Asbestos Consultancy

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.

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

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.