23 February 2026
asbest

The Belgian Official Gazette recently published a new Royal Decree amending the Codex on well-being at work. This adjustment significantly tightens the rules regarding asbestos exposure to better protect employees.

Key changes at a glance:

  • Drastic reduction of the limit value: The permitted amount of asbestos fibres decreases from 0.1 to 0.002 fibres per cm³. A transition period applies until the end of 2029 (0.01 fibres per cm³), but the goal is for the concentration to be a maximum of 10% of the current limit value.
  • Stricter asbestos inventory: An inventory may only be drawn up by competent experts, such as prevention advisers for occupational hygiene or specialized laboratories. Furthermore, the prior agreement of the Committee for Prevention and Protection at Work (CPPW) is required.
  • Removal is a priority: In the asbestos management program, asbestos removal always takes first place. Temporary measures such as encapsulation are only permitted if they offer better protection and do not hinder subsequent removal.
  • Mandatory training and individual respiratory protection with fit-tests: Employees who come into contact with asbestos must follow theoretical and practical training (minimum 32 hours for demolition, 8 hours for simple operations). Annual refresher training is mandatory. In addition, respiratory masks must undergo a fit-test annually and be checked before each use.
  • Stricter reporting: Activities involving asbestos risk must be reported more strictly using the official forms from the FPS Employment.
  • Impact on the workplace Employers must adapt their prevention policy and inventory to these stricter standards. It is no longer sufficient to merely stay below the official limit value; the focus is now on achieving the maximum possible reduction of risk.

Do you want to know more about the specific rules or training courses? Consult the full legal text or contact your prevention adviser.

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