What are Hazardous Materials

Hazardous materials can be found within and around the built environment, on the site before construction work has taken place or they can be introduced through activities on the site.

Hazardous materials can pose a risk to human health for people living or working in the properties, to visitors, neighbours or to the general population. They can also impact on the health of livestock, on water and air quality and some hazardous materials can have an adverse effect on the construction materials used which could cause structural damage or failure.

What Hazardous Material Surveys can Lucion provide?

Lucion Services provides Hazardous Material - (HazMat) - Surveys supported by analysis of materials identified as posing a risk to the health and safety of people, or which pose a risk to the wider environment.

The Hazardous Material Surveys we offer include:

• Standard HazMat Survey covering a defined scope of investigation
• Premium HazMat Survey with additional items included - based on current or previous use of the site, additional identified risks or regulatory requirements
• Bespoke HazMat Surveys can also be undertaken to meet specific client requirements

All our services are delivered by trained, qualified and experienced surveyors and are in line with client requirements including agreed KPIs for quality, safety and delivery.

Survey findings and test results are provided through NexGen; Lucion's innovative delivery system.  This allows clients to manage the risks posed within their built environment  and ensure regulatory compliance.

What Hazardous Materials should be inspected and tested?

Hazardous materials come in many forms and often pose risks to both health and the environment.  They may have been present and laid  undetected for a long time, could have been stored on site, may have been used in historical activities on site or could now be evident due to a recent, accidental release.

Such materials include but are not limited to:

• Asbestos
• Organotin Compounds (including TBTs and microbiological marine anti-fouling compounds) 
• Heavy Metals in Paints
• Mercury
• Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)
• Polybrominated biphenyl (PBBs)
• Polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCN - more than 3 chlorine atoms)
• Short chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs - Chloroalkanes C10-C13)
• Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD)
• Tributyltin Compounds (TBTs)
• Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS)

Our Capabilities

Lucion’s laboratory is internationally UKAS ISO 17025 accredited and demonstrates competence in testing and calibrating results. Located in the UK and operating 7 days a week, our facility is capable of processing a staggering 6,000 bulk samples per week (in line with UKAS restrictions of 60/70 sample points per day, per analyst).

As one of Europe’s largest multidisciplinary hazardous substances testing laboratories, we have developed a suite of services including the Inspection and Testing of multiple potential hazardous materials.

Many of our staff are dual-qualified surveyors and asbestos analysts who hold CCNSG safety passports and are trained and qualified to IPAF and PASMA and are trained and experienced in working in confined spaces and working at height.

Our national coverage through our regional office network gives us the capacity to allocate key skills and resources to undertake and complete complex survey programmes - including multiple high priority areas - within agreed deadlines.

What are my responsibilities?

A strong regulatory environment means that there is a legal requirement for  employers to control substances hazardous to health  - COSHH - and The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (the Management Regulations) explicitly details what employers are

required to manage health and safety under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. They apply to all work activities. 

Within this regulatory framework, HazMat Surveys can form a key part in the identification of potentially harmful substances on site - whether used in activities on the site or present on the site. 

HazMat inspection, testing and certification reports will provide information for employers to then  undertake the on-site risk assessments required and use them to comply with these and other regulations which may require action in response to particular hazards identified or in industries where hazards are particularly high.