Hi.
I have recently had occasion to assess just a scenario and, after spending a lot of time on research and obtaining more knowledge of the work with those who know, I came up with the following.......

It is possible not to undertake Asbestsos Awareness training if operatives will only ever work on new build work, but it is more likely that work would have to be completed on older buildings where Asbestos may exist.
It is known that Asbestos exists in many soffit areas as well as guttering, down pipes and certain types of roofing which are all places that scaffolding operatives may find themselves.

The CDM regs. (Reg. 10) state that employers shall ensure that adequate information, instruction and training is given to those.....who are or are liable to be exposed to asbestos or who supervise such employees.

The Approved Code of Practice L143 Para 124 (a) states Asbestos Awareness training is for those who are liable to disturb asbestos whilst carrying out their normal everyday work and goes on to state this includes ‘Construction workers’.

The CDM definition of construction work includes 'The assembly on site of prefabricated elements to form a structure or the disassembly on site of prefabricated elements which, immediately before such disassembly, formed a structure.'

Again from CDM, the definition of a 'structure' means— ... scaffold or other structure designed or used to provide support or means of access during construction work.

Further, the National Access and Scaffolding Confederation (NASC) quote from the NASC website:
"In partnership with the HSE, the NASC are committed to raising awareness about the dangers of working with asbestos across the scaffolding community."

Therefore, my vote goes to 'Yes', Asbestos Awareness training should be undertaken for scaffolders unless the employer can categorically confirm that such work will never be undertaken on any building completed before the year 2000 or has been given the 'All Clear' due to prior refurbishment works. which removed all Asbestos.

Many employers and employees have said how much they enjoyed the course after they had been and that they hadn't realised how dangerous it was.

Hope this helps.

What happens when a scaffold is erected when its not a CDM job?

I note the above because the moment asbestos &/or scaffold is mentioned many automatically think that CDM is automatically involved when it is not - please note that scaffold is only connected to CDM where its erected etc. in relation to a CDM job and ditto asbestos is only related to CDM where CDM also applies

One job I looked at recently was the erection of a scaffold that was to be a very large viewing platform in a large park for spectators and in the immediate area to that proposed stand a pile of asbestos what been dumped --- look no CDM anywhere in sight!!!!

Overall scaffold's may come into contact with asbestos so they should be adequately trained but we need to comment about CDM where CDM applies - I am not getting at anybody in particular as the comments re CDM and scaffold are correct where CDM applies

Just my personal thoughts