Tips for finding a reputable asbestos removal company

I have to admit it. I’m a bit of a closet ‘Homes under the hammer’ fan.

And I can’t begin to tell you how much I’ve learned since tuning into this series on iPlayer.

I’ve learned about planning permission (and when you don’t need it), some of the ‘gotchas’ to look out for when buying a house and a whole load about asbestos roof sheeting on garages.

Asbestos wasn’t banned until 1999, and the best advice is to leave it alone. It should not be worked on or removed without seeking professional advice.

Over time, however, it can deteriorate. And let’s face it, asbestos garages are pretty ugly things, so you might like to have the garage removed.

That’s where you need a company that specialises in asbestos removal.

Exposure to asbestos fibres is extremely hazardous and can cause serious and fatal diseases which are responsible for around 4,000 deaths in the UK every year.

But how do you find a reputable firm to help?

Asbestos Solution Providers (ASP) Ltd recently came onto my radar, as my neighbours have an asbestos garage. ASP provide the full range of asbestos management services required to comply with UK regulations.

The ASP management team has over 40 years’ experience within the asbestos industry. The company is UKAS accredited, and holds both CHAS and Constructionline certificates.

So far so good.

Not only that, but ASP work closely with safety, health, and environmental specialist Hosking Associates. Hosking Associates run their Green Ribbon Award – an environmental benchmark for businesses to aspire to – providing an annual measurement via a compliance and good practice audit.

The Green Ribbon Award is a 50-point audit, covering different topics, providing a report for the organisation and a subsequent action plan.

For some time, ASP has been looking towards achieving the ISO14001 award, and decided to go for Hosking Associates’ Green Ribbon Award as a stepping stone towards achieving the ISO qualification.

Louise Hosking, managing director at Hosking Associates, said:

“We developed the Green Ribbon Award to support companies with their environmental planning. It has provided ASP with a checklist of what the company needs to do to work towards the ISO14001 accreditation.

“Because of what the company does, environmental policies will always be top of mind and quality systems will always be in place.”

Kate Johal, director at ASP, added: “The Green Ribbon Award confirmed the environmental policies and procedures we have in place and provided a checklist of objectives for the business. The outcomes of the internal audit demonstrate there is still work to do, but we are well on the way.

“We are now starting to build an environmental manual, and from there can apply for the ISO accreditation.”

Tips for finding a reputable asbestos removal company

• If asbestos is in good condition or undisturbed it is usually preferable to leave well alone.
• If you have asbestos, keep monitoring it for signs of deterioration.
• If you need to have asbestos removed find a UKAS accredited company.
• Ask to see a copy of the company’s asbestos removal license. Insurance will not cover damage and injury if the contractor is not licensed.
• Ask the company if they’ve ever had a prohibition or improvement notice placed on them by the HSE or check for yourself online http://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce
• Ask to see the staff training records of the staff who will be on site during the removal and cleaning operation
• Ask to see their waste consignment notes. A professional company will dispose of all asbestos waste correctly and will be happy to show you these
• Ask for references or testimonials.