Lessons learned · HSE-2026-002
Unlicensed contractor engaged to clear up major asbestos disturbance
Demolition work at a site in Staffordshire was stopped after asbestos was discovered, but an unlicensed company and individual were then brought in to manage the clean-up instead of a licensed asbestos contractor. An investigation found the demolition had not been properly planned or managed, leading to prosecution of two companies and a site manager.
Published by the Institute · reviewed
What happened
Demolition work was underway when asbestos-containing materials were disturbed on site. Rather than halting work fully and engaging a licensed asbestos removal contractor to deal with the disturbance, an unlicensed company and individual were appointed to manage the clear-up. The investigation found that the demolition project as a whole had not been adequately planned, with insufficient pre-demolition survey information and no clear management arrangements for dealing with asbestos risks that arose during the works. This meant workers and others on site were potentially exposed to asbestos fibres without the controls, training, or equipment required for safe handling. The regulator found failures in the coordination between the principal contractor, the demolition contractor and those responsible for asbestos management, resulting in prosecution of two companies and the site manager. The case highlights the importance of stopping work immediately when unexpected asbestos is found and ensuring only licensed contractors handle any subsequent removal, rather than treating it as a routine part of the demolition programme.
Contributing factors
- Inadequate pre-demolition survey
- Unlicensed contractor used for asbestos work
- Poor planning and management of demolition
- Unclear responsibilities between contractors
What to take from it
- Stop work immediately if suspected asbestos-containing material is found during demolition
- Only engage a licensed asbestos removal contractor for any disturbance of ACMs
- Ensure a thorough refurbishment/demolition survey is completed before work starts
- Clarify roles and responsibilities between principal contractor and specialist contractors
- Provide site managers with clear escalation procedures for unexpected hazardous finds