Method Statement for Asbestos Removal — UK

Free UK asbestos removal method statement (plan of work) template, aligned with the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, HSG247 and the HSE asbestos licensing standard. Includes enclosure, decon, RPE and clearance sections.

UK (RAMS) example document — Two-Storey Rear Extension — 14 Birchwood Lane, Reading. Client: Mr & Mrs A. Whitfield (Private Client). Site: 14 Birchwood Lane, Reading, RG1 5JT. Scope: Construction of a two-storey rear extension (6.4m × 4.2m) to an existing semi-detached dwelling. Works comprise breaking out of existing rear elevation, trench-fill foundations to 1.0m, traditional cavity blockwork to first floor, pre-stressed concrete lintels, timber roof structure with natural slate finish, plus alterations to existing rear wall to form structural opening with rolled steel joist (RSJ 203×102 UB23). Works programmed over 9 weeks with a peak site team of 6 operatives. Hazards assessed: Manual handling — blocks, lintels, plasterboard, Working at height — independent scaffold & roof structure, Buried services strike during excavation, Collapse of excavation / trench wall, Hand-arm vibration (HAVS) — breaking out, drilling, Silica dust — cutting blocks, brick, concrete, Vehicle/pedestrian segregation — narrow domestic street.

Example UK (RAMS) front cover produced by Riskora
Try the new compact mode. Same document, just more compact

Full version

Preview first. No card needed. Download when you're happy.

Already have a asbestos removal Method Statement? Upload and rebuild it
  • Site-specific draft
  • Asbestos Removal hazards baked in
  • Ready for competent-person review
Download blank template

Built around recognised UK method statement structure — hazards, controls, sequence, PPE and sign-off. Ready for competent-person review.

Asbestos still kills more UK construction workers every year than any other workplace hazard — over 5,000 deaths annually, predominantly from past exposures that were never properly controlled. The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR 2012) is the strictest workplace regulation a UK contractor is likely to encounter. A method statement for asbestos removal is not optional; for licensable work it is the 'plan of work' submitted to HSE under reg. 7, and for non-licensable work (NNLW) it is still required and routinely demanded by clients. This page sets out the legal anatomy of a defensible plan of work and links to a free template.

When is it required?

A written method statement (plan of work) is required under CAR 2012 reg. 7 for all asbestos work. For licensable removal — sprayed coatings, lagging, AIB and any work where the control limit of 0.1 fibres/cm³ over 4 hours may be exceeded — the plan must be submitted to HSE as part of the licence notification, at least 14 days before work begins. For notifiable non-licensable work (NNLW) it must be notified to HSE through the online notification system and a copy held on site. For non-notifiable NNLW it must still be in writing, signed by a competent person (UKATA or equivalent), and held on site.

What a good one looks like

A defensible asbestos plan of work names the type and condition of the ACM (e.g. 'AIB ceiling tiles, fair condition, 22 m² across two rooms'), the survey reference, the licence number (where licensable), and the HSE notification reference. It details the enclosure design (3-stage decon vs hygiene unit, negative pressure unit specification, air change rate), the RPE (powered RPE for licensable, half-mask FFP3 for NNLW, with current face-fit certificates), the air-monitoring schedule (background, leak, reassurance, four-stage clearance), and the waste route (double-bagged, red inner / clear outer, consigned to a licensed transfer station). It includes the names and current ASLAC certificate references of every operative on site.

Asbestos Removal hazards & controls

The site-specific hazards a asbestos removal MS must address, with the controls that take residual risk to an acceptable level.

HazardPersons at riskControlsResidual
Inhalation of asbestos fibresOperatives, neighbours, returning occupantsFull enclosure with NPU achieving min 8 ACH; RPE selected per HSE OC 282/28 (powered for licensable, FFP3 for NNLW); face-fit current; air monitoring per HSG248Low
Fibre release outside enclosureOther workers, publicSmoke test of enclosure before start; daily leak test; ≥3-stage decon at exit; airlock between dirty and clean sides; reassurance air monitoring outside enclosureLow
Inadequate decontaminationOperatives3-stage decon unit (dirty / shower / clean) within 10m of enclosure; transit route if remote DCU; mandatory full body and hair wash; clean clothes stored in clean sideLow
Falls from height (working on lagging at ceiling level)OperativesTower scaffold with handrails inside enclosure; no use of ladders for work; trained tower assembly onlyLow
Heat stress in enclosure & RPEOperativesWork-in-enclosure limit 2 hours max; rest breaks in clean side; cool drinks available; monitor for signs of heat stressLow
Electrical hazards (energised services in enclosure)OperativesAll services in enclosure isolated and locked off before strip; portable 110 V lighting only; LV warning signage if any cable remains liveLow
Waste mishandlingOperatives, transfer station staffDouble-bagged (red inner clear-printed / clear outer), labelled with UN3373 / asbestos warning; consigned via licensed carrier on a hazardous-waste consignment note; receipts retained 3 yearsLow
Re-occupation before clearanceReturning building users4-stage clearance (visual / air test / second visual / certificate of reoccupation) by independent UKAS-accredited analyst; cert displayed at entryLow

Step-by-step sequence

  1. 1

    1. Pre-start checks & HSE notification

    Refurbishment/demolition survey reviewed; HSE notification submitted ≥14 days in advance for licensable work; client and PC briefed; emergency contacts on site.

  2. 2

    2. Enclosure construction

    Polythene enclosure to HSG247 standard, smoke-tested for leaks before start. NPU connected and running; 3-stage DCU on dirty side.

  3. 3

    3. Background air monitoring

    Independent analyst takes background samples inside and around the enclosure before any removal work begins.

  4. 4

    4. Removal

    Operatives in PPE + RPE (face-fit current) enter via DCU. ACM removed using wet methods, low-disturbance techniques, hand tools only where possible. Bagged at point of removal.

  5. 5

    5. Reassurance & leak monitoring

    Continuous reassurance monitoring outside enclosure; daily leak tests of enclosure boundary; readings logged.

  6. 6

    6. Fine clean & first visual

    Enclosure deep-cleaned; first visual inspection by analyst before air test.

  7. 7

    7. 4-stage clearance & certificate of reoccupation

    Independent UKAS analyst conducts visual, air sampling, second visual; issues certificate of reoccupation. Building remains sealed until certificate issued.

  8. 8

    8. Waste consignment & records

    All waste consigned via licensed carrier; consignment notes filed; site records retained for 40 years (operator exposure register) per CAR 2012 reg. 19.

Worked example

Real example — AIB ceiling tile removal, 1970s office (Manchester)

A licensed asbestos contractor in Manchester is removing 28 m² of asbestos insulation board (AIB) ceiling tiles from a meeting room and an adjacent corridor in a 1970s office block. The bulk survey confirms AIB, fair condition. The plan of work is submitted to HSE 16 working days before start under the contractor's HSE Asbestos Licence. It names the site supervisor (ASLAC Supervisor, valid to 2027), the three operatives (ASLAC Operative, all face-fit certified within 11 months), the enclosure design (polythene over a soft timber frame, fully sealed to walls and floor, NPU achieving 9 ACH, smoke-tested before start), the 3-stage decon unit (positioned in the corridor, 4m from the enclosure airlock), the RPE (powered RPE — Sundström SR500 with P3 filter — for all in-enclosure work), the wetting agent, and the waste route (double-bagged to a licensed transfer station in Trafford Park, consigned the same day). Background air monitoring is conducted before start by an independent UKAS-accredited analyst; reassurance monitoring runs continuously outside the enclosure. After removal and fine clean, the analyst conducts the 4-stage clearance and issues the certificate of reoccupation. The MS runs to 22 pages with appendices (survey, licence, ASLACs, face-fit certs, NPU service record, analyst accreditation) and was approved without amendment by the client's safety auditor.

Or build a site-specific asbestos removal MS in 5 minutes

The free template is a blank Word document. The Riskora builder ships with the asbestos removal hazard library baked in — pick the preset, edit the site-specific bits, download a signed PDF.

Build one free View pricing

Common mistakes that get a asbestos removal MS rejected

  • ·Submitting the same plan of work for every job — every plan must be site-specific
  • ·Treating AIB as NNLW (it's licensable in almost every case)
  • ·Out-of-date face-fit certificates (must be re-tested every 12 months and after facial changes)
  • ·Skipping the 4-stage clearance because 'it's only a small job'
  • ·Not retaining medical and exposure records for the full 40-year period
  • ·Reusing a hygiene unit instead of a 3-stage decon when the work is licensable

Frequently asked questions

Is asbestos removal always licensable?

No — sprayed coatings, lagging and AIB are licensable; cement-bonded asbestos products and some non-friable materials may be NNLW or non-notifiable. The determination must be made by a competent surveyor and confirmed in the plan of work.

How long before work starts must HSE be notified?

14 days for licensable work, via the online ASB1 notification. NNLW is notified through the simplified online system but without the 14-day waiting period.

Who can write the plan of work?

A competent person — for licensable work, typically an ASLAC Supervisor or higher under the contractor's HSE asbestos licence; for NNLW, a UKATA-trained competent person.

Do I need air monitoring on every job?

Yes — background, reassurance and 4-stage clearance for licensable work; reassurance and clearance for NNLW where the work is in occupied buildings. The analyst must be UKAS-accredited and independent of the removal contractor.

How long must records be kept?

Health records and exposure records for 40 years (CAR 2012 reg. 22). Plans of work, air monitoring, waste consignment notes and clearance certificates for the lifetime of the building, plus 3 years for the contractor.

Can I rely on a survey from 5 years ago?

Re-management surveys are routinely re-issued every 12 months for managed buildings; a refurbishment/demolition survey must be specific to the works and recent (typically <12 months). Trust nothing older without re-inspection.

References & further reading

Related method statements & RAMS

Method Statement: Asbestos Encapsulation
Method Statement: Demolition
Asbestos Risk Assessment
Method Statement: Roofing

Download the template, or build it in 5 minutes

Download templateTry the builder free

Riskora is an assistive document preparation tool. Every method statement must be reviewed and signed by a competent person before use.

Regulatory context, common mistakes and a worked example

Notifiable and non-licensable asbestos removal in the UK is governed by the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. The method statement has to map onto the regulator's expectations — not just describe the job.

Regulation and guidance referenced

  • CAR 2012 Regulation 7 — Plan of work for licensed and notifiable non-licensed work (HSE)

    Requires a written plan of work covering nature and probable duration, location, methods, equipment, controls, decontamination and waste route before work starts.

  • HSG247 — Asbestos: The licensed contractor's guide (HSE)

    Practical guidance on enclosures, NPUs, smoke testing, transit and decontamination — the method statement should mirror its structure.

  • HSG248 — Asbestos: The analysts' guide (HSE)

    Defines four-stage clearance; method statements must reference how analyst hold-points are built into the sequence.

  • ACOP L143 — Managing and working with asbestos (HSE)

    The approved code of practice supporting CAR 2012 — referenced by inspectors during enforcement.

Common mistakes that get this document rejected

  • No four-stage clearance hold-point

    Many removal method statements describe enclosure construction but skip how Stage 1–4 clearance is sequenced before reoccupation. Inspectors and principal contractors look for this explicitly.

  • Generic decontamination unit reference

    A DCU has to be described with location, water and waste route, transit procedure, and how it's used by everyone leaving the enclosure — 'DCU on site' is not enough.

  • Waste route missing the consignment note

    Asbestos waste is hazardous waste — the document needs the carrier, consignment note process and destination site, not just 'removed off site'.

Worked example

Scenario: Strip-out of asbestos insulating board (AIB) ceiling tiles in a 1970s school during half-term.

What went wrong: First method statement rejected by the principal contractor for missing the smoke test record, no NPU change-rate calculation, no analyst booking confirmation, and a generic 'PPE as required' line.

The fix: Rebuilt with named NPU (rated for enclosure volume), smoke test as a hold-point before stripping, analyst booking number, PPE specified by task (RPE FFP3 with face-fit, disposable Type 5/6 coveralls), and a four-stage clearance signed by the analyst before handover.

Outcome: Accepted on resubmission. Stage 4 clearance certificate retained with the project H&S file under CDM 2015.

Keep reading