ASBESTOS CONSULTANCY

Contact us today for a free quotation!

01376 440654

Welcome to D.S.M. Asbestos Consultants Ltd - Asbestos Surveys & Removals

DSM Asbestos Consultants Ltd is an Essex based company with a wealth of experience in providing asbestos services to commercial customers, housing associations, local authorities and domestic home owners. We pride ourselves on our depth of knowledge and ability to provide our customers with a proficient service and make sure that any asbestos found undergoes the correct measures and protocols.

Our team of consultants and surveyors can provide you with a wide range of services, which include:

  • Asbestos Surveys
  • Asbestos Removals
  • Asbestos Management
  • Toxic Waste Removals

As a result of the regulations surrounding asbestos being tight due to its detrimental properties and the serious health risks involved, it is imperative that all our work complies with these established regulations. We appreciate that you may not understand the complexities of the asbestos regulations; therefore, we are committed to providing an informative service whilst ensuring that you are confident with our work at every stage of the project.

The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 came into force on 6 April 2012, updating previous asbestos regulations to take account of the European Commission's view that the UK had not fully implemented the EU Directive on exposure to asbestos (Directive 2009/148/EC).

These Regulations bring together the three previous sets of Regulations covering the prohibition of asbestos, the control of asbestos at work and asbestos licensing.

The Regulations prohibit the importation, supply and use of all forms of asbestos. They continue the ban introduced for blue and brown asbestos in 1985 and for white asbestos in 1999. They also continue to ban the second-hand use of asbestos products such as asbestos cement sheets and asbestos boards and tiles; including panels which have been covered with paint or textured plaster containing asbestos.

Duty to manage asbestos

The Asbestos Regulations also include the 'duty to manage asbestos’ in non-domestic premises which gives a clear duty to identify and manage asbestos containing materials, this places the responsibility on anyone responsible for non-domestic properties, ranging from building managers, land lords to main contractors.

Are you a dutyholder?

According to the ACOPL143 the ‘dutyholder’ includes employers and the self-employed if they have responsibilities for maintaining or repairing non-domestic premises and the owner of those premises whether they are occupied or vacant. The duties in the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 will rest with the person in control of maintenance in the non-domestic premises, whether that be the occupier or landlord.

This will involve carrying out an inspection of the building. Ideally, an independent expert can be appointed from a specialist organisation to undertake this work. (Note the task can be delegated but not the legal responsibility). The results of the inspection should indicate the locations of ACMs, the risk of fibre release from the material, the condition of the material and how likely they are to be damaged. This information must then be recorded in an asbestos register and be maintained on site for the life of each building and must be available, for example to any visiting contractor to prevent accidental exposure. The register should be periodically updated.

If you are a duty holder and require further assistance in managing your asbestos risk or producing your survey do not hesitate to contact us for professional advice and assistance.