When Is Asbestos Removal Notifiable In Hampshire?

Asbestos is a mineral that was widely used in the construction industry for its excellent fire resistance and insulating properties. However, it is a carcinogen and can lead to lung cancer and other respiratory diseases when inhaled. For this reason, asbestos has been banned in the UK since 1999, but it is still present in many buildings constructed before this date. As a result, asbestos removal in Hampshire is a growing concern for property owners, contractors, and workers in various industries.

If you are planning to undertake work that may disturb asbestos, you need to determine whether the work is notifiable or exempt. This landing page provides information about asbestos removal in Hampshire, including when asbestos removal is notifiable, the types of work that require formal notification, and how to comply with the regulations.

Affordable Asbestos Removal Hampshire

At Affordable Asbestos Removal Hampshire, we provide professional asbestos removal services in Hampshire and the South East of England. Our experienced team of asbestos removal specialists is fully trained and licensed to remove asbestos safely and efficiently. We follow strict procedures to ensure that our work meets the highest health and safety standards and complies with all regulations.

We understand that asbestos removal can be expensive, especially for private homeowners or small businesses. That's why we offer competitive rates for all our services, without compromising on quality or safety. We pride ourselves on delivering excellent customer service and ensuring that our clients are fully informed about the asbestos removal process from start to finish.

Work with Asbestos

Asbestos can be found in various building materials, such as insulation, fireproofing, ceiling tiles, roofing, and pipes. Asbestos fibers can be released into the air when these materials are disturbed, damaged, or degraded. Therefore, asbestos removal is necessary when such materials are being removed, repaired, replaced, or maintained.

The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR 2012) sets out the legal requirements for working with asbestos in the UK. The regulations apply to all properties that were built or refurbished before 2000. The regulations aim to protect workers and the public from the harmful effects of asbestos exposure and ensure that asbestos is safely managed and removed.

Asbestos Contractor

If you need to undertake work that involves asbestos removal, you must hire a licensed asbestos contractor. A licensed asbestos contractor is a company that has been approved by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to undertake licensable asbestos work. Licensable asbestos work includes the most hazardous types of asbestos work, such as:

• Work with asbestos insulation, asbestos coating, and asbestos insulating board (AIB)
• Work that is likely to release asbestos fibers in the air, such as drilling, cutting, sawing, or breaking asbestos-containing materials

Risk Work

Some types of asbestos work are considered lower risk and do not require a license, but you still need to take precautions to ensure that the work is done safely. Non-licensed asbestos work includes:

• Work that involves non-friable asbestos materials, such as asbestos cement and textured coatings
• Work that is not likely to release asbestos fibers in the air, such as removal of asbestos-containing floor tiles or cement products
• Work that is incidental to other non-asbestos-related work, such as drilling into walls that contain asbestos insulation

Licensable Work

If you need to undertake licensable asbestos work, you must notify the HSE at least 14 days before starting the work, using the online notification form. You must also provide the HSE with a plan of work, a risk assessment, and a method statement that explain how you will remove the asbestos safely and protect workers and the public from exposure.

You must also ensure that:

• All workers involved in the work have received appropriate asbestos training and are competent to do the work
• The work area is sealed off and clearly marked as a hazard zone
• The asbestos is removed using suitable equipment, tools, and techniques
• The asbestos waste is disposed of according to the regulations

Higher Risk

If the work involves continuous exposure to asbestos fibers or involves high-risk activities, such as blasting or using power tools, you must also appoint an asbestos analyst to monitor the air quality during the work. The analyst will take air samples before, during, and after the work to ensure that the asbestos fiber levels are below the legal limits.

Non-Licensed Work

If the work involves non-licensed asbestos work, you do not need to notify the HSE, but you still need to ensure that the work is done safely and without causing harm to workers or the public. You should follow the asbestos essentials guidance, which provides practical advice on how to manage asbestos safely in non-domestic premises.

Examples of Non-Licensed Work

Some examples of non-licensed asbestos work include:

• Drilling into asbestos cement products for electrical wiring or plumbing works
• Cleaning or maintaining asbestos-containing materials, such as boilers or ducts
• Removing small amounts of asbestos-containing materials, such as asbestos insulation from pipes or gaskets
• Repainting or encapsulating asbestos-containing materials, such as asbestos ceiling tiles or textured coatings

Asbestos Essentials

Asbestos Essentials is a series of guides published by the HSE that provides practical advice on how to manage asbestos safely in non-domestic premises. The guides cover various topics, such as:

• Asbestos management plans
• Asbestos surveys
• Asbestos removal and waste disposal
• Asbestos awareness training
• Emergency procedures
• Record-keeping and documentation

The guides are free to download from the HSE website and are essential reading for all employers, building owners, and workers who may come into contact with asbestos.

Available Asbestos Work in Hampshire

If you have asbestos-containing materials in your property, you may need to undertake asbestos removal work to ensure that the materials are safely managed and removed. Affordable Asbestos Removal Hampshire offers a range of asbestos removal services, including:

• Asbestos surveys
• Asbestos sampling and analysis
• Asbestos removal
• Asbestos waste disposal
• Asbestos encapsulation
• Asbestos management plans

We have many years of experience in asbestos removal in Hampshire and the South East of England, and we can provide you with a cost-effective solution that meets your needs and budget.

Need for Notification

In some cases, you may need to notify the HSE before starting the asbestos removal work. The need for notification depends on the type and extent of the work and the risk of exposure to asbestos fibers. Notification is required for:

• Licensable asbestos work
• Non-licensed asbestos work that is likely to expose workers to asbestos fibers above the control limit
• Non-licensed asbestos work that is notifiable under other legislation, such as the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015

Two Types of Notification

There are two types of notification:

Notifiable Non-Licensed Work (NNLW)

NNLW is non-licensed asbestos work that is likely to expose workers to asbestos fibers above the control limit. You need to notify the HSE at least 14 days before starting the work, using the online notification form. You must also provide the HSE with a plan of work, a risk assessment, and a method statement that explain how you will remove the asbestos safely and protect workers and the public from exposure.

Notifiable Licensed Work (NLW)

NLW is licensable asbestos work that requires a license and also involves a higher risk of exposure to asbestos fibers. You need to notify the HSE at least 14 days before starting the work, using the online notification form. You must also provide the HSE with a plan of work, a risk assessment, and a method statement that explain how you will remove the asbestos safely and protect workers and the public from exposure.

Notification Cases

Examples of notification cases include:

• Removal of asbestos insulation or AIB that is non-licensed but still likely to expose workers to asbestos fibers above the control limit
• Removal of sprayed coatings or asbestos insulating board that requires a license
• Demolition of a building that contains asbestos
• Refurbishment or renovation work that involves the removal or disturbance of asbestos-containing materials

One Notifiable Case out of 40

It is estimated that only one in every 40 asbestos removal projects in the UK require formal notification to the HSE. However, all asbestos removal work must be done safely and in compliance with the regulations, regardless of whether notification is required.

Asbestos Awareness Course

If you work in a building or construction industry, it is essential to have a basic understanding of asbestos and its dangers. The Asbestos Awareness Course is a mandatory training program for all workers who may come into contact with asbestos as part of their work. The course covers various topics, such as:

• Properties and uses of asbestos
• Health hazards and risks of asbestos exposure
• Types and locations of asbestos-containing materials
• Control measures and safe work practices
• Emergency procedures and first aid

The course can be taken online or in a classroom setting and can be completed in a few hours. Affordable Asbestos Removal Hampshire offers Asbestos Awareness Training to ensure that your workers are aware of the dangers of asbestos and how to work safely with asbestos-containing materials.

Asbestos Removal Across Types

Asbestos removal is necessary in various types of premises, including:

• Residential buildings, such as houses, flats, and apartments
• Commercial buildings, such as offices, factories, and shops
• Industrial buildings, such as warehouses, power plants, and manufacturing facilities
• Public buildings, such as schools, hospitals, and government offices
• Transport vehicles, such as trains, ships, and airplanes

Affordable Asbestos Removal Hampshire has experience in asbestos removal across all types of premises and can provide tailored solutions to meet your needs.

Participating in Non-Licensed Asbestos Work

If you are participating in non-licensed asbestos work, you should ensure that you are trained and competent to do the work safely. You should also wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), such as respiratory protection and disposable overalls, and follow safe work practices, such as wetting asbestos-containing materials before removal and avoiding using power tools on asbestos.

Fire Affordability

Asbestos is highly resistant to fire and heat, which is why it was widely used in the construction industry. However, asbestos-containing materials can also pose a fire hazard if they are not properly managed or removed. Asbestos can release toxic gases and smoke when it burns, which can cause serious health hazards and spread the fire.

Affordable Asbestos Removal Hampshire can provide fire affordability surveys to assess the fire risk of your property and recommend suitable fire protection measures. We can also remove any asbestos-containing materials that pose a fire hazard and ensure that your property is fire-safe.

Necessary Asbestos Removal in Hampshire

If you own or manage a property that may contain asbestos, it is essential to have a plan for managing and removing asbestos safely and in compliance with the regulations. Failure to do so can result in significant fines and legal liabilities, as well as health hazards for workers and the public.

Affordable Asbestos Removal Hampshire can help you with all aspects of asbestos management and removal, including surveys, sampling, analysis, removal, waste disposal, management plans, and awareness training. Contact us today at 01962 458066 or at [email protected] to discuss your needs and receive a free quote. We are dedicated to providing high-quality asbestos removal services at affordable prices and ensuring the safety of our clients and the environment.