What to Ask an Asbestos Contractor Before Your Survey

When you suspect asbestos may be present in your home, business premises, or commercial property, it’s natural to feel concerned. Asbestos is a dangerous material, and its presence should never be taken lightly. But, before you pursue removal, it’s crucial to ensure you’re working with qualified professionals.

At Cordtape, we’ve supported clients across the UK with asbestos management for over three decades, and we know that your peace of mind is just as important to successful survey and removal as the removal itself. That begins with knowing the right questions to ask before any asbestos survey is carried out. That’s why we’ve put together a foolproof list of things you should ask when you contact asbestos contractors for a survey.

1. Is the contractor fully licensed? 

One of the very first things you should ask an asbestos contractor is whether they hold an up to date licence. In the UK, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) requires contractors carrying out licensable asbestos work to hold a valid licence.

A licensed asbestos contractor has demonstrated the competence, systems, and training required to handle hazardous materials safely.

Although this information should be listed on their website, you should conduct checks yourself to make sure that their licence is valid. This is because incorrect removal or disposal of medium to large scale asbestos carried out by unlicensed contractors is illegal, and can lead to further harm for you, your family, your employees, and even the environment.

Be sure to check:

• If their licence is up to date
• If they can provide their licence number
• If they are licenced for both survey and removal work

Unlicensed work is only allowed under very specific conditions, and even then, only by trained professionals. If in doubt, it’s best to practice caution and choose a licensed contractor.

2. What is the procedure for assessment and removal? 

A reputable asbestos contractor should be able to clearly outline their full process from initial inspection through to removal and disposal. This will help you understand the timeline, logistics, and whether there will be any disruption to your property.

Ask for details such as:

• What type of asbestos survey will be carried out? (e.g., management survey or refurbishment and demolition survey)
• What equipment will be used?
• What happens during the survey?
• How will you determine the extent of asbestos present?
• What happens after the survey if asbestos is found?
  
  

3. Can they provide information on the risks? 

Every property and situation is different when it comes to the presence of asbestos, and it is always wise to be informed of the risks.

Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation and scaremongering about asbestos online, and even though it is wise to be cautious and concerned about the presence of asbestos containing materials (ACMs), you also need to make sure that the information you have is correct. Professional asbestos surveyors will be able to address any concerns and provide accurate information on the associated risks.

For more information, we have outlined the most common myths and risks in our blog: Busting Common Asbestos Myths (Everything You Need to Know About Asbestos) 

4. What training and qualifications do they have? 

Asbestos survey and removal can pose a significant risk to the health of people who live or work in the building, as well as those who exist in the surrounding areas. That’s why professionals in asbestos management must undergo extensive, ongoing training.

Your contractor should be able to provide evidence of qualifications for all individuals involved in the survey and any subsequent work. Reputable contractors will be happy to provide this information.

Ask about:

• BOHS P402 qualification for asbestos surveying
• Additional training in asbestos awareness or removal
• Ongoing professional development and refreshers
• Experience with similar properties or industries
  
  

5. What health and safety precautions will be taken? 

If the contractors are regulated by HSE and have up to date training and qualifications, then all the necessary safety precautions will be taken when they survey the site. However, if you are nervous about any risks, then you are within your right to ask how residents will be kept safe.

Ask about containment of the area, the procedure for preventing fibre release, and emergency plans in case anything goes away.

This is especially important if the survey is being carried out in a school, care home, hospital, or other occupied premises with vulnerable individuals.

6. What do I need to do?

When you suspect there may be asbestos in your property or working environment, it can be easy to panic. But, with the right information, you can make sure you’re doing the right things. 

And, it can be far better to find this information out from professionals themselves rather than search engine results, as they will give you more comprehensive information that is tailored to your situation.

This could involve:

• Avoiding touching or disturbing the area
• Keeping employees at home until it is removed
• Blocking off the area

For your peace of mind and the ease of the contractors, it is really important that you ask for this information prior to the survey, and following the survey too.

7. Will the asbestos be disposed of responsibly?

Disposing of asbestos waste must follow strict environmental and legal requirements. Ask your contractor how they handle waste disposal and whether they use licensed facilities.

This question isn’t a necessity, but irresponsible and improper disposal can lead to serious environmental and human harm, so it’s worth confirming upfront that the contractor follows best practices.

8. Do they have testimonials and reviews you can see? 

Finally, reputation matters. A contractor that’s done excellent work in the past will always be happy to share customer feedback.

Check their website, Google reviews, or industry platforms for client testimonials, case studies and references upon request. Asbestos removal is serious and should be treated as such, so no amount of research is too much. You can’t put a price on making sure that you’re choosing the right people to carry out the work.

Look for evidence of professionalism and excellent communication. Don’t be afraid to ask for examples of similar jobs they’ve completed, particularly if your property has unique challenges.

At Cordtape, we can assist you in locating and identifying Asbestos Containing Materials with our Asbestos Survey and Sampling service. If we do locate the presence of asbestos, our Asbestos Removal team will extract it from your premises in accordance with Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. Our team is fully qualified to manage all aspects of asbestos assessment, removal, refurbishment and waste management.

We take the time to answer all your questions before, during, and after a survey.

With over 30 years of experience and a team of professionals, we ensure that every survey is delivered with accuracy, compliance, and safety in mind.