answers to the questions employers and workers ask us most. If you want more detail, our full FAQ and knowledge centre go further.
See all FAQsAn asbestos medical is an occupational health examination required for certain workers under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. It focuses on respiratory health and includes a specific examination of the chest. It is a form of medical surveillance, a way of monitoring the health of people who work with asbestos, rather than a diagnostic test for asbestos-related disease.
Medical surveillance applies to employees who carry out licensable asbestos work and to those undertaking notifiable non-licensed work (NNLW). It is the nature of the work activity, not a person's job title, that determines whether a statutory medical is required.
Where a worker carries out licensable or notifiable non-licensed asbestos work, the employer has a duty under regulation 22 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 to ensure they are under adequate medical surveillance. Lower-risk non-notifiable work does not carry the same statutory medical surveillance duty.
A typical examination includes a review of medical and occupational history, a respiratory questionnaire, a lung function (breathing) test and a specific examination of the chest. The regulations require a chest examination; any additional laboratory tests or X-rays are carried out only where the examining doctor considers them necessary.
Medicals for licensable work must be carried out by an HSE-appointed doctor. Medicals for notifiable non-licensed work can be carried out by a relevant doctor, a suitably registered medical practitioner with a licence to practise, as well as by an HSE-appointed doctor.
The cost depends on the type of examination, whether it is arranged individually or as a group, and where it takes place. We provide a clear quotation on enquiry rather than publishing a single fixed price, so you know exactly what is included.
Knowledge centre
Guides to help you understand asbestos medicals
Clear, practical guides for employers and workers, covering the questions that come up most often.
Need to arrange an asbestos medical?
Tell us the type of work and how many people need examining. We will help you arrange the right medical surveillance and send a clear quotation.
Important: This page is general guidance about occupational asbestos medicals in the UK and is not medical or legal advice. It does not diagnose or treat any condition. Confirm your specific duties with a qualified occupational health professional or by consulting HSE guidance.