Asbestos Support Contracts - HSE

Provision of independent verification assurance for asbestos analytical analysis and identification processes across the NRS fleet. The service provider will review and verify asbestos framework analytical results for:

• Airborne asbestos fibre analysis counting carried out by phased contrast microscopy (PCM), following AM-REP-037 - NRS Specification for undertaking fibre counting assurance through enhanced microscopy (PCM and SEM/EDXA analysis);
• Bulk sample identification analysis carried out by polarised light microscopy (PLM), following AM-REP-038 - NRS Specification for undertaking bulk analysis assurance through enhanced microscopy (Stereo, PLM & SEM/EDXA).

Where anomalies are encountered the service provider will give detailed and candid feedback:

• of air monitoring compliance, i.e., mounting of slides, quality of filter membranes, cure times of chemical enhancement process, artefacts etc
• of bulk monitoring compliance, i.e., asbestos types, content quantification, difficulty assessment etc.

The provider must be proven to be independent with no ties to commercial asbestos analytical provision providers for on-site services and/or ties to licensed asbestos removal contractor operations.

Due to the need for unscrupulous credentials and independence the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) Research & Science Laboratory (RSL) is the only UK based facility able to completely satisfy the provision requirements. The HSE RSL is the primary UKAS accredited and truly independent analytical resource in the UK and is the regulatory authority for compliance.