Found Asbestos in Your Demolition or Refurbishment Project? Hire the Experts

Asbestos is a fairly common problem when buildings are being demolished or stripped for refurbishment by site clearance and building demolition companies. In fact, you’re likely to find this dangerous material in a lot of buildings that were constructed before 2000, before the risks were fully known and understood.

Even now, around 3,000 people die in the UK every year from diseases related to asbestos, which releases deadly fibres that attack the lungs when inhaled. These diseases include lung cancer, mesothelioma, pleural thickening and, of course, asbestosis.

That’s why it’s exceptionally important to hire experts in the field if you suspect your building is old enough to have asbestos. They can correctly identify its presence through a survey and remove and dispose of it safely.

If the removal is carried out by someone who either doesn’t know or has no regard for the risks, it doesn’t just put them at risk. It also poses a danger to anyone in the immediate area, which could include you and your family, or if you’re running a commercial project, other workers or the building occupants.

What to Look for in an Asbestos Removal Firm

First of all, you should expect any asbestos removal firm worth its salt to insist on a site visit. While you can speculate on the chances of the material being present based on the building’s age and in some cases, its nature, confirmation should be sought on-site. This also allows for an accurate calculation as to the extent of the problem.

The quote you are given for the work of disposing of the material will also give you some clues as to the genuineness or otherwise of the contractor who’s pricing up the work. Of course, we all want to save money, but if the quote is too cheap or light on detail, it’s likely corners will be cut. A good contractor will be able to identify the severity of the problem and recommend the most economical way of removing it.

Next, check for any necessary accreditations. If the asbestos problem is judged to be low-risk, then it can entirely legally be addressed by an unlicensed contractor, but they should still be able to demonstrate that they have a fair amount of experience and knowledge on how to remove and dispose of the material safely. If, on the other hand, the asbestos found is classed as high risk, the contractor carrying out the work must be licensed and approved to do so by the Health and Safety Executive. Either way, the contractor must have a waste removal licence for disposing of the material.

Finally, speaking of experience, it’s always best to opt for a firm that can demonstrate a good track record in asbestos removal. Ask for references and look for word of mouth recommendations from other people in your local area to make sure the firm has a good reputation.

M & L Stevens, Experienced Asbestos Removal

Here at M & L Stevens, we’re highly experienced in carrying out asbestos surveys, which we do through a dedicated site visit. We have the expertise to carry out the removal of low grade asbestos and work with a fully licensed and highly recommended firm if you have high grade asbestos on site. If you want more information on asbestos removal in the South East, give us a call.