An asbestos surveyor, also sometimes known as an asbestos consultant or inspector, will be trained to at least BOHS P402 standard, and have wide experience of surveying properties for the presence of asbestos. He or his company will possess Professional Indemnity and Public Liability insurance to protect the client from negligence on site or in the content of advice provided.
The asbestos surveyor will undertake a survey to help his client comply with the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 and the survey itself will be carried out in accordance with HSG264, a set of guidelines issued by HSE. Every part of the property will be examined, and any suspect materials will be identified. If the asbestos surveyor is not sure if a material contains asbestos, he may take a small sample for analysis. Until the material is proved by the analysis not to contain asbestos, it must be presumed that it does.
Asbestos surveyors will normally also take photographs of suspect materials for inclusion in their reports, and prepare a sketch of the property which serves to confirm the location of samples, and the extent of the survey.
On completion, the asbestos surveyor will prepare a report which will include the photographs, sketches, results of any analysis and a list or register, of asbestos materials. The report will also include any recommendations from the asbestos surveyor concerning the removal or treatment of confirmed asbestos containing materials. If the surveyor is also qualified to BOHS P405, he may discuss how the client can create a management plan. This is actually the principal requirement of the Regulations, and places an obligation on the owner or tenant of a property to ensure that any asbestos containing materials within the building do not present an undue risk to the health of employees, contractors and members of the public
