Can Anyone Complete an Asbestos Survey ?

Can anyone do an asbestos survey ?

The short answer is no — not just anyone can complete an asbestos survey. Identifying and assessing asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) is a specialised task that carries serious health and legal implications. Due to the risks involved, only trained and competent individuals should undertake asbestos surveys. Attempting to carry out a survey without the proper knowledge, experience, and equipment can lead to dangerous exposure, costly mistakes, and legal consequences.

What Is an Asbestos Survey?

An asbestos survey is carried out to identify the presence, type, location, and condition of asbestos in a building. This information is vital for managing asbestos safely and ensuring compliance with the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 in the UK. There are two main types of asbestos surveys:

Management Survey: For routine occupation and maintenance.
Refurbishment and Demolition Survey: Required before any major work is carried out on a building.

Both types of surveys must be accurate, thorough, and legally compliant, which means they must be completed by someone who is properly trained and qualified.

Legal Requirements

Under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, the duty to manage asbestos lies with the person responsible for maintaining non-domestic premises — often landlords, building owners, or managing agents. However, these duty holders are not expected to carry out surveys themselves. Instead, they must ensure that any asbestos survey is conducted by a competent person.

A competent person is defined as someone who has the appropriate training, qualifications, and experience to carry out the survey and interpret the results safely and accurately. This means they must:

Understand how to identify different types of asbestos.
Know how to conduct safe sampling and inspection.
Be able to assess the condition and risk associated with ACMs.
Follow approved guidance, such as HSG264: Asbestos: The Survey Guide.

Necessary Training and Accreditation

Qualified asbestos surveyors usually hold the BOHS P402 certification: “Surveying and Sampling Strategies for Asbestos in Buildings.” Many work for organisations that are UKAS-accredited (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) to ISO/IEC 17020 for asbestos surveying.

UKAS accreditation is not a legal requirement, but it is highly recommended. It ensures that the organisation follows recognised procedures, maintains competence, and provides reliable, standardised survey results. For higher-risk buildings or complex surveys, using a UKAS-accredited surveyor is considered best practice.

Dangers of Unqualified Surveys

Letting an unqualified person carry out an asbestos survey can be extremely dangerous. Without the proper expertise:

Asbestos materials may be missed or misidentified.
Unsafe sampling methods may release fibres.
Inaccurate reports can lead to inadequate management or exposure risks.
Legal obligations may not be fulfilled, leading to enforcement action.

In short, cutting corners with asbestos surveying puts people’s health at risk and can result in severe legal and financial penalties for duty holders.

Conclusion

While it might be tempting to handle an asbestos survey in-house or on a tight budget, the risks far outweigh the savings. Not just anyone can or should complete an asbestos survey. It must be done by a trained, competent, and experienced professional, ideally from a UKAS-accredited organisation. This ensures the safety of everyone involved and keeps you compliant with the law