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The British Occupational Hygiene Society [BOHS] announced the closure of the Asbestos Building Inspectors Certification Scheme [ABICS] last week. This means that individual Asbestos Surveyors who don't work for UKAS accredited organisations, can no longer demonstrate competence, as recommended in HSE's guidance HSG 264: Asbestos, the Survey Guide.
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The British Occupational Hygiene Society [BOHS] announced the closure of the Asbestos Building Inspectors Certification Scheme [ABICS] last week. This means that individual Asbestos Surveyors who don't work for UKAS accredited organisations, can no longer demonstrate competence, as recommended in HSE's guidance HSG 264: Asbestos, the Survey Guide.
The failure of the ABICS follows on from a similar scheme established jointly by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors RICS and the Asbestos Removal Contractors Association (ARCA).
This scheme failed due to a lack of voluntary support. John Richards, Managing Director of UKAS Accredited Asbestos Survey Firm, Thames Laboratories said:
"In other correspondence issued by ABICS they have indicated the only 30% of candidates passed the initial certification leading to competency. This figure is similar to that of the NIACS scheme and raises the question about the thousands of individuals undertake asbestos surveys in terms of competency and ability to perform the task. Given the failure of both ABICS and NIACS we would hope that compulsory accreditation is only a short way off".
Steve Perkins, Chief Executive of BOHS, states, "Despite the support of the Health and Safety Executive [HSE], the cooperation with UKAS, and the high level of initial interest from individual surveyors that ABICS has always generated, we have come to the conclusion - after eight years of significant and unsustainable investment - that a voluntary certification scheme is not viable in the extremely competitive environment of asbestos surveying."
It was recognised many years ago that there are individual asbestos surveyors who are competent but who operate as sole traders or in small companies outside UKAS accredited organisations, and who are not likely to apply for UKAS accreditation for commercial reasons.
The concept of personal certification was developed out of recognition of this need, and ABICS finally achieved UKAS accreditation as a personal certification scheme in February 2009, launching as a cost-effective alternative to company accreditation for individuals and smaller companies. BOHS say they remain committed to the control of exposure to asbestos at work and in the community, and they maintain their original position, behind the decision to develop ABICS in the first place, that competence is key in this particular sector where lives can be put at risk through incompetence.
It is estimated that there are between half a million and a million non-domestic properties which still contain asbestos, and there is an increasing requirement for the more invasive refurbishment/demolition surveys which are particularly demanding.
In the worst case scenarios, incompetent surveying can and does result in uncontrolled exposure to asbestos if a tradesperson disturbs a material they wrongly believe to be free of asbestos: there are some 4,000 asbestos related deaths annually in the UK, with the greatest occupational risk for tradespeople, such as electricians, plumbers and joiners, etc.
Many BOHS members have seen the results of poor asbestos surveys and report that dutyholders - anyone with repair or maintenance responsibilities of commercial premises who must have a plan for managing any asbestos containing materials within the premises they own or occupy - are often unsure how to identify high quality surveyors.
"Unfortunately, the closure of ABICS means there is now no means for individual surveyors to demonstrate their experience and competence", explains Martin Stear, Chair of the ABICS Management Committee, "but without a mandatory requirement built into legislation, this clear need for personal certification, and the high level of interest in ABICS, is not translating into an adequate demand in the form of actual applications from surveyors or specifications from Dutyholders. Sadly, therefore, the trustees and directors of BOHS have made clear that the Society can no longer justify support or resource for a scheme which is clearly not working."
FAQs - BOHS announces the closure of ABICS
1. What will happen to the individuals who are in the process of applying for ABICS?
ABICS has a three stage application process with fees payable at the start of each stage. Anyone who is in the process of applying for ABICS will be reimbursed all staged application fees paid to date in full. BOHS will contact all applicants directly and endeavour to reimburse these fees within four weeks of the date of this formal contact.
2. Will those individuals who have already achieved ABICS certification be able to continue to use the certification commercially as a demonstration of competence, and for how long?
All ABICS certified individuals may continue to cite their certification as evidence of competence at the time of issue, and BOHS will provide confirmation of ABICS attainment, where requested. However, as the Scheme has closed and is not being maintained, it will no longer hold UKAS accreditation and individuals will not be monitored and therefore, unfortunately, confirmation of ABICS attainment cannot and will not imply that it is a current certification.
3. Will those who have already achieved ABICS certification be eligible for any reimbursement of fees paid?
Yes. All individuals who have already achieved ABICS certification will be reimbursed their application fees in full. As with candidates who are currently in the process of applying, BOHS will contact them individually and endeavour to reimburse the fees within four weeks of the date of this formal contact.
4. How can individual surveyors who don't work for UKAS accredited organisations now demonstrate competence, as recommended in HSE's guidance HSG 264: Asbestos, the Survey Guide?
Unfortunately, following the closure of ABICS, there are no personal certification schemes now available, therefore individual surveyors can only demonstrate their competence through attainment of the basic asbestos surveying qualification, P402 'Buildings Surveys and Bulk Sampling for Asbestos', demonstration of refresher training, and presentation of a CV which establishes length of experience and provides testimonials/references. BOHS reiterates that HSE guidance only recognises P402 as a basic minimum requirement for asbestos surveyors; it does not, on its own, demonstrate competence or experience.
5. Who made the decision to close ABICS?
Whilst ABICS has always been run by an independent Management Committee, comprising representatives from across the industry, it was originally set up by BIOH, which merged with BOHS in January 2003 and became the Faculty of Occupational Hygiene, a part of BOHS. ABICS has been funded in full by BIOH/BOHS from the start. It was therefore the trustees (the Council) of BOHS who took the difficult decision to close ABICS, based on an assessment of its viability.
6. When and why was the decision made to close ABICS?
It has become clear that, despite the support of the Health and Safety Executive [HSE], the cooperation with UKAS, and the high level of initial interest from individual surveyors that ABICS has always generated, a voluntary certification scheme is not viable in the extremely competitive environment of asbestos surveying. Without a mandatory requirement built into legislation, the clear need for personal certification which was behind the scheme in the first place (and which BOHS continues to believe remains valid), has simply not translated into an adequate demand in the form of actual applications from surveyors or specifications from dutyholders to make it either workable or financially viable. This decision was finally taken on 4 October 2010.
7. Who can I contact for further information?
If you are a surveyor in the process of applying, or have already been awarded ABICS certification, we will contact you directly. However, if you have an immediate query which you don't feel has been answered here, please contact Charlotte Collis, ABICS Administrator, charlotte.collis@bohs.org, 01332 250710. For all other queries, please contact: Anthea Page, Communications Manager, anthea.page@bohs.org, 01332 250701. www.thameslabs.co.ukwww.environmental-asbestos-surveys.co.uk
ENDS.
About Thames Laboratories
Thames Laboratories was established in 1991 and provides a range of services to enable clients to comply with ever increasing regulatory requirements. Since its inception, Thames Laboratories has established a reputation as a leading consultancy in the specialised field of asbestos identification, management and monitoring.
The increasing complex requirements for statutory inspections mean that we have grown our range of specialist consultancy services to include disability access audits, fire inspections (as set out in the Regulatory Reform Order (Fire) 2005), and energy audits .
Thames Laboratories is UKAS Accredited for its range of asbestos services, and BRE Certificated for its fire inspection services.
Thames Laboratories, Hollow Farm, Hilton Road, Fenstanton, Cambridgeshire, PE28 9LJ (Asbestos Services, Asbestos Surveys, Legionella Services, Fire Safety Services, Energy Reviews ).
Tel: 0800 085 2348 Email: info@thameslabs.co.uk Website: www.thameslabs.co.uk Blog: www.environmental-asbestos-surveys.co.uk
Contact Information
John Richards
Thames Laboratories
0800 085 2348
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