Are you as safe with the asbestos removal companies as you think?

The Asbestos Liaison Unit (ALU) run by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have published their 2005/06 Statistical Update reporting the outcomes of 868 site visits to licensed asbestos experts across the country.

The report found that the most frequent problems identified during asbestos work continued to be standards of enclosure, decontamination units, supervision and work methods. Although the percentages of the different types of errors discovered were marginally down from figures in previous years, the sheer volume of asbestos work being carried out still leaves these occurring at a rate far greater than is acceptable.

According to the ALU report, the amount of asbestos abatement work carried out in the UK has increased for the 6th year running with well over 51 000 notifications of asbestos work recorded, an increase of 17% from last year’s figures.

Since asbestos first made headline news with its potential health risks, the asbestos abatement industry has gone from strength to strength, but now the UK is suffering from the associated increase in asbestos abatement problems.

Anyone who has asbestos identified in their property, whether in domestic or commercial premises, opens themselves up for potential exploitation by unscrupulous, or unwittingly substandard, asbestos removal contractors.

If anyone is concerned about the standards of asbestos abatement, the costs involved or is experiencing problems with asbestos in general, please contact Asbestos Watchdog on their free enquiry service or mail@asbestoswatchdog.co.uk for further information and advice.

Asbestos abatement industry shifts up a gear leaving the public paying the price

In recent weeks, the internet has been flooded with asbestos removal companies advertising their services. Not unusual considering the constant need for advertising, but this time, the fierce competition between asbestos removal companies is taking on a new edge.

Asbestos claims lawyers are increasingly successfully mass generating hysteria about exposure to asbestos. The result? More property owners panic removing asbestos containing materials, whatever their condition and location and the asbestos removal industry pulling out all the stops to win the booming contracts.

Unfortunately, though this may benefit asbestos claims lawyers and the asbestos abatement industry, it does little to help the property owners caught in the hysteria. The abatement industry uses the hype to justify quoting hugely over-inflated prices for asbestos removal procedures and the public are left paying well over the odds for generic procedures.

Before undertaking ANY asbestos removal work, it is essential that you check your quotes with Asbestos Watchdog's free price check service. Asbestos Watchdog will be able to investigate your quote and let you know if you are being given a fair price or not. Should you not be being quoted fairly, Asbestos Watchdog will also guide you through the process of finding a fair contractor.

Asbestos Watchdog has already saved the UK over £22 million of unnecesary overcharging, to see how they can save you, please visit their website www.asbestoswatchdog.co.uk, or enquire on their free enquiry service, mail@asbestoswatchdog.co.uk.

Asbestos Price Check

There is so much debate currently surrounding asbestos fibres and their toxicity, what asbestos containing products look like, whether they need to be removed, etc, that it is becoming increasingly easy to get press-ganged into expensive asbestos abatement procedures without fully understanding either the exact need for it, or indeed, the justifcation for the expense.

With the more unscrupulous surveyors working hand in glove (under commission) with licensed asbestos removal contractors, there are a worrying number of people having their ignorance and fear of asbestos exploited.

The first step in receiving any quote for asbestos abatement work, whether it be encapsulation, removal, or other, is always to consult the Asbestos Watchdog UK (http://www.asbestoswatchdog.co.uk) to price check the quote you have been given.

The Asbestos Watchdog's enquiry service is free and easy to use, and their independent advisors will be able to tell you nearly immediately if the estimate you have received for your asbestos work is reasonable. In the case of your quote not being reasonable, Asbestos Watchdog will also aim to help you in your next steps to find a more suitable asbestos removal company.

Please send any quotes you are unsure about, alongside the main details of your asbestos problem, to mail@asbestoswatchdog.co.uk.