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Asbestos removal must be carried out by trained, competent professionals in order to protect people’s health, ensure strict regulatory compliance and avoid wider, more long-term risks to people and property. Whether you're managing a commercial building or reviewing asbestos in a residential setting, the effectiveness and compliance of expert asbestos removal comes down to the competence of the company and operatives undertaking the work.
In brief, here's what you need to know:
In this blog post, we’ll be learning more about how effective asbestos removal works and why professional support matters. Fundamentally, the removal of asbestos should always be carried out by professionals and never attempted by untrained parties.
Effective asbestos removal relies on using the right people, following the correct procedures and meeting all regulatory safety standards when removing asbestos-containing materials (ACMs). EMS Asbestos has over 20 years of experience delivering compliant asbestos removal services and is recognised as a market-leading consultancy across the West Midlands and UK-wide.
Key reasons to trust EMS Asbestos include:
The biggest consequences relate to the health of those exposed to asbestos. Failing to correctly and safely carry out asbestos removal can expose building occupants to the dangerous fibres contained within the material, which can be breathed in. That’s why using a trained, professional removal company like EMS is essential to do the job properly. Understanding how effective asbestos removal is matters because the consequences of getting it wrong can be serious.
Risk of Inhaling Fibres After Poor Asbestos Removal
One of the risks of incorrect ACM removal is the potential to release microscopic fibres when the asbestos is disturbed. Unsafe containment, removal and disposal procedures can lead to these fibres being inhaled by not only those doing the work but also by building occupants and those nearby. Once inhaled, asbestos fibres can remain in the lungs, leading to ill health.
Exposure to asbestos fibres is linked to a range of asbestos-related diseases, including asbestosis and mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer affecting the lung lining. Despite its total ban in the UK in 1999, around 5,000 people in the UK die every year from asbestos-related diseases. The risk of developing these conditions increases significantly with repeated or prolonged exposure, which is why strict procedures and professional removal methods are essential for any work involving asbestos.
Those failing to manage or remove asbestos safely can face legal consequences, including large fines and imprisonment. For more serious breaches, the law allows for unlimited fines and up to two years’ imprisonment. This applies to both individuals and businesses that fail to meet their legal duties, particularly where workers or the public are put at risk. How effective asbestos removal is will often determine whether your business stays compliant with UK asbestos regulations, including CAR 2012, and health and safety guidance (HSG) documents HSG264 and HSG248.
Failing to manage asbestos (and its removal) properly could lead to claims from individuals harmed by exposure. Courts can award compensation when it's shown that duty-holders, such as employers or building managers, did not meet their legal obligations to prevent harm. This includes damages for mesothelioma or asbestosis, especially where asbestos safety standards were not met.
EMS provides professional ACM removal across the West Midlands, including Birmingham, Worcester and Shropshire, and across much of the UK, with surveyors, analysts and removal teams based nationwide. With offices in Hereford, Cardiff, Worcester and London, EMS offers services for both licensable and non-licensed asbestos-containing materials across the UK.
We also offer asbestos surveys (including management surveys, refurbishment surveys and demolition surveys) and asbestos re-inspections, along with asbestos management plans and project management services.
Once the work has been completed, the removal team should agree that the area is clean and you are satisfied. The contractor will then issue you with a certificate of cleanliness, which you may be asked to sign. For licensed work, a four-stage clearance process, including independent air monitoring and visual inspection, confirms whether asbestos has been effectively removed and the area is safe to reoccupy. A ‘Certificate of Reoccupation’ is then issued.
EMS offers responsive asbestos removal support across the UK. For urgent issues, call 0800 358 1100 to speak directly with the team. Many removals can be arranged promptly depending on material type, site risk and access. EMS can also carry out emergency site assessments where needed.
Some materials require notification to the HSE. This process takes a minimum of 14 days and is a legal requirement.
The amount of time taken will vary from site to site depending on several variables, including the quantity and type of ACMs, their location and the steps necessary to either safely contain or remove the materials. EMS will assess site conditions and advise on the safest and most practical schedule.
If keeping the business operational is essential, working methods or times may be able to be designed with this in mind.
If you’re asking, “How effective is asbestos removal?”, the answer really does depend on who you trust to carry it out. With over 20 years of experience and a proven track record of compliance-led support, EMS Asbestos is your partner for safe, reliable ACM removal across the UK, including:
EMS offers expert support across a range of asbestos services. Get in touch with us today on 0800 358 1100, email info@emsgroupuk.com or use our contact form. Our consultants are here to help, and we also have more information about removing asbestos here on our blog, including an article on how asbestos is removed and whether you can remove asbestos yourself.
