This question has been discussed in the application instructions: Government Decree on the Safety of Asbestos Work. Through the employer’s reports on tests performed at the work site, the occupational safety and health authority ensures that the employer has determined the frequency of measurements.

No. The change in the maximum allowed fibre content in breathing air in asbestos work does not affect the methods used in asbestos removal work. The removal method is always chosen based on the amount of dust that will be generated and how well it can be controlled. The fibre concentration of the work site air / worker’s exposure to asbestos fibre is determined on the basis of the eight-hour average. There are separate regulations on the removal of friable asbestos.

The training requirement/certificate of training entered into force on 21 December 2025. The training and the certificate thereof must be issued when the Decree comes into force and repeated no later than three years after the date of issue of the previous training as referred to in the Decree. The certificate of training referred to in the Decree is valid for three years. Before the Decree comes into force, training and certification under the Decree are valid for three years from the date of issue. Starting on 21 December 2025, every asbestos removal worker is required to complete the training and have the certificate issued on it. For example, if a worker has received the training required by the Decree on 12 November 2025 and has been issued with a certificate containing the information required by the Decree, the training is valid until 11 November 2028.

At the moment, there isn’t. Qualifications of the training provider in each area of the training can include the titles of AHA expert, occupational hygiene technician, engineer with expertise in the occupational safety of asbestos work, or health care professional. Each training provider’s qualifications must be recorded in the certificate. Training may be given by the employer’s representative who has sufficient qualifications for providing training on the sub-topic or by an external expert.

Asbestos fibre counting can no longer be used to ensure working order. More detailed information on this is provided in the application instructions.

Friable asbestos refer to asbestos materials that can be crumbled into dust / powder by hand. Friable asbestos include screed, pipe insulation, magnesite, and crocidolite / spray-on asbestos. Friable asbestos material does not include e.g. façade paint, tiles, heavy-duty joint mortar etc. materials which break by cracking rather than crumbling and which release minimum amounts of dust when breaking.

The proper functioning of air handling units must be checked using measurements in connection with procedures that may affect the filtration performance of the air handling unit, such as when replacing the fine mesh filter.

A test of the operation of a new air handling unit carried out by the manufacturer or retailer and in a manner referred to in the asbestos decree is valid for one year from the date of the equipment’s first use as long as the equipment is first used within 3 years of the test. When a new air handling unit is first used after it has been stored for longer than three years, the operating condition must be checked again with new measurements before the unit can be used.

The definition of and requirement for the survey are not going to change at this point. The surveys must continue to assess how much dust will be generated when handling material. The assessment will guide in the selection of the most suitable working method and also gives an indication of whether the material is friable.

No. When removing friable asbestos, workers must wear a full face respirator with a compressed air breathing apparatus. When removing friable asbestos, a compressed air apparatus must always be used, regardless of the measured fibre concentration.

When removing friable asbestos, workers must wear a full face respirator with a compressed air breathing apparatus. The decontamination process must be sufficient to prevent the spread of fibres with workers. There is no absolute requirement for providing a shower.