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What should you do if you suspect you have asbestos in your home?

Whether you’ve ripped out old flooring, replaced an outdated light switch, or drilled into a wall that may contain asbestos products – we continue to receive calls about asbestos exposure at Tox Info Suisse.

AI Image: Copilot AI/Tox Info Suisse

AI Image: Copilot AI/Tox Info Suisse

In Switzerland, asbestos has been banned since 1990. You should generally assume that buildings built before this date are likely to contain asbestos.

But Tox Info Suisse is not the relevant expert body to determine the presence of asbestos or asbestos release and cannot provide a risk assessment. Forum Asbest Schweiz advises on its website that a one-time, very brief incident in which minimal asbestos fibres are released, does not automatically cause illness.  It is important to have the situation established calmly and professionally.


New brochure helps answer questions about asbestos

AI Image: Copilot AI/Tox Info Suisse

Suspected asbestos often causes a lot of uncertainty. To support those affected, property owners and specialists, the FOPH, the Forum Asbest Schweiz and other partners have published the brochure “Asbestos concerns us all”.

The brochure explains what to do in certain situations and which expert bodies you can contact. It also provides information about where you would expect to find asbestos, when it is advisable or necessary to establish the extent of contamination, and what you need to consider for safe disposal.



Have asbestos materials been accidentally disturbed?

For many callers, the pertinent question is: What should you do if asbestos has possibly already been released?

The advice is to stay calm.

  • Close the door and do not use the room
  • Ventilate the remaining rooms thoroughly
  • Do not vacuum
  • Promptly engage a contaminant expert, to check the suspected material (www.forum-asbest.ch/handeln)1. Website available in German, French and Italian only. 


Do you have any questions or concerns? Contact your landlord, your cantonal information office or SUVA (the Swiss national accident insurance institute).


Source: Brochure “Asbestos concerns us all” (German brochure «Asbest geht uns alle an»)


1 If you live in a rented apartment, the building management must be informed. If asbestos release is confirmed, the room must be renovated, cleaned and rechecked before it is safe to live in again.


Further information


Brochure "Asbestos concerns us all"


Forum Asbest Schweiz


SUVA





August 2026

Vergiftung? 145