From consultancy to demolition and remediation Collard Group is a one-stop-shop for our public sector, local authority, commercial and residential clients. In 2022 we acquired Amiante STR so together we’ve been demolishing buildings and solving complex hazardous material problems for over 30 years.
Management of the entire process, from surveying to disposal.
Full compliance with current regulations.
Experience in a range of sectors and properties.
Demolition
PUBLISHER
Ben Chambers ben@chambers.media 01903 952 648
EDITOR
Toby Wilsdon toby@chambers.media 01903 952 645
TO ADVERTISE
Nasser Durgauhee nasser@theasbestoshub.com 01903 952 643
DESIGN
Nicki Chambers nic@chambers.media 01903 952 640
Joe Bers joe@chambers.media
Asbestos Hub is the media partner and an associate member of:
Asbestos Hub is published four times a year. Subscription records are maintained at Demolition Hub Ltd, Suites 5 & 6, Chapel House, 1-6 Chapel Road, Worthing, West Sussex BN11 1EX.
Articles and information contained in this publication are the copyright of Demolition Hub Ltd and may not be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the publishers. The publishers cannot accept responsibility for loss of, or damage to uncommissioned photographs or manuscripts.
PRODUCED & PUBLISHED BY
Demolition Hub Ltd
Suites 5 & 6, Chapel House, 1-6 Chapel Road, Worthing, West Sussex BN11 1EX
The redesign of this magazine is more than just a lick of paint. Yes, after three years a freshen up was required and it was time to modernise the mag. But more than anything the change serves as a metaphor for what our newly formulated plans are as well as what we have already achieved between issues.
We recently signed a full media and PR partnership with the Asbestos & Environmental Safety Association (ASESA), an association that shares the same goals as us, allowing us to be more engaged than ever before. It will allow us to be actively involved in promoting the association to its current members and assist them in gaining new members, while also becoming fully-fledged proud associate members ourselves.
This does not end aligning ourselves with key associations, as in a very much stop-press moment, I am delighted that we have done a near identical agreement with the Asbestos Management Institute (AMI), who also align with our values and goals and want to use our reach as we in turn assist them with promotional activities.
We are thankful that from the very first issue we were supported by the industry association ACAD throughout our inaugural year and then for the past couple of years the asbestos training provider UKATA stepped into a media association with us. We now have advanced that run with the backing of ASESA and AMI. It doesn’t stop there, we are willing and ready to work with more of those that share our goal.
With these changes we are able to make our move into a new level of asbestos awareness, as we look to reach out to even more LARCS, Nonlicensed asbestos removal contractors, analysts, consultants, recruiters, software firms, surveyors and asbestos waste and disposal agents. We hope you enjoy the ride.
The industry went blue on 5 July as we came together in our workplaces and homes for Go Blue for Meso, a national campaign to raise awareness of mesothelioma and the dangers of asbestos. For Action Mesothelioma Day 2024, many of us got involved by dressing and lighting in blue as a help to put a spotlight on a disease that deserves more attention.
We are delighted to announce that at this year’s British Asbestos Awards Liz Darlison MBE enters the DEMOLITION HALL OF FAME as a part of the Class of 2024. Liz enters under the category of Asbestos Pioneer and will be the third person to pick up this accolade after the DEMOLITION HALL OF FAME began in 2022. The British Asbestos Awards is of course a part of the yearly British Demolition Awards, where the Hall of Fame induction takes place. This year we return to London for the sixth annual event on 6 September.
Speaking of events, some bad planning and internal decision making made me miss my first Asbestonomy in Madrid last month. This was (somehow) the third staging of the event and doesn’t time fly. We will be there for the fourth.
Our friends at Editions Cedille, the team that runs the event have, however, given us a comprehensive review, which you can read inside.
See you in the autumn, but in the meantime please do get in touch. We love to hear from you!
Ben Chambers Publisher, Asbestos Hub ben@chambers.media
ASESA NEWS:
Introducing ASESA, the Asbestos & Environmental Safety Association
Promoting industry engagement with asbestos charities
ASESA launches non-licensed membership
ASESA partners with Asbestos Hub
AMI NEWS: Asbestos Hub becomes PR and media partner to the Asbestos Management Institute (AMI)
The Asbestos Management Institute: Advancing excellence in asbestos management
HSE NEWS:
Companies fined after 16-yearold worker exposed to asbestos
Company fined £30,000 for unsafe removal of asbestos
Fine issued after workers exposed to asbestos during hotel demolition
HSE Podcast – The duty to manage asbestos in buildings
200 Asbestos experts gather at Asbestonomy 2024, Madrid
Expo reveals its full 2024 event
ASESA was launched in2023 as a not for profit trade association dedicated to the asbestos removal industry by HSE Licensed Asbestos removal contractors who appointed Graham Warren and James Mennell to lead the association
Graham Warren has been appointed as the Chief Executive of the association having spent a decade leading an Asbestos industry organisation before joining ASESA. Graham has contributed significantly to the ongoing development of the industry including championing NVQ standards, developing and launching CITB specialist apprenticeships programmes, and being the lead author for a large number of guidance documents published by the HSE’s Asbestos Network Technical Working Group. James Mennell has been
appointed as the Director of Industry Competence and Development, the first such role for the asbestos industry. This pivotal role includes a focus on identifying and rectifying any industry competence failings following the 2018 Hackitt Review, Building a Safer Future, which was published in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire in June 2017. James has over 10 years’ experience working for asbestos industry trade associations.
ASESA’s main aim is to ensure that you and your organisation are effectively represented with the
UK Health and Safety Executive, whilst offering you the ability to influence the future of your sector through our newly formed Governing Council. This is made up of nominated representatives from our seven regions throughout the UK, each person serving a fixed period of 12 months to encourage as broad a representation as possible.
ASESA also boasts two committees, these are our Audit & Technical committee, led by Graham Warren, and our Competence & Development committee, led by James Mennell.
Both committees are populated by volunteers from across our membership categories, to provide a broad range of views to ensure all perspectives are fed into these crucial areas.
To find out more or to join this fresh new association, 100% dedicated to the asbestos removal industry, see the ASESA website here: https://asesa.org.uk
Many organisations undertake fundraising activities for the cause that is closest to their heart, and with around 170,000 registered charities here in the UK, there are so many worthwhile causes to choose from. But for the asbestos removal community, one cause unites us all, and that is those organisations campaigning around asbestos exposure and the threat from mesothelioma, a cancer which according to Cancer Research UK is a staggering 94% preventable.
In light of this, the ASESA directors recently discussed the various ways in which ASESA could help support those charities and volunteers who work tirelessly dealing with the ongoing impact on our society from Asbestos. The board, made up of people like
you from HSE Licensed Asbestos Removal Contractors, all agreed that we should support the sterling work undertaken by Mesothelioma UK and the myriad support groups around the UK.
ASESA Chief Executive Graham Warren said: “We believe that our industry, and those charities dealing with the aftermath of the UK’s asbestos legacy are inextricably linked. We’re like two sides of the same coin, both striving to minimise the impact from asbestos, be it funding research into treatments, safely removing hazardous Asbestos Containing Materials, or providing advice and support to patients, carers and of course those of you who are working in the asbestos industry when you require technical advice.”
The board identified three principal ways in which ASESA and our members can provide support. Firstly, ASESA will be organising, supporting and promoting regular fundraising activities, where we’ll be engaging with and working alongside our members. We’ve already seen an early example of this by ASESA Director Craig Binge of Westfield Group UK who raised over £13,000 for his local mesothelioma ward in Southampton. Craig said: “The asbestos industry standards have vastly improved as we work to make people safe from the dangers of asbestos exposure, but standards weren’t always the same in the past. God forbid, but we might need their help one day. This is why, when we were approached by Helen Wilkes
the clinical nurse specialist to see if we could help raise much needed funds for the mesothelioma ward in my local hospital for patient and welfare improvements, I thought we really should do something to help.”
Secondly, we will be encouraging our growing membership to get involved in terms of sponsorship, and perhaps more importantly their time, with their regional support groups and events. Again, a wonderful recent example came from ASESA member Tony Birchall CMIOSH who gave an insight into the Licensed Asbestos sector including ideas on best practice that can offer improvements to those of us working with Asbestos for Cheshire Asbestos Victims Support Group (www.cavsg.co.uk).
And finally, the board has agreed
to provide financial donations each year, to go principally to Mesothelioma UK, with the remainder going to regional support groups throughout the UK. This ground-breaking commitment, to donate 20% of our overall reserves (not just any annual surplus), each and every year, represents a real step change in our level of support for those organisations that serve such a vital purpose.
Whilst our clear focus as an association is on asbestos focused charities, that is not to say we wouldn’t want to support other charities as we know just how important these are too. So whatever you are doing, ensure you share it with your trade association so we can help promote the cause that is closest to you.
Warren said: “As a not for profit trade association dedicated to the asbestos industry and the people that work within it, I’m immensely proud of the board for making such a fantastic statement about the direction of this fresh new association.
“And sure, we’re in our first year of operating so this isn’t going to be a vast sum initially, but I’m confident that as ASESA membership grows, as we deliver more training, assess more NVQs, undertake more audits, then the more the asbestos industry’s contribution to this vital safety net around us all will just grow and grow.
“To me this is just one element of what being a not-for-profit trade association dedicated to the asbestos industry is all about.”
Licence Holders are expected to be exemplars of Health & Safety standards for good reason. Asbestos remains by far the biggest occupational killer in the UK, which is why Licence Holders take the asbestos risk incredibly seriously.
ASESA’s first member in this brand new category is southeast based Burke Demolition. We caught up with their Compliance Manager, Alan Taylor-Reed
QWhy have you sought membership of ASESA?
Whilst the Licensed industry may not be perfect, the constant scrutiny from notifications and the HSE permissioning regime has served the Licensed Asbestos removal industry well, as we work to ever higher standards whilst
I felt immediately that ASESA would bring something different to the table, and they have done exactly that by finally giving a voice to the non-Licensed asbestos contractor.
QWhat are your main reasons for joining?
A non-Licensed asbestos contractor can now attend regional meetings attended by licensed contractors, which can only be good, we have a voice, and we can now be audited.
QWhat would you say to other organisations who undertake non-Licensed Asbestos works?
Just because non-Licensed ACM are low risk it doesn’t mean no risk, and some work still needs an ASB NNLW1 notification submitted. Basically, our operatives need a medical, a face fit and annual refresher training, we need to use category 3 type 5/6 disposable coveralls, we need to double bag all waste in asbestos containers, and place in secured hazardous waste skips, we need a waste carriers’ licence i.e. we carry a large responsibility and owe it to our operatives to do things right, and having a voice is a good start.
reducing worker exposure, all the time supported and encouraged by dedicated trade associations like ASESA.
Unfortunately, away from work on Licensed materials, the asbestos risk isn’t always taken as seriously. You only need to look at the HSE prosecutions in this area to realise the scale of the problem. But how much goes on that is not brought to the attention of the HSE? How many people are still being exposed to asbestos each and every day, either through their own action from a lack of knowledge around safety protocols, or as an innocent bystander just stood outside a site where this is taking place?
Compounding this is the lack of representation for this crucial area, namely the non-Licensed asbestos removal work that takes place day in day out throughout the UK. ASESA recognises that we have no chance of achieving our goal of reducing asbestos exposure to zero in the UK unless we engage with the non-Licensed sector. So this fresh new association has stepped up to do something about this.
For those many excellent companies already operating in this sector, at ASESA they will find a home providing supportive guidance and encouragement, ensuring that both individual and organisation competence are sustained and continually improved. ASESA’s dedicated membership category for nonLicensed companies will finally bring representation to this long ignored sector of the asbestos removal industry.
Alongside this, and in addition to the industry standard non-Licensed operative training, ASESA offers non-Licensed supervisor training, ASESA offers non-Licensed manager training, and ASESA offers nonLicensed NVQs.
ASESA is excited to announce that Asbestos Hub has joined this fresh new trade association for the asbestos removal industry. In addition, Asbestos Hub will be ASESAs new media partner.
This new partnership will see ASESA providing regular input into Asbestos Hub, bringing our in-depth technical knowledge to their broad readership.
Ben Chambers said: “Having aligned with Chief Executive Graham Warren and sharing
the industry’s goals and values, I was compelled to learn more about ASESA. After engaging with their leadership, it became clear that partnering with ASESA was a natural fit. Our promotional capabilities and the reach of Asbestos Hub Magazine will help amplify ASESA’s message and attract new members to this pioneering association, benefiting the asbestos removal industry.”
Graham Warren commented: “I’m really excited about this new
partnership with Ben and the team at Asbestos Hub. ASESA has such lofty goals for the asbestos removal industry, via a strategy created and continually evolved by the asbestos removal community.
“All our goals track back to our desire to reduce asbestos exposure in the UK to zero for everyone, and thereby eliminate asbestos diseases. The support and promotion from Asbestos Hub can only be a good thing.”
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Steve Sadley, Chief Executive of AMI (above) said: “Having closely followed Asbestos Hub’s progress over the past three years and observing their recent ambitious plans to expand and support the industry, we are thrilled to benefit our existing members by providing access to their media channels. This partnership will also help us promote AMI’s message and benefits to a broader audience, allowing us to grow our membership. We look forward to collaborating with Asbestos Hub.”
Tony Church, MAMI, President of AMI (above) said: “Having met Ben several times now, his contagious excitement for this industry is evident. We are excited to leverage his advertising expertise to grow our membership and share our and our members’ news more widely. This partnership will allow us to forge new connections and enhance professional development within the industry. We look forward to the opportunities this collaboration with Asbestos Hub will bring, strengthening our reach and impact.”
Ben Chambers Founder and Publisher of Asbestos Hub (part of Demolition Hub Ltd) said: “Our ambitious plans to become the industry’s primary communication channel are furthered by our media partnership with AMI. I am genuinely delighted to collaborate with AMI, an association that represents professionals in asbestos removal, analysis, consultancy, and management. This partnership allows us to spread positive and informative messages more widely.
Becoming AMI’s PR partner is another step towards aligning with the best associations in the industry and uniting the entire sector, which can only be beneficial to all.”
The Asbestos Management Institute (AMI) stands as the premier professional body for the asbestos management industry, dedicated to recognising and promoting best practices across all sectors. Formerly known as ARMI, the Institute has expanded its scope to encompass professionals in asbestos removal, analysis, consultancy and management.
AMI’s vision is to become the centre of excellence for asbestos management industry professionals, fostering a network of likeminded individuals who can influence and develop the field. By joining AMI, members gain access to a community of experts and contribute to shaping the future of asbestos management.
Membership is open to individuals engaged in various asbestos-related professions, including removal managers, project managers, supervisors, analysts, surveyors and consultants. The Institute offers seven membership grades, from Entrant to Fellow, catering to professionals at all career stages.
At the heart of AMI’s mission is a commitment
to Continuous Professional Development (CPD). Members are encouraged to cultivate a culture of ongoing learning, with a requirement to achieve at least 10 CPD points annually through core and non-core activities. To facilitate this, AMI has developed a user-friendly portal where members can track and record their CPD progress.
The Institute’s CPD scheme is designed to enhance members’ knowledge, skills, and competence, ensuring they remain at the forefront of industry developments. This long-term investment in professional growth not only benefits individual members but also contributes to raising standards across the entire asbestos management sector. By joining AMI, professionals become part of a larger movement dedicated to excellence in asbestos management. The collective voice of AMI members carries significant weight in shaping industry practices, regulations, and innovations. Together, AMI members are driving positive change and ensuring the highest standards of safety and professionalism in asbestos management.
Two companies have been fined after a teenage worker was exposed to asbestos.
The 16-year-old had been working for P Turnbull Joinery and Building Services Ltd on an outbuilding of a domestic property after the firm had been hired by Alt Berg Holding Limited to refurbish
the property in Richmond, North Yorkshire.
He had been breaking up cement sheets taken from the roof of the property and putting them into a skip on 7 June 2021. Asbestos was later found to be in the cement sheets, exposing the worker to asbestos fibres.
A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that Alt Berg Holdings Limited had failed to carry out an asbestos refurbishment and demolition survey of the property, which would have identified the asbestos.
P Turnbull Joinery and Building Services Ltd had not properly assessed the work and failed to prevent the worker being exposed to asbestos.
P Turnbull Joinery and Building Services Ltd, of Attwood Terrace, Wolsingham, Durham, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was fined £2,000 and ordered to pay £500 in costs at Peterlee Magistrates’ Court on 20 June 2024.
Alt Berg Holdings Limited, of Moor Road, Melsonby, Richmond, North Yorkshire, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4(4) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. The company was fined £6,000 and ordered to pay £1,950 in costs at Peterlee Magistrates’ Court on 20 June 2024.
HSE Principal Inspector Chris Tilley commented: “A suitable and sufficient asbestos refurbishment and demolition survey of the building undertaken by the client and provided to the contractor before work started would have identified the presence of asbestos in the roofing materials. The contractor could have ensured that suitable controls were put in place and the asbestos removed safely before further work was undertaken.
“This incident could so easily have been avoided by the provision of suitable and sufficient preconstruction information, effective communication between the parties and the use of correct control measures and safe working practices.”
This prosecution was brought by HSE enforcement lawyer Chloe Ward and supported by HSE paralegal officer Rebecca Withel.
A company based in Kent has been fined £30,000 and its director fined £5,000 after failing to ensure the safe removal of asbestos across two separate sites.
Ironically, the firm in question was trading as Asbestos Gone.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that DOV Services Ltd, the company behind the Asbestos Gone name, had removed loose fill asbestos insulation, a licensable activity, during the renovation of a retail unit in Redhill in April 2021, despite not holding a licence granted by HSE to do so.
Between 30 March and 7 April 2021, the company also removed asbestos cement sheets from the fascia of a school gymnasium and sports hall in Stanford-le-Hope,
Essex. While not licensable work, the company failed to follow a safe system of work for the removal, with little to no control measures in place to protect its own workers, or pupils and staff at the school from exposure to asbestos. Asbestos debris was found on the roofs, on top of the covered walkway around the buildings, and on the floor at the base of the gymnasium and sports hall.
As a result of the poor work, the school had to engage a licensed asbestos contractor to undertake a remedial environmental clean.
HSE has recently updated its guidance on asbestos safety and earlier this year launched its Asbestos: Your Duty campaign that aims to improve understanding of what the
legal duty to manage asbestos involves.
At Southwark Crown Court on 16 April DOV Services Ltd of Bradbourne Stables, East Malling, Kent, pleaded guilty of breaching Section 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and Regulation 8 of The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. The company was fined £30,000 and ordered to pay costs of £7,260.85.
Company Director David Ryce also pleaded guilty to all charges and was fined £5,000 and also ordered to pay costs of £7,260.85.
After the hearing HSE inspector Stephanie HickfordSmith said: “It’s a sad irony that a company trading under the name of Asbestos Gone could make such a shambles of safely removing such a dangerous substance.
“DOV Services Ltd removed loose fill asbestos insulation, probably the most dangerous asbestos-containing material, from the site in Redhill, without having a licence to do so. It also put children and others, including its own workers and their families, at risk by failing to remove asbestos cement sheets from the school in Stanfordle-Hope under controlled conditions.”
This HSE prosecution was brought by HSE enforcement lawyer Samantha Wells and paralegal officer Imogen Isaac.
A company director has been fined after workers were exposed to asbestos during the demolition of a hotel in Cornwall.
Mr Paul Stephens, director of the now liquidated Stephens and Stephens Developers
Limited, was fined more than £60,000 as a result of failures at the former Cliffdene Hotel in Newquay in 2020. The hotel had closed in 2018 and was part of a redevelopment plan to build residential apartments on the site.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the control of asbestos at the site came after the hotel had been almost entirely demolished in August 2020. The company had overall control over the assessment and removal of all asbestos containing materials (ACMs) on site.
However, further enquiries revealed the presence of extensive asbestos debris, a sign that significant spreading had occurred, and that those actions taken to control exposure had been inadequate. Stephens was charged for failure to take reasonably practicable steps to contain the spread of asbestos.
Paul Stephens of Bar Meadows, Malpas, Truro, Cornwall pleaded guilty to breaching regulations 16 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 by virtue of Section 37(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. He was fined £65,813 and ordered to pay costs of £26,116 at Truro Crown Court on 24 April 2024.
Speaking after the hearing, HSE Principal Inspector Georgina Symons said: “The hotel was not in a state of disrepair and presented no structural danger, so there is no reason why the removal of ACMs could not be done ahead of its demolition.
“Identification of the hazard is key. No asbestos removal should happen if there is a risk of exposing workers to it. There needs to be a sufficient assessment as to the presence, location and condition of asbestos at all premises.
“Those tasked with undertaking the assessment should have the necessary skills, knowledge and experience to undertake this work.”
This prosecution was brought by HSE enforcement lawyer Matt Reynolds.
The HSE has released an asbestos related podcast discussing the legal obligation to manage asbestos in non-domestic buildings, highlight where asbestos is likely to be found and explain why it is dangerous.
In January 2024, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) launched the “Asbestos – Your Duty” campaign, featuring updated web guidance, new templates and explanatory videos. Tim Beaumont, HM Principal Inspector Health and Safety, Asbestos Cluster Lead, and Samantha Lord, Chartered Occupational Hygienist and Principal Specialist Inspector from HSE, discuss the steps required to legally manage asbestos in buildings and the importance of this campaign.
They are joined by Craig Barker, Group Property FHS and Asbestos Manager at Marks and Spencer. Over his 11 years with the company, Craig and his health and safety team have established robust procedures for managing asbestoscontaining materials, developed employee training and implemented controls to ensure compliance with asbestos management regulations and proper procedures when any work is conducted on company buildings.
You can find the podcast here: https://hsepodcast.podbean.com/e/theduty-to-manage-asbestos-in-buildings
Ben Chambers
How did you start to work in the world of asbestos?
Courtney Howe
I started when I first left school. My dad, Dean Howe, has been in the business for a long time and is Business Development Manager for Shield. So I was helping out in the summer, doing a bit of admin.
BC
So when did you roll your sleeves up and get your hands dirty?
CH
So, I started getting out of the office when I went into the health and safety role.
I got to grips with a lot of the business, it wasn’t just the asbestos, it was the insulation, the marine, electrical, fire and safety. So we started all of that, and I got to grips with it. And I think that was a real good biting point for me, realising that I’ve always wanted to do more and be more.
So when I started getting out there, there was an opportunity for
Trainee Contract Manager and I put myself forward for it. It was hard to navigate because you have to have experience. So what I said was, put me on site as an operative. Let me learn the trade and let me do what everyone else is doing. And then it validates my growth in the business as well. And that’s what I wanted to do.
I like doing things like being out and about, seeing people working. So I got my training and I went out on site for two or three years.
And then I worked on Salisbury army barracks and in a few NHS hospitals. Then I started running the sites and that’s when I turned into the Trainee Contracts Manager role, setting a price on works, quotes, all sorts of stuff like that. So I knew it was something I wanted to do and once you get stuck into it, it’s just addictive, isn’t it?
BC
Yeah, absolutely. And is that when Clifford Devlin came along?
CH
We had a conversation and I said I wanted to be more. I put it out there that I was thinking of moving to London. And my father said two years there was like 10 years here.
So initially it was a short term thing. I came to London and started with Clifford Devlin and became a Contracts Manager. It was a baptism by fire, which was a real good learning point for me because they cover everything. They’ve got the demo side, where you’ve got larger projects; the asbestos and the demolition side are linked and then there’s commercial side.
So that’s where I started to really grow and test myself. Every day was a learning opportunity and I aimed to absorb everything I could.
I’ve always enjoyed the bigger projects rather than the smaller ones. And I think facing different subcontractors, different clients and stuff like that is like a game of chess. I quite enjoy it.
BC
How long were you at Clifford Devlin?
CH
I was at Clifford Devlin for two and a half years.
BC
You’ve been in London for two and a half years, you’re loving it, you’re with a top tier demo and asbestos removal contractor. Why start up on your own?
CH
It’s something I’d always wanted to do. I think in this industry, it’s a big jump and it’s a big risk. But it’s something that I’ve always felt was going to happen.
So when the opportunity to start on my own came, I spoke to Clifford Devlin, I spoke to Tim and he was very respectful. I respect him a lot, he’s a brilliant man.
We’re on our first year now, it’s been crazy, but it’s been good. It’s been really good.
BC
So was everything about running a business new to you?
CH
Yeah, it was. I felt comfortable in the commercial side of things, the pricing etc, but it’s all the little things when you’re starting a business, getting the website online, getting yourself out there. So it’s been exciting, it’s been busy, I really am enjoying it.
BC
So day one, you’re starting your business, you’ve got a brand new laptop, how did you get business?
CH
You build rapport with people throughout your career, so it’s just about making phone calls, making introductions, getting yourself on social media platforms. LinkedIn has been one of the main ones for me.
“We want to keep the business fresh and we want to innovate”
People see it and you gain business from people you don’t expect to get business from – sometimes they’re the ones that you get the most from, which is the crazy part.
BC
Tell us about you core values as a company and how you apply them.
CH
Core values are important. I think it’s time for a fresh outlook, not just for the employees but the business as a whole, being visible to the clients. Just keeping our integrity really, that’s my aim.
We want to keep the business fresh and we want to innovate.
So as the industry has been going for so long, we’re open to new opportunities and new pathways, not restricting ourselves to the status quo.
BC
Tell us about your accreditations and certifications.
CH
We’ve got a Chas accreditation and we’re looking to get our license within the next couple of months.
Swantest can provide a wide range of test solutions for all aspects of a project. This can include structural tests on the superstructure, substructure and geotechnical tests on the substrate of any project. Our range of structural tests include:
Load Capacity Tests: Used for determining the load capacity of various structures, fixings and materials. We can load test structural slabs, marine structures, lift beams, pile foundations and more.
Anchor Tests: We can carry out pull tests and shear tests on all types of bolts, fixings and fasteners. From small fixings supporting a few kilograms up to large diameter bolts supporting significant loads.
Geotechnical Tests: In-situ site tests for verifying pile mats, formation layers, subgrades and other materials. These include; Plate bearing tests, CBR tests, shear vane tests, dynamic cone penetrometer test and light drop weight tests.
Balcony and Barrier Tests: Various types of horizontal load tests to check and verify the safe use of; Balcony handrails, balustrades, insert panels, sports ground barriers, bridge parapets, edge protection systems and more.
For more information call us on 0370 950 7707 Website: www.swantest.co.uk Email: info@swantest.co.uk 52-54 St. John Street, Farringdon, London, EC1M 4HF
BC
What’s that process like?
CH
It’s an intense process with a 30-odd page application. They question you as a Managing Director, they question your employees, your standard operating procedures. They assess the business as a whole and ensure that you’re capable and competent to hold that licence.
in your own ego as well, so be self-aware. This industry is always changing, it’s always growing and that’s what you need to be aware of. You’ve just got to be a sponge.
BC
What would you say is Elements Services’ USP?
CH
BC
Imagine you’ve had a really good year, what would be the ideal team building trip?
CH
It doesn’t have to be flash. I like the outdoors so potentially north Wales or the Lake District, an activities week away or something like that.
I think the USP is the personal touch. I make a point of knowing my employees. I might have 15 guys working for me and I know every one of their names. They’re not just a number, we’re a team.
I can see a different way in this industry and that’s why I want to grow this business.
BC
What do you envisage will be the future game changers in the industry?
CH
You’re never the most intelligent
“They are not just a number; we’re a team”
I like seeing innovative techniques, it’s just making sure that they’re right for the particular works. I recently saw an experiment with gel bracing of pipework where they do a wraparound with a gel and that releases into the pipe insulation. I haven’t used it myself, but I have seen it and I am interested.
BC
How do you envisage Elements Services growing in the next 5 to 10 years?
CH
Within the next 5 to 10 years I’d like to get the licence in place and let the business grow organically. But then I would like to branch out and open another office, probably to the west, back home way (Wales). That’s where I’m from. That’s where I’ve spent my time. So I would like to branch out back home as well. So even though I’m based up here, it would be nice to have that kind of recognition.
I’d rather do something that’s cohesive, no phones, just have some fresh air and enjoy.
BC
What’s your bucket list activity?
CH
You know what, just to have a campervan and explore Europe or go over to America.
BC What about a narrowboat? What are your thoughts on one of those?
CH
That’s quite interesting but I think I’d get the urge to jump in the water and I don’t think you can do that. If it was somewhere near the sea, then yeah, definitely.
BC
In another life, what career would you be doing now?
CH
Practically, some sort of trade like an electrician or a plumber, just because I think you’ll always be in business and you can go out on your own and work. You’ve also got a good work-life balance.
But then impractically, I love watching emergency services stuff so I’d like to be like a doctor or something like that.
I like to work, so it has to be something that keeps me busy.
BC
And what’s your favourite cuisine?
CH
Japanese? Definitely. 100%.
Our publisher has gone rogue and decided to pitch himself out there as the next Joe Rogan. Well he does sport the hair for it these days.
But yes, it’s true Ben has decided to drag us kicking and screaming into the 21st century by introducing a brand-new video podcast for the demolition, construction and asbestos removal industries and most which promises to be packed full of personality.
Direct from our newly sourced London Studios “The PowerPlant Podcast” will see presenter Ben Chambers interview an array of popular, (in)famous and well-respected industry professionals in the fields of demolition, construction and asbestos removal.
Relaxed, unscripted and informal, it is filmed on three broadcast quality cameras and professionally edited and produced so you, the viewer, can experience an hour of engaging
The gel-cut asbestos pipe removal technique is a brand-new approach aimed at an age-old problem: how to make the removal of asbestos pipe insulation safer than existing methods. In this article, Assure360 founder, Nick Garland explains how, in his capacity as a FAAM Committee member, he had the pleasure of attending a site on Guernsey to conduct a further FAAM and BOHS investigation into the method.
By way of a short recap, when faced with having to remove an asbestos-insulated pipe, licensed asbestos removal contractors (LARCs) conventionally have two options. The first is full removal, the second is wrap and cut. Both involve injecting the asbestoscontaining material (ACM) with surfactant and carefully removing
the now wet insulation. Full removal, as the name suggests, involves taking away and cleaning all of the insulation, leaving a bare pipe to be reused. It’s a laborious process that clearly involves risk of exposure.
If the pipe itself is redundant, you can use wrap and cut. Here you inject and clean short sections of insulation to reveal bare metal that can be cut. Intact sections of still-insulated pipe can be wrapped and disposed of. This process is much safer than full removal as it disturbs only a fraction of the asbestos material. But it’s still laborious, as you have to inject and carefully remove the insulation from the point to be cut. As with full removal, you must always stay vigilant for a dry spot that could lead to significant exposure.
This is where the new technique comes in. With gel cutting, workers fix gel pouches to pipes that have already been wrapped, then simply cut through the gel, the asbestos, and the pipe. The innovation is that the gel reforms over the blade, so that the operative is always separated from the asbestos. The gel captures the dust and the team simply seals the cut end of each section with a waste sack and moves to the next cut point.
Our earlier investigation in Somerset with Horizon Environmental gave very encouraging results. Both wrap and cut and the new gel-cut technique gave similar air test results of 0.03 fibres per millilitre (f/ml). But importantly, the new technique was twice as quick, so the operatives’ total exposure was halved.
Earlier this year FAAM appealed for suitable projects on which we could repeat the exercise. We wanted to see whether the technique could easily be adopted by a new team, in a different setting, and still deliver the big safety benefit we observed in the first test.
Paul Knight of the Guernseybased removal contractor ASR, quickly suggested his site at the old vineyard at A’La Fin. This was a redundant greenhouse plant room with 10 linear metres of asbestosinsulated pipes. As with the first trial, we were dealing with hard-set insulation including all three of the commercial types of asbestos: amosite, chrysotile and crocidolite. To make it more challenging, the material was in poor condition.
All of the pipes were wrapped in polythene and seven cuts were planned. The whole exercise – from selecting the cut points, affixing the gel packs, making the cuts and sealing the redundant pipe sections after removal – was completed in
around 45 minutes.
This seems very fast – and it is in comparison to the traditional approach, which might have taken most of the day – but the whole process was in reality unhurried, and completed with increasing confidence. The exercise was witnessed by me (representing FAAM and BOHS), Graham Warren and Craig Binge of ASESA (ASR’s trade association), and Matthew Coggins of the Guernsey Health and Safety Executive.
As with the Horizon Somerset test, the air test measurements were very encouraging. The new technique returned results of 0.015 f/ml and 0.018 f/ml – in line, or even better that what we’d expect from well-controlled wrap and cut removal. But again, with the work completed so much more quickly, worker exposure was significantly reduced.
This test showed that the technique is easily picked up by new teams, in different situations, who can work more quickly and in greater safety than they might expect from wrap and cut. I’m indebted to the site team, who committed to the investigation so enthusiastically.
The removalists were Paul Knight senior and Paul Knight junior, Darren Wain and Mathew Wakeford from ASR, while the air testing was expertly delivered by Daniel Klassen of Survey Safe. It was great to see their work subsequently covered by Guernsey Press, in which Paul senior was able to highlight the gap between the asbestos regulations in Guernsey and the UK. My thanks also go to Horizon, who recognised the potential in the technique, and were fundamental with our first trial back in October.
After London and Brussels, the Asbestonomy event stopped in the Spanish capital on 19 and 20 June. The five conferences covered detection, management, asbestos removal and waste, with a spotlight on Spain’s current situation. This year, many testimonies from around the world were presented. On stage, various perspectives were represented, including those of Ehi Iden (President at OSHAfrica), Manuel Saba (Professor at the University of Cartagena,
Colombia), and Kevin Bampton (CEO of BOHS). A meeting with a journalist who made a documentary on asbestos in India was also offered at the opening evening.
French expertise was highlighted through regulatory insights from the Directorate General of Labour. Thomas Colin, Head of the Asbestos Department (CT2) at the Directorate General of Labour in France, emphasised: “We considered our participation in this event important to be able
to talk specifically about the use of meta-analytical techniques within French regulations.”
Twenty-one speakers and sixteen companies exhibited or sponsored the event, with representation from fourteen nationalities (Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Switzerland, etc.) during these two days. The podcast of all speeches will soon be available on Spotify. The question now is: Where will Asbestonomy be held next year? The answer will be revealed soon!
ESS Expo, the UK’s largest environmental event, has released its full agenda for its 2024 show, which is set to welcome a record number of more than 12,000 visitors and over 600 exhibiting companies.
Returning to the Birmingham NEC from 11-12 September, the show unites five key industry events – Resource & Waste Management Expo (RWM), Energy, Fuels & Decarbonisation Expo (EFD), Water Resource Management Expo (WRM), Contamination & Land Remediation Expo (CLR), and the Air Pollution Control Expo (APC).
The 2024 edition will follow
three core themes to address some of today’s most pressing and pertinent environmental challenges – net-zero, the circular economy, and biodiversity – with various features and events designed to explore innovative solutions and strategies to address each of these challenges.
Carefully curated to inspire, educate and motivate the professional community, the show will present a lineup of industry leaders, celebrities, government speakers, environmental policymakers and ambitious starters for hundreds of panel
sessions, speaker sessions, and Q&As across the two days. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from more than 350 speakers from DEFRA, the NHS, Winvic, Anglian Water, Sony, Virgin Media O2, Heathrow Airport, Lloyds Banking Group, Department of Business & Trade, Environment Agency, National Grid, Biffa, John F Hunt, National Highways, Strata Homes, Viridor, Yorkshire Water, and many more, who will deliver expertly-led sessions across the show’s expansive 17 stages and theatres.
The stages, committed to
providing premier platforms for knowledge sharing, networking, and showcasing the latest technologies and solutions, include:
• Net Zero Summit Theatre
• Environment Networking Hub
• Green Skills & Future Talent Hub
• Circular Economy & Sustainability Stage
• Municipal Stage
• Materials & Markets Stage
• Packaging & EPR Stage
• Start-Up & Innovation Zone
• Live Demonstration Area
• ESS Live Stage
• Contamination & Land
Remediation Keynote
• Contamination & Land
Remediation Technical Stage
• Water Keynote Stage
• Water Technical Stage
• Energy Keynote Stage
• Energy from Waste & Bioenergy Stage
• Air Pollution & Emission
Keynote Stage.
Opening a morning panel discussion on The Future of Environment & Sustainability: 2024 in the Net Zero Summit Theatre, will be Jennifer Brown, Associate Director, Public Services Advisory, Net Zero at Grant Thornton UK LLP; Bethany Cockshutt, Associate, Business Services at The Carbon Trust; Jonathon Porritt, writer and campaigner on sustainable development; Chani Courtney, Regional Rep of Surfers Against Sewage; and David Donnelly, Committee Member of IOSH.
Another panel, Leaders in Waste will follow, featuring Maxine Mahew, COO of Biffa; John Scanlon, CEO of Suez; Neil Grundon, CEO of Grundon; Dr Anna Willetts, Partner of GunnerCooke; and Steve Molyneux, Deputy Director of Waste Regulation at the Environment Agency. This will explore the future outlook for the resource sector as we enter a new era of government.
Exploring the critical role of biodiversity and its potential to transform how we approach environmental conservation and urban development will be the panel discussion, Giving nature a boost: Is biodiversity net gain the key to sustainable development? led by Adam Bedford, Collaborative Projects Director of Fera Science Ltd; Julia Baker, Technical Director of Mott MacDonald; Gabriel Smith, Senior Officer – Biodiversity Net Gain of Natural England; Martin Ballard, Head of Environment at Wates Group; and Leigh Broadhurst, Biodiversity Policy Lead at the ESA.
The Green Skills & Future Talent Hub, dedicated to fuelling the talent pipeline for the future of the green industries, will present a number of panels and speaker sessions across the two days. Speakers, Manu Maunganidze from the RACE Report; Emilija Rudinskaite, Climate Education Specialist at Earth Watch; Ray Nash, Fundraising Officer and Andy Harrison, Head of Delivery and Learning at ESS charity partner, Groundwork; Katie Cockburn, Senior Director of Policy Media and Education at CIWM; and Afiya Howe, HR Business Partner at Biffa, will discuss the important question: How can we build a more diverse
and inclusive environmental workforce? Rudinskaite will then go on to present a session on: Building green skills in young people and the presence of role models.
At the Circular Economy & Sustainability Stage, dedicated to exploring the principles and practices to create a closed loop environment, Geoff Mackey, UK Country Head for Plastics Europe; Kieren Mayers, Vice President, Environment, Social, & Governance at Sony Interactive Entertainment; Matt Manning, Head of Circularity & Net Zero at BT Group plc; Lauren Rabbitte, Salex Executive at ECS; and Rob McCann, Head of Environment, Climate and Nature for Virgin Media O2, will hold a panel discussion on: How your business can thrive and survive in the circular future!
Later, Simon Gandy, Technical Director of SLR Consulting and Julia Baker, Technical Director of Mott Macdonald will present a Q&A session titled, The evolving market: How consultancies are translating sustainability trends into action.
The Municipal Stage, a place for local authorities and service providers to cover waste management, urban planning, environmental policy, amongst other municipal topics will be experts from SLR Consulting, Grant Thornton, WRAP, Veolia, the Welsh Government, and more.
The full schedule of sessions, panels, and Q&As across all stages and hubs has been revealed on the ESS Expo website.
An addition to the event’s conference offering will be live, inaction demonstrations of the latest material handling and processing machinery from JCB, CRJ services, Doyle Machinery, and Dustquip in the Live Demo Area. Additionally, music entertainment will be provided on the ESS Live Stage and in RWM’s al fresco area, the Inn on the Green.
Complementing the event’s conference programme will be an abundance of networking events, lead with the ESS Connect Party on 11 September which will welcome
400 of the industry’s brightest experts. Tickets to this exclusive event are limited, so attendees are encouraged to book now.
More than 600 exhibitors will join the show across its five events, displaying the latest innovative solutions, designs, technologies, and services in their respective fields.
At RWM, visitors will see leading industry names such as Addex Group, AuraQ, Biffa Waste Services Limited, British Plastics Federation, Egger Timberpak, Firechief, Honeywell, Recycleye, Renault Trucks and more.
Following the news that it has raised $3.25 million in venture funding, Sensorita, the Oslo-based waste-management startup will be showcasing its sensor technology, while Leafield Environmental, the leading UK manufacturer of premium litter and recycling bins, will showcase how its products continue to support businesses, councils, and institutions improve their waste management solutions. Scott Newell, Chairman of the world’s foremost expert in automobile shredders and recycling equipment, Newell Recycling, will present to attendees the company’s shredding process and its evolutionary development.
At WRM, Spinaclean, a trailblazer in the cleaning and maintenance industry, will showcase its latest innovation, FloodVac, a fully mobile dual-pump water extraction system which aims to revolutionise the flood and water extraction industry. Other leading bodies and organisations will join the expo including Brenntag, GreenBlue Urban, Ofwat Innovation Fund, SoluForm, The Woodland Trust, and more.
Joining CLR will be the British Geological Survey, British Society of Soil Science, Envirotreat, Robertson Geo, The Coal Authority, the UK & Ireland Spill Association, amongst others, plus Rain for Rent, a leading provider of temporary liquid handling
solutions including pumps, tanks, filtration, and spill containment. Turnkey Instruments Ltd, a leading designer and manufacturer of high-quality industrial and scientific instrumentation, will carry out live demonstrations of its full equipment range, including its new iGASair unit for recording and reporting of multiple gas species, viewed remotely through its AirQWeb cloud server and iVIBEpeli Integrated Noise & Vibration monitor.
Meanwhile, EFD will feature innovators will host ACCIONA, Assentech, Drycake, Greens Power Limited, KEW Technology, Pemo Pumps and more. Making a presence for the first time at the new APC will be EarthSense, Protea Limited, Soarability, WWF, and more to be announced soon.
Celebrating the industry’s progress
Open to all ambitious leaders, innovators and changemakers in the sector, the brand-new Environment 100 Recognition Scheme will acknowledge and celebrate the exceptional leadership, forward-thinking, and commitment to ecological preservation and sustainability within the UK. The final selection of the 100 will be judged by an illustrious panel of experts and industry leaders from The Society for the Environment (SocEnv), The Renewable Energy Association (REA), The Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning & Transport (ADEPT), Groundwork, CIWEM, and Letsrecycle.com, and announced at the highly anticipated ceremony on 11 September (day
one) in the Net Zero Summit Theatre.
Meanwhile, the 35 Under 35 Awards celebrates individuals under the age of 35 in waste and recycling, water management, energy, construction, and in roles connected to managing sustainability. The shortlist and top three winners will be announced at the Net Zero Summit Theatre on 12 September (day two).
Aimed at celebrating women working across the UK’s green economy and their achievements, the Women in Resource & Sustainability initiative is another inclusive networking platform taking place at show. Designed to celebrate and connect the contributions of inspiring women in the resource, recycling and waste management sector, attendees will
be able to share their experiences, challenges and success stories at the Environment Networking Hub on 12 September.
Rob Mowat, Managing Director of ESS Expo, said: “The UK’s green transition and commitments to achieving circularity requires one thing – collaboration. The huge efforts and strides needed to achieve the new government’s Green Prosperity Plan is not something that can be done alone.
We will combine five unique sectors in one, uniting leaders and experts leading the way in delivering a circular economy, reduced net-zero emissions, improved sustainability, and biodiversity conservation. Collectively, they will provide attendees with a 360° view of the industry, with ESS also providing unrivalled knowledge exchange and networking opportunities.”
The 3rd annual British Asbestos Awards – 6 September 2024 – Royal Leonardo, St Pauls, London.
third annual British As we go to press there five weeks
As we go to press there are just over six weeks to go until the biggest asbestos event in the UK, grown from a small part of the 2022 British Demolition Awards to now being a full functioning, important part of the entire joint industry awards do.
With an increased
With now an increased six awards up for grabs for asbestos industry professionals the event has grown in stature to be the event to be at and the accolades to claim.
to claim.
With many LARC and
With many LARC and non-licenced professionals in attendance alongside the cream of the suppliers to the industry this year in central London, looks to be the very best yet.
For more information please go to: www. britishasbestosawards.com
It is with great honour that we can announce that Liz Darlison MBE DL is to be inducted into the Demolition Hall of Fame under the category of Asbestos Pioneer - Class of 2024.
Liz is a nurse and has spent 40 years in various nursing roles at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, whilst simultaneously maintaining her role as CEO of Mesothelioma UK in what is now her 21st year at this absolutely essential charity.
Liz’s HoF award is also dedicated to her colleagues at Mesothelioma UK who many of you will have seen last week at UK Asbestos Training Association - UKATA’s Convention as well as the nurses she has worked with treated asbestos related cancers.
Liz will be accepting the accolade in person at the 2024 British Demolition & Asbestos Awards on 6 September 2024.
Liz is the third Asbestos Pioneer recipient with the much loved and missed Mavis Nye BEM in 2022, followed last year by Dr Yvonne Waterman.
The British Asbestos Awards charity of choice this year is Mesothelioma UK and there will be a number of ways to donate at the event, including an auction.
Congratulations Liz!
You can find out more about Mesothelioma UK here: https://lnkd.in/ehvQjR2x and the British Demolition & Asbestos Awards and Demolition Hall of Fame here: https://lnkd.in/eVvsUp3B.
Award Category
Demolition Contractor of the Year
Supplier of the Year
Tender Submission of the Year
Training Innovation of the Year
The Erith Group
The Erith Group
Metro Deconstruction Downwell Group
AR Demolition Pirtek
Risk Assessment/Method Statement of the Year Downwell Group
Trainee/Apprentice of the Year
Demolition Innovation of the Year
Metro Deconstruction
Safety Innovation of the Year Pirtek Santas
Patrick Crighley, Rye Demolition Gemma McNamara, Skanska
Arden Equipment Fireward
Demolition Contract/Project of the Year Collard Group
Demolition Project of the Year Under £1m
Demolition Project of the Year Over £1m
Environmental Innovation of the Year
Health & Safety Innovation
Waste Provider of the Year
NFDC Special Award
Asbestos Removal Contractor of the Year
Asbestos Operative of the Year
Asbestos Industry Supplier of the Year
Asbestos Removal Project of the Year
Asbestos Industry Trainee/Apprentice of the Year
Red Knight 6
The Erith Group
Scudder Demolition
Cawarden
LiuGong
Clifford Devlin
Kocurek Excavators
Cawarden
LiuGong
Shirrin Travers, Tilley and Barrett
Sarah Stockley, The Erith Group
Jack Brown, Brown & Mason Group
Tilley & Barrett
Brown & Mason Group
Dragon Equipment
Cawarden
The Erith Group Fhoss
O'Donovan Waste Disposal
Aaron Davis, Keltbray
The Erith Group
Ward Recycling
Colemans
Brown & Mason Group
Colemans
Alert Technology
Windsor Waste
DSK Environmental
Adam Thornton, Clifford Devlin
SMH Products
Aspect Contracts
Clifford Devlin
Ross Cressingham, Clifford Devlin
Assure 360
Shield Services
Sydney Budenbender, DSK Environmental
by Ben Chambers
On Thursday 27 June I attended the UKATA Asbestos Conference 2024.
It was a bit of a rushed fly in, flyout affair for me so it was fortunate that it was held alongside the East Midlands Airport.
I jest, but I had just been the other side of the county for the construction event of the summer in a quarry at Hillhead, then was off to Amsterdam the very same day, but I had made a commitment and apart from that I didn’t want to miss out.
Making it literally for bang on the 9am start (confirmed by the friendly UKATA team at the welcome desk) I was immediately approached by some familiar faces in friends and clients Empire Asbestos and John Rowan & Partners and settled alongside them for all the sessions and speakers.
It is always a pleasure to be alongside an engaged asbestos industry, and when I did happen to take my eyes away from the stage I’d catch a glimpse of a medium
The fully packed day the entire day comprised of the following:
SESSION #1
1. Welcome from UKATA, Craig Evans, UKATA Chief Operating Officer
2. A Critical Look at the New EU Asbestos at Work Directive, Dr Yvonne Waterman (EAF)
3. Welfare in Asbestos Removal, Colette Willoughby (NORAC)
4. Diverting Asbestos Away from Landfill, Graham Gould (Thermal Recycling)
SESSION #2
5. Game of Drones: Using Drones and Thermal Imaging Technology to Modernise and De-Risk Condition Survey, Sam Johnson (Vertex Access)
6. Advancing Mesothelioma Care: Latest Research and Future Directions, Mairead Dixon, Mesothelioma Nurse Specialist (Mesothelioma UK)
7. Living with Mesothelioma: A Personal Journey, Michelle Spencer (Mesothelioma Victim)
8. Breaking New Ground: The Journey of Asbestos Regulation in Chile, Emma Willey & Cristian Rami¬rez, Director of BRISA SA
SESSION #3
9. From Site Inspections to Prosecutions: HSE’s Approach to Managing Compliance, Emma Wilkinson, Previous HSE Inspector & Risk Management Consultant at PCR Global
10. Panel Q&A, All Speakers
sized group of professionals transfixed on a good choice of speakers with a variety of specialisms and topics.
Split over three sessions and ending with a panel Q&A this particular event also being used as a shop window for others to see what UKATA are all about and the calibre of their events as it was opened to non members.
If you were unable to make the event, UKATA has put the presentations online, which you can find via: Presentations at ukata. org.uk
I even somehow managed to receive a CPD certificate which I wasn’t expecting. A very nice tribute from a sound day.
There’s only one place you’ll find the heavy hitters of concrete and masonry this January: Vegas, baby — at World of Concrete 2025, the largest and only annual international event dedicated to your business. Be here to mix with industry giants. Get your hands on the latest technologies revolutionizing safety, performance and speed. And learn what it takes to not only claim a piece of our industry’s massive projected growth but dominate the field. Join the power players of concrete and masonry.
EXHIBITS: JANUARY 21-23, 2025
EDUCATION: JANUARY 20-23
LAS VEGAS CONVENTION CENTER
The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), in collaboration with its subsidiary, Nuclear Waste Services (NWS), has awarded two contracts to establish an innovative partnership for the enhanced management of asbestos waste.
The Asbestos Innovation Partnership (AIP) will work with the NDA, NWS and the supply chain, to test and develop new solutions to treat asbestos waste, helping to deliver efficiencies and enable more effective waste management.
The NDA group is tasked with decommissioning the UK’s oldest nuclear sites safely, securely, and cost-effectively. Given the age of these facilities, large quantities of radiologically-contaminated asbestos waste must be managed.
Currently, non-nuclear contaminated asbestos waste goes to hazardous landfill, some contaminated asbestos is allowed in very small quantities in the Low Level Waste Repository, and the bulk is designated for disposal in a future Geological Disposal Facility (GDF).
Nuclear Waste Services will now oversee the AIP to look at how legacy and future waste is managed in the most sustainable and
efficient way, utilising innovation and technology development. It is projected that by utilising new techniques and reducing use of landfill, the partnership could help realise multi-million pound cost savings.
NDA Chief Commercial and Business Development Officer, Emma Ferguson-Gould, said: “The development of the innovation partnership for the management of asbestos waste is a huge milestone for the NDA group and is equally beneficial for the delivery of NDA’s mission and for the enhanced value this will deliver for the UK taxpayer.
“Delivering this milestone highlights the benefits of working as one NDA group and our collective enduring commitment to our critical mission. I would like to extend my personal thanks and congratulations to everyone involved in bringing this to life.”
NWS Director of Strategy and Integrated Waste Management, Paul Tuohy, said: “We see enormous opportunities to better manage asbestos waste across the NDA group.
“By establishing the Asbestos Innovation Partnership (AIP) we will work with the private sector
to develop new and innovative treatment solutions, accelerating hazard reduction and realising significant cost savings.
“It is just one example of the collaborative working required to deliver our Integrated Waste Management strategy, in partnership with NDA Sellafield, NRS and our supply chain.”
Contracts have been awarded to two consortia which now
make up the Asbestos Innovation Partnership (AIP):
• Veolia Nuclear UK Solutions, Cyclife UK Ltd and Waste to Glass sas
• React 2 consisting of Galson Sciences, and Thermachange
Establishing the AIP demonstrates the NDA delivering on commitments in its strategy in
relation to Integrated Waste Management, namely to drive technology development to deliver a range of suitable treatment routes that enable the effective and optimal management of the variety of wastes in the NDA’s inventory. It also marks the delivery of one of the key NWS strategy milestones to ensure that the right waste form, in the right package, is managed or disposed of at the right facility.
Innovation Partnerships are a new procurement approach for the NDA, providing new ways to harness the power and expertise of the supply chain from research and development to deployment.
The AIP is already receiving recognition having been shortlisted for the Innovative Commercial Project award at the Government Commercial Function (GCF) awards in November.
Christopher Garrett has been jailed for 32 months after he dumped around 12,000 tonnes of controlled mixed construction and demolition waste, including asbestos, on a floodplain in Devon.
The Environment Agency said Garrett, 64, is thought to be the “worst offender” it has seen in Devon and Cornwall for the quantity of asbestos he illegally disposed of.
Garrett pleaded guilty to running a waste facility without a permit, and for disposing of waste material, namely asbestos, in a manner likely to harm the environment or human health.
He was sentenced to 32 months in prison, of which he will serve half, and ordered to pay over £200,000 as part of a Proceeds of Crime Act confiscation sum.
Exeter Crown Court heard that Garrett repeatedly imported waste onto his land despite being prosecuted previously and receiving multiple warnings from the Environment Agency.
During sentencing, Judge Adkin described the offences as “industrial scale environmental contamination committed by an individual”.
The Court heard that between
July 2018 and May 2022 around 12,000 tonnes of controlled waste (mixed construction and demolition waste) was deposited on land designated as a floodplain at Garrett’s home, alongside the A380 dual carriageway.
He burnt some of the waste and buried large quantities of Asbestos Containing Materials (ACM), posing a risk to the environment and human health, the Environment Agency said.
Garrett is a repeat offender who showed no care for the environment or human health.
The investigation established that Garrett had received hundreds of thousands of pounds for the illegal tipping and that it would cost at least £2.5 million to remediate the site. His combined financial benefit from the offending was put at £2.88 million, including the remediation costs.
In 2016, Garrett received a two-year suspended prison sentence for allowing asbestos waste to be disposed of at the site without a permit, and in 2019, the Environment Agency heard that he was again importing waste to his land.
The Environment Agency said officers made several site visits,
including on one occasion with a police escort due to the hostile nature of the defendant towards Environment Agency staff.
Garrett was prosecuted in early 2022 for an offence under the Public Order Act for his behaviour towards Environment Agency officers.
In May 2022, the regulator obtained a warrant to allow a search of Garrett’s property and extensive site investigations using heavy machinery.
Bags containing asbestos were found buried in the ground and the site was covered with smaller fragments of the hazardous waste, the Environment Agency said.
Following the hearing, an Environment Agency spokesperson said: “Garrett is a repeat offender who showed no care for the environment or to human health.
“He took no notice of the previous warnings given by the courts and the Environment Agency and imported hazardous waste, burying it to make a quick profit.
“We are extremely pleased that he has now been brought to book and are working with our partners to establish what will happen to the site going forward.”
A team from ASR Ltd used innovative gel packs while working in a derelict shed at a property along Route de la Palloterie in St Peter’s.
The packs are made by French company EasyGel Protect BTP. ASR was given approval to trial them by the UK Health & Safety Executive.
Asbestos experts from the UK were also present at the property to carry out an audit of the work.
The gel packs were fixed on to clad pipes containing asbestos, before both the packs and pipes were slowly cut into with a blade by ASR staff who were covered head-to-toe in protective clothing.
The gel merged over the blade, creating a physical barrier between the asbestos dust and those carrying out the work.
The contaminated pipes were then securely disposed of in a specially-designed skip before being sent to landfill.
The work was completed in a few hours.
ASR managing director Paul Knight said the company was just the second in the British Isles to have used the packs. The technology is already used extensively in Europe.
“UK asbestos standards and regulations are higher than those in Guernsey, so we are delighted to be able to have figures from the UK here today in order to view for themselves the high standards we hold ourselves to,” said Mr Knight.
He was keen to use public interest in the project in St Peter’s to highlight the dangers of asbestos which is not always dealt with correctly.
“We get jobs in Alderney, Sark and Jersey, as well as here, and we are going to be applying for a UK
licence soon, which will make us the first Channel Islands company with such a licence.
“Asbestos regulations in Guernsey are ancient and not at the UK standard, so we are determined to set the bar high over here in the hope that things change.”
The Faculty of Asbestos Assessment & Management and British Occupational Hygiene Society research project was headed up by Nick Garland of Assure360, who discovered the technique in France and wanted to explore how it could be adapted for use in the UK.
Asbestos & Environmental Safety Association Chief Executive Graham Warren, one of the experts from the UK who travelled over for the removal, said a host of safety measures had been put in place over the course of a couple of days to enable the trial.
“The building was secured with protective panels and tape, but there are vision panels which allow those on the outside to observe what is being done inside,” he said.
“The protective gear that the guys inside are wearing also has to be disposed of safely, so as you can imagine a lot of thought goes into planning and executing something like this.”
In 2020, the States (Parliaments of Jersey, Guernsey and Alderney) agreed a compensation scheme for people with diffuse mesothelioma, caused by exposure to asbestos, which was used extensively without safety measures for decades.
The scheme provides a single payment to islanders affected. Claims can be made through the Employment & Social Security Committee.
Large pile of asbestos materials fly-tipped close to community centre and homes near Dartford, Kent
A large pile of asbestos was dumped on the roadside close to a community centre in Kent in July.
The corrugated sheets were flytipped along Cotton Lane in Stone, near homes and the Claire Tiltman Centre, which is used by a local Scout group.
Along with the pile of hazardous waste, a metal bin, white goods and a plastic garden chair have also been discarded
Dartford Green Party Councillor Laura Edie said: “This road is used by the Scouts and is also next to residential housing. I have asked for this to be removed ASAP due to the hazardous nature of the material.”
The family of a former electrician who died from an asbestos-linked cancer has secured justice from his former employer.
Watson Norrie Ltd admitted liability and Albert Batty’s family secured a £80,000 compensation settlement.
Albert Edward Batty was an active 86-year-old when his health suddenly started to deteriorate in May 2020. He struggled to live
independently and was in need of round-the-clock hospital care.
Mr Batty’s doctors initially attributed his symptoms to heart disease before further investigations suggested that he may have been suffering from lung cancer.
It was not until after he passed away in April 2021 that his family were informed that he had, in fact, been suffering from mesothelioma.
Albert’s son, Kevin Batty, 66, was shocked by the diagnosis and desperate for answers. He instructed his solicitors, who had represented hundreds of clients suffering from mesothelioma across the north-east, to determine when and where he may have come into contact with asbestos and the family’s legal
team carried out an investigation into Mr Batty’s work history.
They found that he started his career as an apprentice with Watson Norrie, a nationally operating electrical wiring installation company in 1948, when he was just 15 years old.
During this time, he mainly worked on contracts at North Tees “C” Power Station and at Air Ministry Works Services (Northern Area), where he installed and maintained boilers, turbine auxiliaries, sockets and kitchens.
He left the company in 1955 to join the Navy as a qualified Journeyman Electrician and retired in 2000 as a highly qualified electrician.
Thompsons Solicitors used the information to draw on their extensive Witness Statement
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Archive, tracing former clients who had successfully pursued similar claims following negligent exposure to asbestos under similar circumstances.
Although many of the original witnesses had passed away, they were able to use their statements, with permission from their families, to link Mr Batty’s asbestos exposure to his time at North Tees “C” Power Station.
The investigation led to an admission of liability from Watson Norrie Ltd, who could have done more to protect him from asbestos exposure. Thompsons Solicitors also secured a £80,000 compensation settlement for the family.
Kevin said it had been “extremely distressing” to watch his father’s health deteriorate.
