January 2017 saw the Asbestos Removal Contractors Association (ARCA) enhance the site audits of members.
It is compulsory that Asbestos removal contractors participate in ARCA's audit scheme, which was introduced in the year 2000 to support members but also to ensure high standards.
A contractor must achieve two satisfactory site audits every year, to join and maintain membership of the organisation, which monitors member's performance and ensures consistent high standards in the industry.
The audits are carried out to provide reassurance to several parties, including the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) that the contractor is complying with relevant legislation.
It is inevitable that audits will change to help raise and maintain consistently high standards across all contractors, and this latest development means that the site visits will now come unannounced, where previously notice was given, ensuring membership to ARCA offers an even stronger reassurance to the clients of a contractors compliance.
"Reaction from members has been very positive, as this is another element to support their management systems and to demonstrate their performance on any site at any time," stated Steve Sadley, Chief Executive of the Asbestos Removal Contractors Association.
"Already a major UK end-client has welcomed the unannounced element of ARCA audits, committing to allowing our auditors onto any of their sites."
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), who regulate this licensed industry, require asbestos removal contractors to work to exemplary standards at all times. Now ARCA members (excluding Ireland) will not have prior knowledge of when, or where, an ARCA auditor will be assessing their performance. Therefore, they will need to be prepared, at all times, to demonstrate how the job has been planned and how the plan is being implemented.
