Alleged exposure of UK Defence Personnel to asbestos during overseas exercises and training since 2018

Since 2018, a series of reports and parliamentary inquiries have scrutinised the exposure of British Army personnel to Asbestos-Containing Materials (ACMs) during overseas exercises. The controversy gained significant momentum in 2023 when it was revealed that hundreds of troops training at the British Army Training Unit Suffield (BATUS) in Alberta, Canada, had been ordered to clear out or occupy derelict buildings that were known to contain friable (easily crumbled) blue and brown asbestos.

The Defence Safety Authority (DSA) and the Ministry of Defence (MoD) have investigated claims that safety warnings were ignored. Personnel reported being directed to sweep floors and move debris in "hard target" buildings without any Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE). The inquiry identified a "Disconnect in Governance" between the MoD's UK-based safety standards and the management of overseas estates. Because BATUS is technically Canadian land leased by the UK, there was a failure to apply the stringent UK Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 to the site's maintenance.

Furthermore, the inquiry highlighted a failure in the "Medical Marking" of personnel. Many who reported exposure were not initially given the proper documentation in their medical records, which is critical for future claims involving asbestos-related diseases. By early 2026, the MoD has faced intense criticism from the Defence Select Committee for a "culture of secrecy," with the inquiry revealing that some internal safety audits flagging asbestos risks in Germany and Kenya had been suppressed or downplayed for years to avoid disrupting training schedules.