On Wednesday 10 June 2026, a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspector arrived unannounced at our St Patrick’s project in Southport, Merseyside. Our HSE-licensed team was mid-way through the controlled removal of approx. 200m² of asbestos insulating board (AIB) — one of the highest-risk licensed asbestos materials. For the next hour, every aspect of the site was under examination. No notice, no preparation time: the inspector assessed the site exactly as it runs every day.
The former social club had reached the end of its life, with asbestos insulating board present throughout the main function rooms. Before any licensed asbestos removal could begin, our team completed a full soft strip of the interior and prepared the working areas in line with the approved plan of work.
The inspector’s first focus was the site set-up. The complete polythene sheeting of walls, floors and every surface other than the asbestos itself drew particular comment — he described it as an anomaly, something he rarely encounters on inspections. It is the standard we apply to every licensed asbestos removal project, from Southport to sites across the North West and UK.
A thorough audit of our site documentation followed: plant records, operative training, demonstrations of proficiency (DOPs), asbestos medicals, face-fit testing and the live project risk assessment and method statement (RAMS). All present, current and in order.
The inspector was particularly impressed with our procedures for monitoring hand-arm vibration (HAVS) and noise on site — and how clearly that information is displayed for the site team. He also photographed our innovative site log for his own reference: an in-house system that keeps live project information visible and accessible to everyone on site.
Within the working area, the inspector verified adequate negative pressure inside the enclosure, with vision panels positioned to give 360° visibility from multiple points. The mobile access tower — a common source of findings on other contractors’ sites — was correctly erected with toe boards and the proper layout throughout.
The inspector observed live AIB stripping techniques and bagging procedures, then asked our site supervisor to demonstrate his knowledge of decontamination procedures — which he did confidently and correctly.
This is another excellent HSE audit for the team, following the same result at our most recent inspection. Our slogan — Working With Excellence — wasn’t written first and lived up to afterwards; it was coined from the working practices our clients and regulators see on site every day.
Read more about our licensed asbestos removal service, our guide to asbestos insulating board (AIB), or browse our completed asbestos removal projects across the UK.
