The project is taking place over the next 18 months. Health and safety officers from Bedford, Central Bedfordshire and Luton Borough Councils will be visiting commercial premises across the county.
Cllr Brian Spurr, executive member for sustainable communities – services at Central Bedfordshire Council, said: "We want to keep our residents and businesses safe and healthy so this project is really important.
“Our officers will be able to advise businesses of the legal requirements to identify asbestos and help them ensure they have measures in place to ensure any asbestos within their buildings is managed so that it does not present a risk to health."
Asbestos was extensively used as a building material in the UK from the 1950s through to the mid-1980s. It was regarded as ideal for fireproofing and insulation.
Any building built before the year 2000 can contain asbestos in locations including pipe insulation, ceiling and door panels, boilers and floor tiles.
The problems start when materials containing asbestos are damaged – perhaps as a result of building work or an accident – and asbestos fibres become airborne. When inhaled they can cause serious diseases which are responsible for around 4,500 deaths a year.The most serious of asbestos diseases is mesothelioma which is always fatal.
For more information about asbestos, visit www.hse.gov.uk. Or contact Central Bedfordshire Council’s health and safety team on 0300 300 8302 or e-mail healthandsafety@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk.
