Non-Licensed Asbestos Medicals (NNLW)
Medical surveillance for workers carrying out notifiable non-licensed work with asbestos, required at least every three years and available from a wider range of registered doctors.
Understanding notifiable non-licensed work
Not all non-licensed asbestos work is the same. A defined subset, notifiable non-licensed work, or NNLW, carries extra duties, including medical surveillance, notification to the enforcing authority and health-record keeping.
Whether a task is NNLW depends on the type of asbestos material, its condition and the nature and duration of the work. Where work qualifies as NNLW, the employer must ensure workers are under medical surveillance under regulation 22 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. This is separate from, and less intensive than, the surveillance required for licensable work, but it is still a legal duty. We arrange NNLW medicals across the UK as part of our wider asbestos medical services.
Where NNLW sits among the categories of asbestos work
The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 recognise three broad categories of work. NNLW is the middle category.
| Category | Examples | Medical surveillance |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed work | Most sprayed coatings, pipe lagging and much AIB removal | Required at least every 2 years by an HSE-appointed doctor |
| Notifiable non-licensed (NNLW) | A defined subset of non-licensed work that must be notified | Required at least every 3 years |
| Non-notifiable non-licensed | Lower-risk work in good-condition materials | No additional statutory medical surveillance duty |
Workers who may need an NNLW medical
Because NNLW is defined by the work activity, the same trade may need a medical for some jobs and not others. Typical examples of workers who may carry out NNLW include:
- Maintenance workers disturbing asbestos-containing materials during qualifying tasks
- Construction and refurbishment workers carrying out notifiable non-licensed tasks
- Workers removing asbestos cement products where the work qualifies as NNLW
- Self-employed tradespeople carrying out qualifying work
A job title is not enough
Whether a worker needs an NNLW medical depends on the specific task, the material and its condition, not on their trade alone. If in doubt, check the work against HSE guidance before booking.
- Applies to
- Workers carrying out notifiable non-licensed work
- Interval
- Routine examination at least every 3 years
- Carried out by
- A relevant doctor (a registered doctor with a licence to practise, or an HSE-appointed doctor)
What an NNLW medical involves
The NNLW examination is similar in nature to the licensed-work medical: it is a focused occupational health appointment centred on respiratory health. According to HSE, it consists of a chest examination and a test to check lung performance, alongside a review of history and a respiratory questionnaire.
- Review of medical and occupational history
- Respiratory symptom questionnaire
- Lung function (breathing) test
- A specific examination of the chest
- Certificate of medical examination issued
Who can carry it out
Unlike licensed-work medicals, NNLW medicals can be carried out by a wider group of registered doctors, not only HSE-appointed doctors, provided they are suitably registered and hold a licence to practise.
How often is an NNLW medical required?
For notifiable non-licensed work, routine examinations are required at least every 3 years. A worker should have an initial examination when they begin NNLW (within the period allowed by the regulations), followed by regular examinations while the work continues.
A licensed-work medical is accepted as valid for NNLW. However, an NNLW medical is not accepted for licensable work, so workers who move into licensable work need the licensed-work medical.
- Routine interval
- at least every 3 years
- Initial examination
- When NNLW begins
- Cross-acceptance
- A licensed medical covers NNLW, but not vice versa
- Records
- Health record 40 years; certificate 4 years
NNLW medical FAQs
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.
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.
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.
A self-employed person who carries out licensable or notifiable non-licensed asbestos work is subject to the same medical surveillance requirements as an employee doing that work, and is responsible for arranging their own examination.
The difference follows the type of work. Licensable work requires a medical at least every 2 years by an HSE-appointed doctor. Notifiable non-licensed work (NNLW) requires a medical at least every 3 years, which a wider group of registered doctors can perform. A licensed-work medical is accepted for non-licensed work, but not the other way around.
Related services
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. Whether a task counts as notifiable non-licensed work depends on the material and the work; check against HSE guidance. Confirm your specific duties with a qualified occupational health professional or by consulting HSE guidance.