What is an Asbestos Risk Assessment?

A risk assessment is an examination of the potential hazards that could cause harm to people within the workplace, identify the type of hazard and risk level posed, allowing clients to effectively minimise the potential risks and manage any residual risks through implementing preventative measures. Specifically, an Asbestos Risk Assessment assesses the risks relation to asbestos and the hazards associated with disturbed materials in context to the surrounding environment and individuals.

An Asbestos Risk Assessments is essential to assess your asbestos hazards, to assess how to reduce and control the risks as far as is reasonably practicable. Putting in place a suitable and sufficient Asbestos Risk Assessment will give you a good idea of the risks your team may potentially be exposed to, the controls currently in place, and further actions required to reduce risks to an acceptable level.

Your Asbestos Risk Assessment should cover these five steps as outlined by the HSE:

1. Identify the hazards and risks
2. Decide who might be harmed and how (your employees, your contractors, members of the public)
3. Evaluate the risks and decide on precautions (using qualitative or quantitative measures to identify the level of risk and the likelihood that someone will be harmed by the risk)
4. Record your significant findings
5. Review your risk assessment whenever changes to the situation or workplace environment occur and update the recorded risk levels where required

Why should you use an external Asbestos Risk Assessment Consultant?

Conducting Asbestos specific Risk Assessments, implementing your risk aversion measures and reviewing their effectiveness on site can be a time consuming process for you as the Duty Holder. 

To ensure your team and contractors are protected from potential risks of asbestos exposures, procuring an external Asbestos Risk Assessment Consultant can save you both time and money. By building the correct health and safe systems of work (SSOW), ensuring your documentation is correct, and implementing effective control measures, accidental asbestos exposures and unnecessary risks can be avoided. 

What are my responsibilities?

If you are the duty holder, you are required to manage your asbestos risks in line with the Control of Asbestos Regulations (CAR) 2012. 

Lucion Services is UKAS accredited and the UK’s market leader in asbestos inspection, testing, and consultancy. Our Asbestos Risk Assessment services are part of our wider asbestos consultancy services which combine a consistent structured approach to proactive hazardous material management. 

Our asbestos management team can help you to manage your asbestos risks correctly, achieve compliance, and protect your team and other individuals from potential asbestos exposure.

Want to partner with a purpose driven holistic environmental services supplier? Click 'Make an Enquiry' now or give our team a call on 0345 5040 303.