Asbestos Surveys and Sampling Wales
Our Services
To satisfy the requirements of CAW 2006, West Environmental Services Ltd offers a complete service to its clients, meeting every aspect of the regulations from initial assessment through to final report stage and ongoing management.
These include:
- asbestos Management Surveys;
- asbestos Refurbishment/Demolition Surveys for tendering purposes;
- assisting clients with risk assessments for ACM’s;
- specifications for asbestos-related works;
- development of asbestos management plans;
- development of internal systems and procedures;
- asbestos registers in hard copy or digital format;
- training and awareness workshops;
- contractor competency;
- on-site audits;
- minor works on ACM’s;
- dealing with emergencies.
What the law requires
The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 (Regulation 4) requires those responsible for non-domestic premises (“dutyholders”) to assess and safely manage any asbestos containing materials (ACM’s). More info on The duty to manage asbestos
This apparently simple statement disguises a complex series of tasks which need to be carried out by all types of organisations in order to comply with law.
In addition, while regulation 4 of CAW 2006 applies specifically to non-domestic premises, other legislation clearly applies to houses and flats, resulting in additional responsibilities for landlords and contractors.
Surveys are undertaken in accordance with the procedures set out in the 2010 publication HSG 264 " Asbestos – The Survey Guide"
Surveyor Competence
To effectively assess buildings for ACM’s, the Health and Safety Executive recommends the services of appropriately qualified and experienced asbestos surveyors. In fact, the HSE emphasises that a poor survey is worse than no survey.
All our surveyors are directly employed, properly qualified, experienced and insured for work in domestic, commercial and industrial premises while material samples are analysed by laboratories that are accredited and meet all the standards required by the regulations.
We can be called upon 24 hours of every day for advice and, where necessary, action in the form of vehicles, equipment and suitably qualified personnel who can be on site within hours.
Report Format
West Environmental Services Ltd can provide new or updated detailed building registers for premises, identifying the locations and types of asbestos materials discovered during the survey. These may be in hard copy for small premises, or in electronic format for clients with a large number of properties, where the reliable and accurate dissemination of information is critical.
In our experience, there are several disadvantages with hard copy registers:
- they quickly become outdated when maintenance work is carried out;
- it is difficult to pass on the information to others who need it;
- managing large amounts of data soon becomes a major problem.
On the other hand, having registers in electronic format overcomes all these difficulties. They are easy to update, easy to query and write reports, and easy to export to other areas. The information can be readily linked to most other property maintenance software packages.
Where clients are using hard copy registers provided by another company, West Environmental Services Ltd can convert these into user friendly and flexible electronic databases which can include photographs and floor plans.
Effective management of asbestos containing materials is part of CAW 2006; West Environmental Services Ltd can advise on, or prepare, a strategy for managing these risks through a programme of repair, encapsulation, removal and disposal, as necessary. Programmes of regular inspections, complemented by advice and recommendations, can also be included.
In circumstances where contractors are to carry out work which may involve the disturbance of asbestos, West Environmental Services Ltd can advise on their suitability and level of competence.
Surveys may include the following:
- digital photographs;
- analytical findings and certification;
- building site video records;
- detailed reports with options, observations and conclusions;
- electronic survey results, and/or hardcopy;
- floor plans and drawings in Word format or other software (e.g.CAD)
Image supplied courtesy of "The Office of Public Sector Information HSE"
For more information or telephone 01633 613882