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Asbestos Consultancy

Our dedicated asbestos consultants and risk management services teams provide asbestos consultation, testing, asbestos management audits and surveys enabling those responsible to meet the requirements of the Control of Asbestos Regulations (2012). We have a structured process of making sure all employees have the appropriate asbestos awareness training, understand the requirements of asbestos surveys, and have the support and consultation they need to prevent exposure to asbestos.

The Control of Asbestos Regulations (CAR12) state that an employer is not allowed to allow its employees to be exposed to asbestos anywhere they work. In addition, they also state that responsible persons must meet the requirements outlined under these regulations.

Asbestos – duty to manage

In accordance with the HSE Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 and ACOP L127 Managing and working with asbestos, it is a legal requirement of all duty holders and responsible persons of non-domestic premises to identify the location, extent and the condition of Asbestos Containing Materials (ACMs) as well as implement a process of asbestos management and control measures. They are directed at those who manage non-domestic premises who have a responsibility for protecting others who work in such premises, or use them in other ways, from the hazards and risks to ill health that exposure to asbestos causes.

The duty to manage asbestos regulations require the following:

  • To take reasonable steps to identify asbestos containing materials (ACMs) in non-domestic premises constructed prior to 2000 via a management asbestos survey.
  • To determine the type, location, extent and condition of ACMs.
  • Presume materials contain asbestos unless there is strong evidence that they do not.
  • Make, and keep up to date a record of the location and condition of the ACMs or materials which are presumed to contain asbestos.
  • Assess the risk of anyone being exposed to asbestos fibres from the materials identified via a material and priority risk assessment.
  • Prepare an asbestos management plan that sets out in detail, how the risks from ACMs will be managed.
  • Take the necessary steps to put the asbestos management plan into action.
  • Periodically review and monitor the asbestos management plan and the arrangements to act on it so that the plan remains relevant and up to date.

We offer full consultation in reviewing your existing asbestos documents and asbestos management procedures, advising on enabling you to conform to the legal duties required under the control of asbestos regulations 2012.

Through management asbestos surveys and annual asbestos re-inspections of existing ACMs, along with our bespoke asbestos management database, we can make the current information and condition of ACMs available to all persons at risk of being exposed to asbestos.

Our experienced asbestos consultants can support you with comprehensive asbestos management surveys, refurbishment & demolition surveys, UKATA-approved asbestos awareness training and asbestos management & removal validation consultancy – all in accordance with the Health and Safety Executive Control of Asbestos Regulations (CAR) 2012.

R&D asbestos surveys

Asbestos R&D survey requirements

In accordance with the HSE Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, if a non-domestic premises is constructed prior to 2000, it is a legal requirement for all responsible persons to identify the type, location, extent and the condition of all Asbestos Containing Materials (ACMs) prior to any work that constitute refurbishment or demolition.

Sweco refurbishment/demolition asbestos surveys

We will undertake refurbishment and demolition (R&D) asbestos surveys which are undertaken to suit the proposed scope of works. These surveys are intended to locate all the asbestos containing materials in the building (or the relevant part), as far as reasonably practicable.  It is a disruptive and fully intrusive survey which may need to penetrate all parts of the building structure or as per the proposed extent of refurbishment/demolition works.

Following the identification of ACMs, the responsible persons have a duty to either remove or retain and manage the ACMs. Depending on the type of asbestos containing material and its condition will depend on the overall cost and complexity of the removal. We can therefore provide asbestos consultation and removal validation which will oversee the overall abatement works.

Asbestos management surveys

Who is responsible for managing the risk of asbestos?

As stated in Regulation 4 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, the ‘duty-holder’ is responsible for identifying the presence of asbestos containing materials (ACMs) and its condition in non-domestic premises during its normal day to day running. This can be the site or building owner, or anyone who has a clear responsibility for managing, maintaining and repairing the premises in question.

However, that person may not have the time, competency or confidence to complete a survey themselves, or document the legally required Asbestos register and Management Plan. This is where Sweco’s asbestos consultants can step in and carry out an asbestos management survey to fulfil what is a critical element of compliance in any buildings or building asset project.

What should an asbestos management survey include? 

  • Identification of the type, location, extent and condition of asbestos containing-materials (ACMs)
  • A material risk assessment which identifies the type of asbestos and its condition
  • A priority risk assessment which identifies location and the likelihood of asbestos disturbance
  • Recommendations on how asbestos-containing materials should be managed or removed by the responsible person

UKATA-approved asbestos awareness training

As outlined in Section 10 of the Control of Asbestos Regulation 2012 (CAR2012), every employer must ensure that asbestos awareness training is provided where employees are at any risk of being exposed to asbestos containing materials. Sweco can ensure your employees have the appropriate guidance in this critical area by providing UKATA (United Kingdom Asbestos Training Association) approved asbestos awareness training for:

  • Trades personnel
  • Estates Personnel and Managers
  • Demolition workers
  • Engineers
  • Architects
  • Building Surveyors
  • Shopfitters
  • Site investigation engineers
  • Utilities installation and maintenance engineers
  • Groundwork operatives
  • Any other persons likely to disturb asbestos containing material

Our half day asbestos awareness training course will comprise the following:

  1. Asbestos and its properties, risks on health from asbestos exposure
  2. Types and Uses, Likely Occurrences of ACM’s in Buildings and Plant
  3. How to Avoid the Risks from Exposure to Asbestos
  4. Emergency procedures
  5. Asbestos legislation

This will allow delegates to:

  • Have an increased awareness of the nature and properties of asbestos
  • Understand the health risks of asbestos exposure, including cancers and mesothelioma
  • Be familiar with the types, uses and likely occurrences of asbestos in buildings
  • Obtain information on asbestos in premises prior to commencing work
  • Follow emergency procedures and taking action if suspected asbestos containing materials (ACMs) are identified
  • Be familiar with asbestos surveys, registers/risk assessments and the management of asbestos in non-domestic premises
  • Understand general legislation as per the control as asbestos regulations 2012

Asbestos removal validation & consultancy services

Following the identification of ACMs, the consultation and removal process can be complicated, time consuming and costly. As part of our asbestos risk management services, Sweco can provide validation of asbestos removal works, to determine all works are undertaken to the requirements of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Control of Asbestos Regulation 2012 (CAR2012).

Working in consultation with our client, our asbestos consultants will undertake the following:

  1. Invite for quotation and attend pre-works site visits with asbestos removal contractors, client and any other stake holders to review proposed works
  2. Review and provide commentary on removal contractors tender documents
  3. Support client in tender award
  4. Review all pre-works documentation from contractor prior to the start of asbestos removal works (e.g. HSE licensed asbestos notification ASB5, risk assessments and plan of works)
  5. Undertake periodic site visits as agreed with the client to ensure works are being undertaken in accordance with the specification and agreed methodology
  6. Instruct independent UKAS accredited analysts to undertake air sampling; and final four stage clearance test on completion of works to provide certificate of reoccupation
  7. Undertake final site inspection on completion of works
  8. Prepare final validation report detailing all works carried out, extent of removals undertaken; and that all asbestos has been removed along with all necessary documents relating to the removal and disposal of asbestos.
Together with our clients and the collective knowledge of our 21,000 engineers, consultants and other specialists, we co-create solutions to address urbanisation, capture the power of digitalisation, and make our societies more sustainable.​ With international multi-disciplinary teams, we can call on the right insight and technical capability at the right time from across Buildings, Infrastructure, Advisory & Planning and Compliance.​