ASM | Asbestos update ·
Who signs off asbestos removal?
If you commission licensed asbestos removal, check who appoints the analyst before you accept the quote. From 25 November 2027, the employer responsible for making sure the area has been thoroughly cleaned will be barred from choosing the person who assesses it for reoccupation. The change applies across England, Scotland and Wales.
Why does the analyst’s appointment matter?
After licensed removal, an analyst carries out four-stage clearance to assess whether the area can be handed back. If the analyst finds debris during the visual inspection, the contractor must clean the area again before clearance can proceed.
In its 3 November announcement, HSE identified a potential conflict of interest when the removal contractor selects the analyst who will check its work. The change to regulation 20 addresses that appointment. The published regulations give 25 November 2027 as the start date for the new clearance rule. Read the amendment and its commencement dates.
What should you check in a removal quote?
If the price includes both removal and clearance testing, ask who will appoint the analyst. A client can appoint the analytical organisation directly. Check that its UKAS accreditation covers four-stage clearance and record the appointment in the project documents. If an existing framework covers jobs scheduled after 25 November 2027, review its appointment terms before issuing the next order.
HSE guidance on choosing analysts and surveyors · ASM asbestos air monitoring
What did HSE say about surveys and non-licensed work?
HSE continues to recommend accredited organisations for asbestos surveys. Give the surveyor the scope of the proposed work, then check the report against it. For example, if an electrician needs access above a ceiling and the survey records that void as inaccessible, resolve the gap before anyone opens it. HSE advice on arranging a survey.
HSE also confirmed that notifiable non-licensed work will remain a category. These jobs can be undertaken without an asbestos licence, but the relevant enforcing authority must be notified before work starts. HSE is developing clearer guidance on which jobs fall into the category. Read HSE’s full consultation response.
What if someone uncovers suspected asbestos?
Stop work immediately. Keep others away, leave the material undisturbed and tell the person in charge. If the material has already been disturbed, follow HSE’s instructions for accidental disturbance before work resumes. HSE’s worker’s guide to asbestos safety.
HSE guidance and supporting documents
HSE said it plans to revise its Approved Code of Practice and Analysts’ Guide later in 2026. The links below include the announcement, the published law and HSE’s guidance.
