Safely remove asbestos: Why you need licensed contractors

Mock up of safe asbestos removal

Asbestos is a known human carcinogen, and as such, presents a significant danger to anyone who comes into contact with it. This is why it’s essential to hire licensed contractors to safely remove asbestos in many instances.

It prioritises health and safety, and is required by law for high-risk asbestos-containing materials (ACMs). If you’re a duty-holder or a contractor not licensed to deal with asbestos, you face hefty fines and potential prosecution for illegally removing some types of asbestos.

Even non-licensed work requires a proper risk assessment and other control measures to be put in place prior to work commencing, in order to safely remove asbestos.

Why safe asbestos removal is paramount

·       2,595 deaths from mesothelioma in 2016¹

Health and Safety Executive (HSE) statistics show that mesothelioma, an aggressive form of cancer attributed to asbestos exposure, claimed 2,595 lives in 2016. Mesothelioma is generally at an advanced stage before symptoms emerge, often several decades following exposure. This statistic represents a legacy of heavy asbestos usage, but the threat remains today.

·       No UK ban on asbestos until late 1999

Any building constructed prior to the UK ban in 1999 could contain asbestos in some form. Its presence in schools has been of particular concern, but the substance is also widely found in hospitals, libraries, warehouses, and factories – indeed in any residential, commercial, or industrial building that pre-dates the ban.

·       Widespread asbestos use

Asbestos can be found in lagging material used for boilers and pipes, vinyl floor tiles, gutters and downpipes, and partition walling, in addition to many other locations. Asbestos containing materials, such as asbestos roof sheets or partition walling, can degrade over time, releasing microscopic fibres and dust particles.

Heavy fines for failing to safely remove asbestos

The Health and Safety Executive is the body responsible for regulating and enforcing workplace health and safety, and they have the power to prosecute anyone found to have removed asbestos illegally.

Cases where contractors, company directors, and other duty-holders, have either deliberately flouted the law, or simply failed to understand their responsibilities, have resulted in a prison sentence in the most serious circumstances.

Safely remove asbestos using licensed contractors

You need to obtain professional assistance to establish the location and condition of any asbestos-containing materials prior to work starting. Stringent safety precautions are required, with risk assessments, surveys, sampling, and testing, all to be undertaken by asbestos experts.

Acorn Analytical Services is a fully independent asbestos consultancy with extensive experience of asbestos management. We will help you safely remove asbestos from your building, and offer a range of services including asbestos project management, asbestos air testing and sample testing, and asbestos management surveys.

Let us help you meet your statutory responsibilities and remain compliant with asbestos laws. Please contact one of our expert asbestos consultants to find out more.

Neil Munro

I work in a dual role at Acorn Analytical Services focused primarily on growing and leading the business from our Northampton office base. My focus is on overseeing all sales, marketing and financial activities from Northampton. I assist clients with high-level asbestos management strategies and training. Together with Ian Stone I host our weekly podcast – Asbestos Knowledge Empire and I'm Co-author of Asbestos The Dark Arts and Fear and Loathing of Health and Safety.

Need Help? Request a Call Back

Request a call back from one of our expert Asbestos Consultants who will help you identify what you need

More Asbestos Articles

This Men's Health Month is time to talk about absestos

Men’s Health Month – it’s time to talk openly about asbestos

NOVEMBER marks Men’s Health Month – a time for shining the spotlight on the conditions and issues which affect men from all walks of life. While the focus quite rightly turns to serious health issues including Prostate Cancer, Testicular Cancer and mental health, at Acorn Analytical Services we want people to start talking about asbestos. … Read more

Asbestos consultancy Acorn Analytical Services will soon be moving into new offices

Have you heard the news? Asbestos consultancy Acorn Analytical Services Northampton is on the move

IF you haven’t heard the news already, we are delighted to announce that asbestos connsultancy Acorn Analytical Services Northampton will be starting a brand-new chapter very soon. In the coming days, our team will be moving to new – much larger – offices on Northampton’s Moulton Park, the place which has been our home for … Read more

asbestos in talcum powder

Unveiling the Hidden Danger: The Menace of Asbestos in Talcum Powder and the UK’s Stance

Explore the veiled danger of asbestos in talcum powder, the UK’s vigilant regulations, and the unfolding narrative of consumer safety. Dive into the rigorous testing methodologies, industry responses, and the promising horizon of international cooperation aiming to foster a safer landscape in the realm of personal care products.

RAAC and asbestos could be a problem in some buildings

Raac and ruin? How concrete crisis also raises the question of asbestos

A LOT has been said recently about Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) and asbestos. While fears about the safety of RAAC continue to dominate the headlines both nationally and locally, it is the additional threat from asbestos which we believe should be discussed now as a matter of urgency. Just as RAAC is crumbling in … Read more

Asbestos consultancy, Acorn Analytical Services, will be raising money for Mesothelioma UK

Asbestos consultancy gears up for 24-hour fundraising challenge

FOR many years the team at Acorn Analytical Services has been an avid supporter of Mesothelioma UK, the only charity in the UK dedicated to supporting people affected by this deadly disease. Mesothelioma is a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos fibres and shockingly still kills around 5,000 people each year in the UK – … Read more

RAAC and asbestos could be a problem in some buildings

The Ultimate Guide to Asbestos Surveyors: Why Your Safety Depends on It

Asbestos, once a ‘miracle material’, now poses severe health risks. Uncover the significance of asbestos surveys in the UK and why your safety depends on it.

Asbestos: Having the right consultancy in your corner has never been more important

‘Having the right consultancy to help you manage asbestos has never been more important’

A REPORT written by asbestos expert and director of Acorn Analytical Services, Ian Stone, has highlighted the worrying state of asbestos in the UK. The Annual Asbestos Industry Review provides a unique insight into the industry and a snapshot of the work being done by Acorn Analytical Services – one of the largest independent consultancies … Read more

Management of asbestos in schools

Management of Asbestos in Schools: A Comprehensive Analysis

In this blog post, we delve into the critical issue of asbestos management in UK schools, the recent HSE report, and the role of Acorn Analytical Services in ensuring safe learning environments.

Asbestos: Dispelling 3 common myths

Is your business fully compliant with the latest asbestos regulations?

HOW much do you really know about asbestos? If your building was built before 1999, have you ever had it checked? If you know it’s there, do you know for sure that you’re compliant with the latest rules and regulations around asbestos management? If the answer to either of these questions is ‘no’ it’s time … Read more

Asbestos in fire

Act Now: Uncover the Silent Perils of Asbestos in Fire-Damaged Buildings – A Deep Dive into the Brighton Hotel Incident

Asbestos in fire situations poses significant health risks. Understand the dangers, especially in textured coatings, and the need for expert remediation.