Asbestos Medical Certificates
What the certificate of medical examination confirms, who receives it, how long it lasts and how it relates to the records an employer must keep.
The certificate of medical examination
After each asbestos medical, the examining doctor issues a certificate of medical examination. It confirms that the examination was carried out and records the date. A copy goes to both the worker and the employer.
The certificate is an administrative confirmation, it does not set out confidential clinical findings. Those remain in the doctor's medical record, separate from the certificate and from the employer's health record.
- Issued by
- The examining doctor
- Issued to
- The worker and the employer
- Confirms
- That the examination took place, and its date
- Kept for
- 4 years by the employer
What the certificate does, and does not, confirm
There are some common misunderstandings about asbestos medical certificates. Being clear on these avoids false assurance.
What it confirms
- That the required medical examination was carried out
- The date of the examination
- That the worker has had the surveillance the regulations require for their work
What it does not do
- It does not guarantee a worker is fit to work with asbestos
- It is not a diagnostic test result for asbestos-related disease
- It does not contain confidential clinical findings
A record, not a clearance
A certificate records that medical surveillance has taken place. Fitness to carry out specific work is a separate matter, managed through risk assessment, training and controls, not determined by the certificate alone.
How long are asbestos medical records kept?
Different records have different retention periods under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012:
- Certificate of medical examination, kept by the employer for 4 years.
- Health record, kept for 40 years from the date of the last entry.
- Medical record, the confidential clinical record, held by the doctor.
The long retention period for health records reflects the fact that asbestos-related conditions can take many years to develop. Workers are entitled to access their own health record.
More on surveillance & recordsCertificate FAQs
After the examination the doctor issues a certificate of medical examination confirming that the examination took place and the date it was carried out. A copy goes to both the employee and the employer. The certificate records that the medical happened; it is not a guarantee of fitness and does not contain confidential clinical findings.
The employer must keep a health record for each worker under surveillance for 40 years from the date of the last entry. The certificate of medical examination is kept for 4 years.
For licensable work, routine medical examinations are required at least every 2 years, and must be carried out by an HSE-appointed doctor (a “relevant doctor” under the regulations).
For notifiable non-licensed work, routine medical examinations are required at least every 3 years. They may be carried out by 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.
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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.