New requirements for working with asbestos in Norway

From 21 December 2025, updated regulations on working with asbestos have entered into force. These changes more clearly define employers’ responsibilities and introduce stricter measures to protect employees from hazardous asbestos fibres.

The Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority emphasizes that the aim of these changes is to reduce the risk of serious asbestos-related diseases and to ensure that exposure is kept as low as reasonably practicable.

What is important for companies to know?

👉 Mandatory pre-inspection before work - when planning demolition, repair, or renovation works, it is mandatory to assess in advance whether asbestos may be present in buildings or structures. This is particularly relevant for buildings constructed before 1985, but asbestos has also been found in newer structures.

👉 Stricter obligation to stop work - employers must immediately stop work if the permitted concentration of asbestos fibres is exceeded or if there are reasonable grounds to suspect that previously unidentified asbestos-containing materials have been disturbed during the work.

👉 Significantly reduced exposure limit - the maximum average asbestos fibre concentration over 8 hours has been reduced from 0.1 to 0.01 fibres/cm³, making the limit ten times stricter than before.

👉 New requirements for protective measures and controls - employers are now explicitly required to plan work in a way that allows employees to take breaks when using respiratory protective equipment. Requirements for post-work inspections, air measurements, and documentation have also been tightened.

👉 Increased focus on training and employee information - rules for asbestos-related training have been updated and clarified. Employers must inform employees about accidental exposure and ensure health surveillance in cases of long-term exposure.

👉 Ban on installing asbestos-containing materials - it is clearly established that installing or leaving asbestos-containing materials in buildings or structures is prohibited.

If your company carries out demolition, renovation, or maintenance work and you are unsure whether asbestos risks are being managed in accordance with current requirements, Nord HMS can help assess the situation and prepare for work to be carried out safely.