Asbestos Contractors

Asbestos warning tape

ALL asbestos removal or abatement work must be carried out by competent persons who have sufficient training, experience and knowledge appropriate to the nature of the work to be undertaken. This must include practical training. An asbestos awareness course is not sufficient. Regulation 16 and Schedule 4 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Asbestos) Regulation 2006 details the evidence that a contractor can provide to show their ability to perform asbestos work.

Please refer to Section 9 of the HSA Guidance Document in relation to training requirements for different categories of contractors.

Specialist Asbestos Contractors

Any work with asbestos insulation (for example, pipe/ thermal insulation), asbestos coatings (for example, ‘limpet’ spray coating) or asbestos insulating board must be carried out by competent specialist asbestos contractors. Any maintenance or repair work with asbestos insulation, spray coatings or asbestos insulating board should be restricted to specialist asbestos contractors. Specialised training is required for workers involved - see Section 9 of the HSA Guidance Document.

Section 12 of the HSA Guidance Document provides advice on selection of a specialist asbestos contractor.

Low risk asbestos work

Persons who will intentionally disturb or remove low risk asbestos containing material, such as asbestos cement and textured coatings, should receive practical training, specific to the risks associated with low risk asbestos work. Please see Section 9 of the HSA Guidance Document. Workers likely to fall within this category include roofers and demolition operatives removing asbestos cement roof sheets.

Asbestos Waste

For information on asbestos waste see here.