RAMS for Asbestos Removal
Generate compliant risk assessments for licensed and non-licensed asbestos removal in under 2 minutes. CAR 2012, HSG264, and HSG247 cited automatically.
Built with UK health & safety regulations in mind
Asbestos removal is the most heavily regulated removal activity in UK construction, and justifiably so. Asbestos-related diseases kill around 5,000 people in the UK every year, more than any other single work-related cause. The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR 2012) create a comprehensive framework of legal obligations for anyone who works with or near asbestos-containing materials (ACMs), from the requirement for a licensed contractor to carry out high-risk removal to the documentation, notification, and clearance requirements that apply to every job.
RAMS for asbestos removal are not optional, not generic, and not interchangeable between jobs. CAR 2012 Regulation 7 requires a written plan of work for licensed asbestos work. This plan of work functions as the asbestos RAMS and must be specific to the ACM type, the location, the removal method, and the decontamination procedure. The HSE inspects asbestos removal operations regularly, and inadequate RAMS is one of the most common grounds for prohibition and prosecution.
swiftRMS generates asbestos removal RAMS in under 2 minutes. Specify the asbestos type (licensed or non-licensed), the work location, the removal method, and the decontamination and waste disposal arrangements. Get a PDF that cites CAR 2012 by regulation number, references HSG264 and HSG247, and meets the plan of work requirements.
What Asbestos Removal RAMS Must Include
Compliant risk assessments for asbestos removal work must cover these specific areas
ACM identification and type
RAMS must confirm the type of asbestos identified (chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite), the form (lagging, insulating board, ceiling tiles, sprayed coating), the condition, and the extent. This information must come from a survey carried out under HSG264.
Plan of work (licensed work)
CAR 2012 Regulation 7 requires a written plan of work for licensed asbestos removal before work begins. RAMS for licensed work is this plan of work: it must detail how the work is to be carried out, the RPE and PPE required, the enclosure design, DCU arrangement, and waste disposal route.
HSE notification for licensed work
Licensed asbestos removal must be notified to the HSE at least 14 days before work begins (CAR 2012 Regulation 9). RAMS must confirm that notification has been or will be submitted and include the reference number.
Air monitoring and clearance
Four-stage clearance is required after licensed asbestos removal: visual inspection, background air sampling, clearance air sampling, and independent UKAS-accredited laboratory analysis. RAMS must document the air monitoring plan and who will carry out each stage.
Decontamination unit (DCU) specification
The DCU is the controlled facility for operative decontamination. RAMS must specify the DCU type (Type H, full DCU for licensed work), its location relative to the enclosure, and the decontamination procedure.
Waste management and disposal
Asbestos waste is classified as hazardous waste under the Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005. RAMS must document the waste packaging method (double-bagged, labelled, sealed), transport route, waste carrier registration, and licensed tip.
Common Asbestos Removal Tasks That Require RAMS
Generate RAMS for any of these tasks in minutes, not hours
Licensed sprayed asbestos coating removal
The highest-risk asbestos removal category. Full enclosure, negative pressure unit, respirator-grade RPE (minimum EN12941 TH3), and full DCU required.
Asbestos insulation lagging removal (pipe lagging)
Licensed work in most cases. Enclosure, DCU, wetting of material to suppress fibre release, and careful mechanical removal.
Asbestos insulation board (AIB) removal
Licensed work. AIB is a friable material that releases fibres easily. Removal requires full enclosure and plan of work.
Notifiable non-licensed work (NNLW)
Certain asbestos materials can be removed without an asbestos licence but require notification to the HSE: most cement products, asbestos reinforced composites. RAMS must document notification and the controls appropriate to NNLW.
Non-licensed asbestos work
Non-friable materials such as asbestos cement sheets in good condition. No licence required but COSHH assessment and RPE (P3 filter) required. RAMS must document the material type, condition assessment, and wet removal method.
Asbestos floor tile removal
Often non-licensed if tiles are in good condition and not friable. However, underlying adhesive may contain asbestos and require more careful assessment.
Encapsulation of asbestos (where removal is not practicable)
An alternative to removal. RAMS must document the CAR 2012 justification for encapsulation rather than removal, the encapsulant used, and the ongoing management plan.
UK Legislation for Asbestos Removal Risk Assessments
Every RAMS automatically cites the relevant UK legislation and industry standards
Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR 2012)
The primary legislation. Regulations 7 (plan of work), 9 (notification), 10 (air monitoring), 11 (clearance), and 16 (RPE) are most directly relevant to the content of asbestos RAMS.
HSG264: Asbestos - The Survey Guide
The HSE's guidance on asbestos surveys. RAMS must confirm the survey type (Management or R&D) and that it has been carried out under HSG264.
HSG247: Asbestos - The Licensed Contractors' Guide
The definitive guidance for licensed asbestos contractors. All licensed RAMS should be consistent with HSG247.
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH)
Asbestos is a biological agent under COSHH. Fibre release must be minimised and controlled at source.
Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005
Governs the packaging, labelling, transport, and disposal of asbestos waste.
Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2009
Applies to the transport of asbestos waste in bulk or in certain quantities.
How swiftRMS Generates Asbestos Removal RAMS
swiftRMS generates asbestos removal RAMS by asking the legally required questions: Is this licensed, notifiable non-licensed, or non-licensed work? What ACM type is being removed? What removal method will be used? What decontamination facilities are in place? What is the waste disposal route?
Based on your inputs, the output is a plan of work that meets the requirements of CAR 2012 Regulation 7 for licensed work, or a compliant COSHH risk assessment for non-licensed asbestos activities. The document cites the relevant regulations by number, includes the required RPE specification, decontamination procedure, and waste management plan.
The PDF is formatted to the standard expected by the HSE and principal contractors. It can be submitted as the notification document or appended to it, stored as the pre-commencement plan of work, and kept as the compliance record for the job.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 define three categories: licensed work (mandatory licence for high-risk removal), notifiable non-licensed work (NNLW, notification required but no licence), and non-licensed work (no licence or notification required, but COSHH controls still apply). The category depends on the asbestos type, form, condition, and the work involved.
Four-stage clearance is the inspection and air testing regime required after licensed asbestos removal to confirm the area is safe for re-occupation. Stage 1: visual inspection by the contractor. Stage 2: background air monitoring. Stage 3: clearance air monitoring (reassurance sampling). Stage 4: independent UKAS-accredited analyst confirms results are below clearance criteria (0.01 f/ml).
At least 14 days before the work begins under CAR 2012 Regulation 9. Emergency removal may be notified with less notice in exceptional circumstances, but this must be justified.
swiftRMS generates the plan of work (RAMS) for the asbestos removal operation. HSE notification is submitted via the HSE's ISAN online portal as a separate process. The swiftRMS RAMS can be attached to the notification as your plan of work document.
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