BRISTOL, UK. September 23rd, 2026 – Decades after asbestos use was prohibited, its effects continue to be felt across Great Britain, with asbestos-related disease accounting for thousands of deaths each year. Shield Services Group is urging organisations responsible for older buildings to remain vigilant about the risks posed by asbestos-containing materials.
Around 5,000 people die from asbestos-related diseases every year in Great Britain, according to HSE estimates. By comparison, 126 workers were killed in work-related accidents in 2025/26. The figures underline the scale of occupational diseases that can remain hidden for many years. In 2024, 2,146 people died from mesothelioma, a cancer closely linked to asbestos exposure, with many cases connected to exposure that took place decades earlier.
Asbestos was banned in the UK in 1999, yet asbestos-containing materials can still be found throughout older commercial, industrial and public buildings. They can become hazardous when damaged or disturbed during maintenance, refurbishment and demolition projects.
The statistics cover different periods and categories, but the disparity highlights the extensive and long-lasting consequences of historic asbestos exposure.
Paul Lillis, Asbestos Managing Director at Shield Services Group, said: “The fact that thousands of people continue to lose their lives to asbestos-related disease every year shows why we cannot afford to become complacent. Asbestos may have been banned decades ago, but it remains within buildings across the country and must continue to be identified and managed properly.”
HSE figures demonstrate how dramatically Britain has improved its record on fatal workplace accidents over the longer term. The 126 worker deaths recorded in 2025/26 compared with 217 twenty years earlier and 495 in 1981. However, occupational diseases caused by historic exposure remain a major challenge.
Asbestos is a particularly difficult legacy because diseases associated with exposure typically take many years to develop. HSE says widespread historical use of asbestos-containing products, particularly within the post-war building industry, contributed to the substantial number of asbestos-related disease deaths seen in Britain today.
