The short answer
Match the contractor to the job. Higher-risk work needs a contractor holding an HSE licence. Surveys and analysis should come from UKAS-accredited organisations. Whoever you choose, ask for a written quote, a plan of work, proof of insurance and the waste paperwork afterwards.
1. Is the work licensed?
HSE says most higher-risk work with asbestos must only be done by a licensed contractor. That includes sprayed coatings, most removal of pipe lagging and insulation, and most work on insulating board. Lower-risk work, such as removing cement sheets carefully without breaking them, is usually non-licensed, though some tasks are notifiable. Our guide to licensed and non-licensed work explains the categories.
2. Check the licence
For licensed work, the contractor must hold a current licence (regulation 8). Licences last up to three years. Check the company appears on the list of current licence holders linked from HSE’s licensing pages, linked from HSE’s licensable work page. Make sure the name on the list matches the company quoting you, and ask about the licence’s expiry date. For licensed work, they must also notify the enforcing authority at least 14 days before starting, unless a shorter time is agreed.
3. UKAS for surveys and analysis
Laboratories analysing samples should be accredited to ISO/IEC 17025. Air testing and clearance must be done by accredited analysts. For surveys, HSE strongly recommends surveyors accredited to ISO/IEC 17020, though this is not a legal requirement. You can check accreditation on the UKAS website. Be wary of anyone describing themselves as “HSE-approved” surveyors. HSE licenses removal contractors. It doesn’t approve surveyors.
4. Training and insurance
Workers doing non-licensed asbestos work need suitable training. Ask what training the team has and how recently it was refreshed. Ask for details of public liability insurance and check that the policy covers asbestos work, as some general policies may not.
5. Plan of work and method
No asbestos work should start without a written plan of work (regulation 7). It should explain what will be done, where, how, with what equipment and how the area will be cleaned. Ask to see it. A clear plan is a good sign that the job has been thought through.
6. Waste paperwork
Asbestos waste must be wrapped, labelled and taken to a permitted site by a registered waste carrier. For hazardous waste in England, a consignment note travels with the load. Ask who will take the waste and check them on the public register of waste carriers. Keep your copy of the paperwork. See our waste disposal guide.
7. A written quote
Get the quote in writing. It should say what is included: preparation, removal, disposal, any testing and making good. Our prices page explains how we quote, and we price each job individually.
Red flags
- Cash only, with no invoice.
- No written quote, plan of work or waste paperwork.
- Disposal priced so low it’s hard to see how the waste could be handled properly.
- Offers to do licensed work without a licence, or vagueness about who holds it.
- Pressure to decide on the spot, or to skip testing.
- Suggestions to break sheets up to make them easier to carry.
If you’d like a quote from us for a survey, testing or removal, get in touch.
Quick answers
How do I check an HSE asbestos licence?
Look for the company on HSE’s list of current licence holders, linked from HSE’s licensable work page, and check the name matches the firm quoting you.
Does every asbestos job need a licensed contractor?
No. Lower-risk work such as careful removal of cement sheets is usually non-licensed. Lagging, sprayed coatings and most insulating board need a licence.
What paperwork should I get after removal?
A copy of the waste consignment note, and for licensed work a certificate for reoccupation from an independent analyst.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. For the law itself, see the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 and HSE’s asbestos pages. Not sure what you’re dealing with? Ask us.