Asbestos awareness has grown due to the remarkable increase in media and press coverage highlighting the potential health risks this naturally resulted in an increasing demand for asbestos surveys. Initially the flood gates open for every man and their granny to complete the 4 day P402 course and pass the multiple choice test that would qualify them to be a  Asbestos Surveyor and with very low overheads OMB’s (one man bands) started popping up here, there and everywhere, offering rock bottom priced cigarette packet asbestos surveys.

During my time in the industry, I have come to expect that approximately 50 percent of the time I will read a report that is substandard. More often than not, this isn’t due to any inability or laziness of the surveyor, but due to inexperience. Asbestos can be found in many hidden places and in many different materials. Experience in where to look and what to look for, is the crucial difference that make a great asbestos surveyor. Even then, it can never be guaranteed that all asbestos materials will be located, but you do stand a much better chance…

Arising out of legislation in the past few years there is a legal duty upon owners / managing agents of all commercial properties to take reasonable steps to locate and assess the asbestos materials present to the properties in question. In most instances the best way to achieve this is to have a survey for asbestos undertaken. The organisation undertaking the survey should:

• have adequate training and experience in asbestos surveying;

and

• be able to demonstrate independence, impartiality and integrity;

and

• have an adequate quality management system.

This then leaves the client not only worrying about getting the best price, but potentially liable should the survey be poor and then not being able to prove that the surveyor of choice is ‘fit for purpose’ too!

This is proving to be a headache for many Buyers and trying to weigh up the pro’s and con’s of a One Man Band’s scarily low quote with a fully accredited UKAS AIB’s premium.

The proverbial ibuprofen to remaining compliant with HSG264, is to include in the selection criteria that the tender and appointment will only be made to a UKAS accredited inspection body; as they will supply a fully experience and competent person and will have already had all the associated checks to determine the above. Guidance issued by the Health & Safety Commission recognises that accreditation to ISO 17020 is likely to indicate that the organisation has the requisite knowledge and experience.

So next time you are tendering, look out for the all important UKAS logo with the 3 eye symbol!

For further information or for approximate survey costings, please contact AngelaChouaib Spectra Analysis.

The UKAS Accredited Asbestos Inspection Bodies blog is an information portal developed by the UKAS Accredited Asbestos Inspection Firms listed on this site.  Subscribe to our RSS newsfeed here.