School Asbestos Discovery and Work Restart Record
- Version
- v1
- Updated
- 1 October 2026
- Audience
- Primary and secondary schools in England, including maintained schools and academies, excluding independent schools; school staff, responsible persons, contractors and others overseeing relevant work.
- Jurisdiction
- england
Blank fields · read-only preview
When to use this record
Use this record when unexpected asbestos or suspect material is found during school-controlled maintenance, construction, refurbishment or demolition work. If additional asbestos or suspect material is uncovered, work should stop, the area should be made safe and the work should be reassessed before continuing.
Discovery and work details
Record reference
RequiredEnter the school's reference for this discovery and restart record.
For example, ASB-2025-001
School name
RequiredEnter the name of the school where the discovery occurred.
Written response
Exact location of discovery
RequiredState the building, room, area or work zone as precisely as possible.
For example, science block, ground-floor boiler room
Type of work being undertaken
RequiredSelect all work types that applied when the material was discovered.
Choose all that apply
- Maintenance
- Construction
- Refurbishment
- Demolition
- Survey or investigation
- Other school-controlled work
- Other
If other, please specify
Date material was discovered
RequiredEnter the date on which the asbestos or suspect material was discovered.
- Day
- Month
- Year
Approximate time of discovery
RequiredUse 24-hour time, for example 14:30.
HH:MM
Name and role of person who identified the material
RequiredRecord the person who first identified or reported the unexpected asbestos or suspect material.
Written response
Description of the material and circumstances of discovery
RequiredDescribe what was seen, where it was found, what work exposed it and whether the material was damaged or disturbed. Do not treat this description as an identification of asbestos.
Written response
Immediate controls and stop-work action
Work in the affected area has stopped
RequiredRecord this only after work in the affected area has stopped in response to the discovery.
- Tick when complete
The affected area has been made safe
RequiredDescribe the controls used below, including access restriction and protection against further disturbance.
- Tick when complete
Immediate controls applied
RequiredSelect all controls used. Add details in the following field.
Choose all that apply
- Work area isolated
- Access restricted
- Warning signs or notices displayed
- Material left undisturbed
- Dust or debris controlled
- Occupants protected or relocated
- Responsible person notified
- Other
If other, please specify
Details of immediate controls and notifications
RequiredRecord barriers, access restrictions, notifications, affected people or areas and any other relevant action.
Written response
Reassessment and revised work controls
The work has been reassessed before any proposed continuation
RequiredRecord this only when the work and the unexpected material have been reassessed.
- Tick when complete
Date of reassessment
RequiredEnter the date on which the reassessment was completed.
- Day
- Month
- Year
Person responsible for the reassessment
RequiredEnter the name, role and organisation of the person who completed or led the reassessment.
Written response
Documents reviewed or revised
RequiredSelect all documents reviewed or revised as part of the reassessment.
Choose all that apply
- Asbestos management information or register
- Risk assessment
- Method statement
- Permit to work
- Construction phase plan
- Emergency arrangements
- None yet
- Other
If other, please specify
Revised risk controls and work requirements
RequiredDescribe the controls required before work can restart, including any specialist assessment, enclosure, exclusion, decontamination, monitoring, sequencing, supervision or communication requirements.
Written response
Contractor and work information
Contractor or organisation
RequiredEnter the contractor or organisation carrying out or overseeing the work.
Written response
Contractor contact details
RequiredProvide the name, role, telephone number and email address of the relevant contact.
Written response
Original work order, project or permit reference
RequiredEnter the reference used for the work before the discovery.
Written response
Authorisation to restart
Current decision for the affected work
RequiredSelect the current decision after reassessment. Do not select a restart option unless the relevant decision-maker has authorised it.
Choose one
- Remain stopped pending further information or action
- Restart authorised with revised controls
- Affected work removed from the current scope
- Specialist contractor or further specialist assessment required
- Other
If other, please specify
Person recording the decision
RequiredEnter the name, role and organisation of the person responsible for recording the current decision.
Written response
Date of decision
RequiredEnter the date on which the current decision was recorded.
- Day
- Month
- Year
Conditions or outstanding actions before restart
RequiredRecord any conditions, approvals, further assessments, notifications or actions that must be completed before affected work may restart.
Written response
The information in this record has been checked for completeness
RequiredTick when the person submitting the record has checked that the entries accurately reflect the discovery, controls, reassessment and current work decision.
- Tick when complete