Asbestos Removal RAMS Guide for UK Contractors

Licensed vs Non-Licensed Work — The Legal Distinction

Licensed work

Asbestos insulation, asbestos insulation board (AIB), and asbestos lagging removal — and any work where fibres are highly likely to exceed WEL or where the exposure cannot be reliably reduced — requires a licence from the HSE. Only a licensed contractor may carry out this work. The RAMS must state the licence number, notify HSE at least 14 days before work starts (ASB5 form), and include a licensed supervisor on site.

Notifiable non-licensed work (NNLW)

NNLW is work with asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) that does not meet the licensed work criteria, but exceeds a short duration threshold or involves certain material types. NNLW must be notified to the relevant authority, health records kept for 40 years, and medical surveillance considered. The RAMS must identify the correct category and reference CAR 2012 Regulation 9.

Non-licensed work (NLW)

Short-duration, low-risk work where exposure is unlikely to exceed WEL. Still requires a risk assessment and method statement, appropriate RPE (minimum P3 filtering facepiece), training for operatives, and proper waste disposal. No notification required, but records of exposure must be kept.

Other Key RAMS Requirements for Asbestos Work

• Air monitoring — Licensed work requires 4-stage clearance procedure with an accredited analyst (UKAS-accredited B licence analyst for clearance); four-stage clearance procedure: thorough clean, visual inspection, air testing, re-occupation
• Enclosures — Licensed removal typically requires a negative-pressure enclosure; the RAMS must describe enclosure type, NPU specification, and smoke test procedure
• Waste consignment — Asbestos waste is hazardous waste; waste consignment note required (EA/SEPA/NRW regulations); double-bagged, labelled, and transported by licensed waste carrier to licensed disposal site
• Do not over-simplify legal duties — RAMS AI generates a starting framework; work involving suspected ACMs must be assessed by a competent asbestos surveyor and the RAMS reviewed by a competent person with asbestos-specific knowledge