The busiest department within The Testing Lab PLC is undoubtedly the asbestos consultancy. Established in 2010 The Testing Lab PLC’s Independent Asbestos Consultants have worked with it’s clients to provide, independent asbestos services from start to completion.

Initially an asbestos consultant will advise on all matter to do with CAR 2012 and how not to fall foul of any of the some 27 individual regulations which make up the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 which came into force on April 6th 2012.

From appointment a desk top study of previous information is carried out and an Asbestos Management Plan is created which may include an asbestos Survey which will help identify asbestos containing materials and their condition which in turn will dictate how individual components need to be managed. A priority assessment on all ACM’s (Asbestos containing materials) can be carried out so that budgets and a long term solution can be made.

Removal or maintenance prices from professional removal companies are collated for the client to appoint and Risk Assessments along with Method Statements are thoroughly checked on the clients behalf before submission to HSE/EA or local authority. When the work starts it is common practice to ensure the integrity of any work enclosures or exclusion zones, transit routes and waste collection points incl lockable skip locations. Air locks, bag locks and decontamination units all need checking daily. Smoke detection is one way of ensuring an enclosure is effective. The size of the negative pressure unit is checked to ensure the required number of air changes are made and personal pumps may be utilised to check exposure levels.

At the end of the job, prior to any enclosure being dismantled a thorough check of the work is done by the consultant. This ensures all the asbestos has been maintained or removed as per requirements and the air is then tested to ensure it is safe to remove the enclosure and open that part of the building to others.

The role of an asbestos consultant is many fold but the main ones are to police asbestos removal on the clients behalf. Finally, the report will need updating, showing what has been removed, when, who by and any clearance certification along with proof of waste disposal.

Remaining independent and unbiased is important and TTL’s consultants and surveyors are exactly that.

The above is not exhaustive and only qualified/experienced operatives who hold the P405 as a minimum should act as an asbestos consultant and only HSE approved/licensed asbestos removal contractors should be used. https://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/licensing/licensed-contractor.htm