View all Other Services services

Asbestos Risk Assessment

Quick Menu
Asbestos Risk Assessment
Request a call back
We will process your data in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
You can opt out of these communications at any time by updating your preferences.
Asbestos Risk Assessment

Asbestos Risk Assessment

Help is available if you need to carry out an asbestos risk assessment in the UK. Many buildings constructed before the turn of the millennium were produced via the use of asbestos. This means there’s a big chance that your home or business premises are harbouring asbestos if they were built before the year 2000. Asbestos is generally harmless if it is left untouched. However, problems can arise when its toxic fibres are disturbed. An asbestos risk assessment is carried out to ensure that the material can be removed safely.

Absestosis and its symptoms

Long-term asbestos exposure can cause a serious lung condition that’s known as asbestosis. When asbestos dust is breathed in, asbestos fibres enter the lungs. The damage worsens over time. There is a chance people will come into contact with asbestos if they spend time in an environment where existing asbestos is disturbed. People who are at particular risk of coming into contact with asbestos fibres can include heating and ventilation engineers, plumbers, demolition workers, electricians, construction workers.

Exposure to asbestos can result in scarring of the lungs. Someone who has contracted asbestosis may experience shortness of breath, a persistent cough, extreme tiredness or fatigue, wheezing, pain in their shoulder and chest and even clubbed fingertips. The symptoms of asbestosis can take many years to appear. However, asbestos can be fatal and is also incurable. This is why it’s so important to keep risk to a minimum when working on a site where asbestos is known or suspected to be present.

Do you need to carry out an asbestos removal risk assessment?

If you have a project planned that could cause asbestos fibres to be disturbed and released into the air, it’s essential to have an asbestos risk assessment carried out.

Before starting any work that is likely to disturb asbestos, a suitable and sufficient risk assessment must be prepared by the employer or person in charge of the premises. This means examining the potential risks to health and identifying which precautions are needed to make the work safe. Whoever carries out the asbestos removal  risk assessment must have a sufficient level of knowledge, training and expertise. This is to make sure that they understand the risks from asbestos (and general risks) to enable them to make informed decisions about the risks and identify the appropriate action required to reduce them. They will also need to be able to estimate the expected level of exposure to help them decide whether or not the control limit is likely to be exceeded.

Working closely with the client’s legal ‘Dutyholder’, our Risk Assessor locates and assesses all accessible Asbestos containing materials in building fabric and plant equipment.

Contact Comfort Services Group today to find out how we can help you to identify any potential areas of concern via an asbestos risk assessment, our quotes are free with no obligations.

Get a FREE consultation
We will process your data in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
You can opt out of these communications at any time by updating your preferences.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an asbestos risk assessment?

An asbestos risk assessment is a survey that determines whether asbestos-containing materials or ACMs are present on a site. If ACMs are present, the resulting report will contain information on the nature of the asbestos-containing materials and how much of them there are on the site in question. The risk assessment makes it easier to decide how the risks will be managed if there are any. It’s vital that a risk assessment is carried out if there is any chance that somebody could be exposed to asbestos fibres as a result of the proposed work being carried out.

Who is responsible for risk assessment with asbestos?

If the asbestos removal risk assessment risk is being carried out in a workplace, the employer is responsible for arranging it. The person or people who carry out the risk assessment need to have sufficient competence and experience to conduct it. They must have a detailed understanding of the risks attached to asbestos exposure so they can make educated decisions about the risks and recommend suitable actions for reducing them. If further work is required before the project can commence, the report must include information on which controls will be needed to reduce exposure. These can include the use of PPE, local exhaust ventilation and enclosures.

How often should you have an asbestos risk assessment?

If asbestos is known or thought to be present in a commercial building, assessments need to be carried out every 6 to 12 months. The time required between inspections will depend on a range of factors. These can include the type of ACM, where the asbestos-containing material is located and its condition. It’s essential that any arrangements outlined to control the risk have been implemented and are working efficiently. If asbestos isn’t managed effectively, fines and penalties may be incurred. Some people have even faced prison sentences after failing to deal with asbestos in a legally-compliant manner. An asbestos risk assessment UK can help you to avoid these legal problems.