Who’s competent to do our asbestos survey?
Q. We read that asbestos surveyors must be accredited with the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) or the Asbestos Building Inspectors Certification Scheme (ABICS). Is this the case?
A. The ABICS scheme has closed. It was aimed at individual asbestos surveyors who did not wish to apply for UKAS accreditation for commercial reasons. Now, the only external assessment scheme available for asbestos surveyors is UKAS. Unfortunately, this may increase costs for those seeking a survey, but the only alternative is to carry out your own assessment of competence using HSE guidance. Whilst this is possible, we wouldn’t recommend it.
Tip. UKAS has prepared a detailed guidance document which identifies why it’s vital to appoint someone who knows what they’re doing (see Thenextstep). In addition, the document explains what a survey involves and what you can expect the surveyor to do whilst they’re on your property. If you need a survey, this document is definitely worth a look.
For a copy of the UKAS guidance document, visit http://healthandsafety.indicator.co.uk (HS 10.06.08).
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