Emergency Asbestos Response
Asbestos disturbed during building works or maintenance? Immediate containment advice, same-day emergency assessment, and safe make-good — prioritised ahead of scheduled work. Works-halted situations mobilised within hours.
If asbestos-containing material is disturbed during building or maintenance work — whether identified or suspected — works must stop immediately. The area should be vacated and not reoccupied until it has been assessed by a qualified specialist. Under no circumstances should disturbed materials be swept, vacuumed with a standard vacuum cleaner, or handled without appropriate PPE and containment measures in place.
Stop works immediately. If you suspect asbestos has been disturbed, stop all works, vacate the area, and contact us. Do not re-enter until a specialist has assessed the situation. Do not attempt to clear up dust or debris.
A significant asbestos disturbance incident may engage reporting obligations under RIDDOR (the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013) if a worker has been exposed to asbestos fibres at a level likely to be harmful. Our specialists will advise on whether a RIDDOR report is required and assist in its preparation if necessary.
The most effective way to prevent asbestos disturbance emergencies is to commission a refurbishment and demolition survey before any building work begins on a pre-2000 property. A survey identifies all ACMs in the proposed works area before work starts, allowing removal to be planned and programmed safely. Emergency situations are disproportionately costly and disruptive compared to planned removal — prevention is significantly cheaper than response.