Younger Trades Workers Report Gaps in Asbestos Training and Safety Trust
New data highlight differences in preparedness, training, and employer trust as Gen Z and millennial workers encounter legacy hazards on older job sites.
- By Stasia DeMarco
- Dec 31, 2025
Skilled trades are undergoing a generational shift, and a new threat is emerging on job sites across the country: a breakdown in safety trust between employers and their youngest workers. As Gen Z and millennial tradespeople step into critical roles around infrastructure and renovation, they're often doing so without the training or protections necessary to navigate legacy hazards like asbestos.
A new study by Asbestos.com reveals alarming disparities in asbestos training and jobsite safety for younger workers. The data lands at a time when federal regulators are clamping down on repeat safety violations, state agencies are warning of carbon monoxide and structural hazards, and mental strain is quietly eroding fitness for duty across high-risk sectors.
Only 15% of Gen Z and millennial tradespeople say they fully trust their employer to protect them from asbestos risks. That figure lags far behind the 26% reported among Gen X and baby boomers. For a substance as hazardous as asbestos, trust gaps this wide can quickly escalate into health crises.
Despite working more frequently with suspect materials, younger tradespeople feel less secure. Nearly nine in ten (88%) report cutting into older surfaces without knowing what they contained. Nearly four in ten admit they wouldn't know what to do if exposed.
For the newest generation of tradespeople, safety may be undermined by the pressures to keep projects on time and under budget. About 37% of younger workers say they've intentionally ignored questionable materials just to avoid slowing down work. The percentage drops to 28% among older colleagues.
Protocols around asbestos identification and reporting often fall to the wayside on sites that are fast-moving or understaffed. Indeed, young workers are often left to make split-second decisions with long-term consequences without clear communication or enforced procedures.
At the same time, some younger workers are receiving on-the-job asbestos training at higher rates than their older counterparts. Thirty-two percent of Gen Z and millennials report training through employment compared to 23% of Gen X and baby boomers. Still, these numbers suggest that most workers in both groups are going without any formal asbestos instruction.
Yet, more than half of both age groups (53% of younger and 51% of older workers) believe their employer provides education that’s “good enough.” The disconnect between perceived and actual preparedness reveals a dangerous overconfidence. Despite limited training, 54% of younger workers say they feel confident identifying asbestos.
OSHA recently cited a New Jersey food processing plant for over $1.1 million for lockout/tagout failures that led to a fatality. In Idaho, a transformer manufacturer was hit with nearly $1 million in penalties for repeat safety violations. These headlines show what happens when safety systems break down. Asbestos exposure may not trigger immediate injuries, but its long latency makes employer diligence and worker awareness equally critical.
The new data from Asbestos.com also highlights what Gen Z and millennials are worried about on older job sites. Concerns include structural instability, as nearly half (49%) fear rotting beams, weak flooring, or collapsing walls. Airborne toxins represent an additional issue, as 47% are concerned about asbestos, while 42% cite dust and poor air quality. Finally, other hidden hazards pose red flags when 43% worry about electrical risks, 30% about lead paint, and 30% about toxic adhesives or insulation.
Workers are increasingly entering environments that combine outdated materials with unclear safety guidance. This is a combustible mix when fast-paced schedules reduce opportunities to flag potential hazards.
Perhaps most striking is the mismatch between worker confidence and actual preparedness. While more than half of younger tradespeople believe they can identify asbestos, 10% aren’t even sure whether they’ve encountered it. Another 38% say they don’t know what to do if they are exposed. The confidence chasm might make workers less likely to report issues or seek guidance. Only 15% of younger tradespeople report full trust in their employers. Another 53% say they "somewhat" trust them. But in high-risk jobs, partial trust may not be enough.
The stakes are too high for ambiguity. One misstep can expose an entire crew, especially when older structures are involved. The lack of clear procedures, visible safety leadership, and transparent communication is a systems issue, not merely a generational issue.
Younger workers are entering into trades to escape automation and pursue stable, hands-on careers. As such, employers must treat legacy hazards with urgency. That means expanding asbestos-specific training to make it a routine part of onboarding and safety education. It also means establishing clear reporting procedures, so workers never hesitate to flag suspicious materials. Additionally, it’s worth prioritizing transparency and communication to explain risks plainly and update safety policies. Lastly, it’s important to model safety from the top down such that supervisors and foremen set the tone through their actions.
Workplace safety is constantly evolving. As AI changes workflows and regulations evolve, occupational health professionals need to anticipate new risks and new generational attitudes. The Gen Z workers on a demolition crew today may have digital skills and little patience for ambiguous guidance. This represents an opportunity for employers.
Of course, building safety trust between employers and employees doesn’t happen overnight. But with clear protocols, consistent training, and an employer culture that treats safety as more than compliance, job sites can be safer for everyone, especially those blue-collar Gen Z just starting. Because when it comes to asbestos, ignorance isn't bliss. It's exposure.