Permits and notifications for work with asbestos

You must apply for a permit in order to perform work involving asbestos. You must also submit a notification each time you start a job. Below, you will find information about permits and notifications and other points you should be aware of before completing the forms, along with details of the documentation that is required.

Apply for a permit for demolition of asbestos or to work with asbestos

You must apply for a permit if your company is to be involved in the removal of asbestos or work involving asbestos. Permits are not transferable to another company and the employer who is to perform the work must apply for the permit itself.

Companies handling asbestos or materials containing asbestos for research, development or analysis purposes must also apply for a permit.

You must also have a permit for processing and handling asbestos if you intend to work with window putty containing asbestos at concentrations greater than 1% by weight.

It takes 2-3 weeks to process a permit application

Processing a permit application takes around 2-3 weeks. It will take another 2-3 weeks if you need to provide supplementary information.

Penalties for working without a permit

You will be fined if you work with asbestos without a permit. The magnitude of the fine will depend on the type of asbestos work and the number of employees you have. For example, the fine for removing asbestos without a permit is between SEK 40 000 and 400 000.

Submit a notification for each object: removal, machining or treatment of asbestos

You must also submit notification of work on each individual object when your company has been issued with a permit for the removal, machining or treatment of asbestos. Notification must be submitted no later than two working days prior to the commencement of demolition.

In urgent cases, you may have to commence asbestos removal before you have had time to submit written notification of it, e.g. following a water leak. You must obtain approval from us verbally before starting work in such cases.

The permit must be issued prior to notification

Remember that you must obtain a permit first. It is not possible to notify work without a permit.

Forms and e-services concerning asbestos

Application for removal of asbestos or materials containing asbestos

Application for machining or treatment of asbestos or materials containing asbestos

Application for authorisation to handle asbestos or material containing asbestos in research, development or analysis

Reporting removal of asbestos

We may refuse or revoke permits

For example, we may refuse or revoke a permit if an employer fails to meet the requirements stipulated in our regulations or if we deem it necessary for safety reasons. Read more about when we refuse or revoke permits for asbestos

More information about asbestos

FAQ about permits, notifications and forms Asbestos (AFS 2006:1), regulations

Handling and safety instructions Asbestos (AFS 2006:1), regulations Medical check-ups and health assessments in working life

We will process your personal data in accordance with applicable laws and regulations

You will almost always be required to provide us with personal data when you submit an application or report to the Swedish Work Environment Authority. We will process your personal data in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

The Swedish Work Environment Authority must have a reason (‘purpose’) for processing your personal data. Our purpose is to enable us to deal with your case in an efficient manner. Amongst other things, this means that we will:

  • register your personal data;
  • process your personal data as part of various procedures; and
  • archive your personal data. We may also disclose your personal data if we consider such data to be public documents which are not covered by a confidentiality obligation. We are obliged to do so under the principle of public access to official records. This is a necessary part of our exercising of public authority.

Read more about the Swedish Work Environment Authority’s processing of personal data and about your rights as a data subject: Processing of personal data by the Swedish Work Environment Authority

Last updated 2023-01-27