Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was widely used in the construction industry in the UK until the mid-1980s. Asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) were once seen as safe and practicable for use in buildings, but they were later found to pose a serious health risk to humans. When ACMs are disturbed, they release microscopic fibres into the air which, when inhaled, can cause serious lung diseases such as mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer.