"I was 61 when they told me I had 3 months to live” a teacher's warning about asbestos.
On 1 July 2026, the HSE released a powerful new video as part of its Work Right campaign.
Rather than focusing on legislation or enforcement, the campaign tells the story of Martin, a former carpentry teacher who unknowingly worked around asbestos throughout his career. At the age of 61 he was diagnosed with mesothelioma and given just three to four months to live.
His message is simple: he never knew the buildings contained asbestos.
That sentence alone explains why the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 still matter today. The legal duty isn't there to create paperwork, it exists because people continue to be exposed to asbestos decades after its use was banned.
Video: "I was 61 when they told me I had 3 months to live” - a teachers warning about asbestos, HSE.
For hotels, the question isn't whether asbestos is dangerous. The question is whether everyone who could disturb the building knows where asbestos is before work begins.
Every maintenance contractor, electrician, plumber, joiner or fire alarm engineer should be able to access accurate asbestos information before starting work. That's a fundamental part of the Duty to Manage under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, which requires dutyholders to identify asbestos, maintain an up to date asbestos register, prepare an asbestos management plan, monitor asbestos-containing materials and provide information to anyone liable to disturb them.
Martin encourages tradespeople to stop and ask:
What year was this building built?
Has an asbestos survey been carried out?
Could the material I'm about to disturb contain asbestos?
They're simple questions. But they're exactly the questions every contractor should be asking before drilling, cutting or removing materials in buildings constructed or refurbished before 2000.
Good asbestos management isn't about expecting every contractor to recognise asbestos. It's about making sure they never have to guess. When your asbestos register is accurate, your asbestos management plan is up to date and information is shared before work starts, people can work safely and confidently.
If you're responsible for managing a hotel, ask yourself:
Is your asbestos register current?
Have your asbestos-containing materials been re-inspected in line with their risk?
Would every contractor receive asbestos information before starting work?
Is your asbestos management plan still accurate?
If the answer to any of these questions is "I'm not sure", now is the time to review your asbestos management arrangements, not because of paperwork, but because the next person walking through your plant room or service corridor deserves to go home safely.
Martin's story is a reminder that asbestos still has devastating consequences. The best way to honour that message is to make sure nobody has to unknowingly disturb asbestos in your building.
Want to learn more? HSE provides practical guidance, videos and downloadable resources as part of its Asbestos & You campaign, helping tradespeople understand the risks of asbestos and the questions they should ask before starting work. Download the HSE’s Asbestos – Your Duty campaigns toolkit
Whether you're reviewing your asbestos management plan, arranging a management survey or need independent compliance advice, we're here to help.
Contact us at the KV Group to discuss your asbestos compliance requirements.
