Where can I find a list of asbestos licence holders in the UK?

As difficult as it might be to believe in some respects today, asbestos – a naturally occurring fibrous silicate mineral – was once an extremely widely used material in the UK. The substance saw heavy use across such sectors of the economy as shipbuilding and construction, on the basis of advantages including its physical strength, fire resistance, and effectiveness as an insulator.

As the 20th century wore on, however, the severe risks that asbestos posed to human health became increasingly difficult for politicians – and society as a whole – to ignore. Finally, towards the end of 1999, all forms of asbestos were banned in the UK.

Fast-forward to the 2020s, and while asbestos remains present in many buildings up and down the country that were constructed or renovated during the substance’s peak period of use, there are also stringent regulations to help manage the risks the material can still pose to health.

The UK’s asbestos licensing regime plays a major role in this. It effectively complements the broader framework of UK health and safety law, helping to ensure that those responsible for the management of premises containing asbestos take the necessary steps to ensure safety.

If you are responsible for a property in the UK in which asbestos is suspected or confirmed to be present, you might have heard about the importance and benefits of working with asbestos professionals who have been licensed by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

But what do you need to know about the asbestos licensing system in the UK, when is a licence needed or not needed for work with asbestos, and where can you find a list of asbestos licence holders in the UK?

The role of asbestos licensing in the UK

As we set out above, the basic purpose of asbestos licensing in the UK, is to help ensure the safest practices are followed by those who seek to work on asbestos materials. To this end, the management of asbestos in the UK is subject to stringent rules, as set out in relevant legislation such as the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR 2012).

There is nothing in current UK law that requires any and all traces of asbestos to be removed from buildings. So, in many instances, those responsible for managing and maintaining such buildings have decided to leave the asbestos inside, and to simply monitor and manage it over time.

However, in situations where asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) to judged to pose a greater risk of harm to human health, the decision may be made to remove those materials from the site altogether.

Whether the decision is made to manage asbestos or to remove it in any given case, the UK’s asbestos licensing system helps to ensure the highest standards of safety and regulatory compliance.

Do you need a licence to work with asbestos?

The short answer to this question is that it broadly depends on the level of risk involved in whatever asbestos work you are intending to carry out.

As the UK Government agency that is responsible for the regulation and enforcement of workplace health, safety, and welfare, the HSE sets out detailed information on the asbestos licensing regime in the UK, both on its website and in its free downloadable HSG247 document, Asbestos: The licensed contractors’ guide.

Basically, the major areas of distinction are between non-licensed asbestos work, and licensed asbestos work.

Work with asbestos may be exempt from requiring a HSE licence if it poses a comparatively low risk. Examples of non-licensable asbestos work, as stated by the HSE, include the drilling of textured decorative coatings in order to install fixtures and fittings, and encapsulation and sealing-in work on ACMs that are in good condition.

Most higher-risk work with asbestos, however, must only be carried out by a HSE-licensed contractor. Examples of licensable work with asbestos – again, as cited by the HSE – include removal or other work that may disturb pipe lagging, as well as any work involving loose fill insulation.

When you are attempting to decide whether any particular work with asbestos on a site for which you are responsible would require a licence, you will need to consider a number of factors. These will include the friability of the asbestos that will be worked on – in other words, how susceptible the asbestos will be to breaking up – as well as the complexity of the asbestos work.

Identifying licensed asbestos work

The decision on whether any given asbestos work that you wish to carry out is licensable or non-licensable, will be extremely important for quite a number of reasons.

If you choose to hire a licensed asbestos professional, you will have the peace of mind of knowing that they have carried out certified training and hold relevant qualifications. They will also use a high standard of appropriate equipment and protective gear, and will adhere strictly to UK health and safety regulations.

Of course, if you do decide to go with a company or individual that holds an asbestos licence, you will also naturally wish to verify their licence before you hire them. This is one more very good reason why you might be seeking out a list of asbestos licence holders in the UK.

List of asbestos licence holders in the UK

The UK Asbestos Training Association, or UKATA, maintains a list of HSE-licensed asbestos removal contractors. For your convenience, we have reproduced it here. Please note: the following details were correct at the time of publication.

Things to consider when hiring an asbestos licence holder

In the event that you do determine the asbestos work you wish to undertake is licensable, and that the services of a licensed contractor will therefore be necessary, the below steps will help ensure you choose a suitably qualified and reliable professional:

• Check their licence details on the register The aforementioned UKATA list includes the HSE licence number and expiry date for each listed company, as well as information on the type of licence that each organisation holds.

• Request proof of the contractor’s certification and training In order for anyone to carry out licensed asbestos work, they will need to have undertaken asbestos licensed training – otherwise known as category C or Cat C training. Furthermore, records should be kept of the training that each given individual has completed.

• Read reviews and testimonials A simple Google search of the company name that you are considering should produce some interesting reading. This will almost certainly include Google reviews by real human beings who have used that organisation’s asbestos consultancy, management, and/or removal services.

• Verify the contractor’s insurance coverage Whether a given asbestos contractor is licensed or non-licensed, they will need to be covered for public liability, as well as – if they have employees – employer’s liability.

Benefits of hiring licensed asbestos contractors

Even in cases where asbestos work may be judged to be non-licensable, the individual or organisation seeking to have such work carried out might conceivably choose to engage the services of a licensed contractor regardless.

In many respects, this should not be so surprising. After all, hiring a licensed asbestos professional means a property’s dutyholder under CAR 2012 can tap into such advantages as:

• The licensed contractor’s higher level of expertise in safe asbestos removal and management, compared to non-licensed asbestos contractors
• The licensed worker’s diligent compliance with the UK’s stringent asbestos regulations
• Lowered risks to human health and the environment, due to the greater knowledge, skills, and experience in asbestos management and removal that licensed contractors possess.

Avoiding unlicensed asbestos contractors

Even in situations in which the services of a licensed asbestos contractor would not be a strict requirement for carrying out the given asbestos work, here at Oracle Solutions, we do still advise against the hiring of unlicensed professionals for any kind of work on asbestos.

The need to ensure the very highest level of safety in how asbestos is managed on your premises, is one powerful reason to only place your trust in licensed asbestos professionals.

However, there is also an equally strong need to stay on the right side of the law, not least given the severe legal consequences that can await those who do not manage asbestos in a compliant manner.

Serious breaches of asbestos regulations can lead to an unlimited fine and/or up to two years’ imprisonment. Such legal violations may be much likelier to occur if you depend on the services of a non-licensed individual for the management and/or removal of asbestos on your premises.

Conclusion: for truly effective asbestos work, make sure you hire licensed professionals

We hope that this guide will have left you in no doubt about the importance of only hiring licensed asbestos professionals, whatever the nature and scale of your intended asbestos work may be.

There are certain circumstances in which the use of a licensed asbestos professional might not be strictly required, and it is worth being aware of these. However, the truth remains that if you wish to be assured of genuinely safe and effective asbestos work – as anyone seeking to arrange work on this dangerous material should aspire to – there is no substitute to an asbestos licence holder.

Would you like to learn more about our own asbestos services at Oracle Solutions, and to receive a fast and free quote? If so, you are welcome to enquire to us by email, or to call the Oracle team team.