Asbestos in consumer products

The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) is aware of consumer products available in the UK containing sand contaminated with asbestos. These products have been recalled by the businesses that have sold them, and OPSS also expects any further asbestos-contaminated products to be recalled. To ensure their safe disposal, consumers and businesses should follow the advice below.

Consumer advice

Contaminated products that have been identified and are subject to recalls are listed on this OPSS Product Safety Alerts, Reports and Recalls page.

If you have purchased a product on this page, please check the recall notice for the business’s advice on returning or disposing of the product safely. For further information, or questions, contact the retailer you purchased the product from.

If you have concerns about a product that you think might contain asbestos but has not been recalled:

• In England and Wales, contact the Citizens Advice consumer service.
• In Scotland, contact the Advice Direct Scotland consumer helpline.

Disposal guidance for consumers

Businesses should be accepting recalled products at their stores. It is both legal and safe to dispose of these products in household waste if you are not able to return products to store. Please use the following instructions for safe disposal of contaminated products:

• Stop using the product immediately.
• If the sand is still in its packaging, place in a heavy-duty plastic bag, double tape it securely, label it clearly and store in a secure location out of the reach of children.
• If the sand has been used or exposed, clean up sites where the product was used using wet cloths to avoid generating dust. Wear gloves and a mask. Double bag the sand, gloves, mask and cloths.
• Keep children and other people away from areas where the sand has been used until the area has been cleaned.
• Return the product to the store specified by the retailer, who will provide a full refund. If you are unable to, or your product was purchased via an online marketplace, dispose of the product in your general household residual waste.
• For further information, or questions, contact the retailer you purchased from.

Health information

There is no safe level of asbestos in consumer products, though asbestos that is bound within intact products is less harmful than asbestos fibres that are airborne and are small enough to be breathed in. Where asbestos is identified, a product recall is appropriate.

If you or your family have used one of the products containing asbestos listed on the OPSS Product Safety Alerts, Reports and Recalls page, stop using it immediately, as this is the most important step to prevent any ongoing exposure, and follow the recall advice.

Further information can be found at: Asbestos: general information.

Businesses

Product recalls

UK businesses that have sold consumer products contaminated with asbestos are required to recall them.

UK businesses are advised to follow the British Standards Institution’s code of practice for product recalls and corrective actions, PAS 7100, which sets out best practices for businesses to prepare for and manage effective recalls.

Local Authority Trading Standards (LATS) are overseeing the recalls of these products. Both OPSS and LATS have powers to enforce product safety regulations. Find your local Trading Standards office.

Disposal guidance for businesses

You should seek specialist advice from your waste management contractor on the classification and coding, packaging, collection, storage and disposal of recalled products containing asbestos.

Advice on packaging and transport should be sought from a qualified Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor (DGSA).

The Environment Agency is the Government lead for asbestos disposal and waste management advice in England. It has issued a Regulatory Position Statement for manufacturers, distributors, and retailers on storing and de-packaging recalled products that contain asbestos.

Read the statement on products containing asbestos.

The guidance applies in England.

• If you are in Wales, contact Natural Resources Wales.
• If you are in Scotland, contact the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.

Product testing

OPSS has published a technical advisory note to help businesses test products to determine if they may contain asbestos, and sets out OPSS’ position on the current most appropriate testing methods for identifying asbestos in consumer products that contain sand.

Read the advisory note on testing for asbestos in sand.

Workplaces and schools

Asbestos safety in the workplace

Employers should follow the Health and Safety Executive’s guidance on the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 and management of asbestos in workplace settings.

Read managing and working with asbestos - HSE website

Early years settings and schools

Schools and early years providers are asked to follow the guidance for consumers above on identifying affected products and the correct disposal guidance for their setting.