The Generation 4 Asbestos and Demolition Framework is worth £93.75m, and will work to safely remove asbestos over the next two years
The EN:Procure asbestos framework focuses on the safe and compliant removal of asbestos in demolition and water hygiene services.
It is primarily focused on the North of England, and includes firms such as Lucion and North Star Environmental Ltd. Of the 54 firms, 47 are SMEs.
Several different lots for the framework
Lots in the EN:Procure asbestos framework include asbestos consultancy and survey services, air monitoring services, licensed and unlicensed asbestos removal works, low and high-rise demolition works, and water hygiene management and remedial works.
Emma Mottram, director of operations at EN:Procure, said: “The asbestos and demolition sector is of huge importance to the construction industry, with projects needing careful planning to protect workers and the public when dealing with this hazardous material that can have serious legal and health-related consequences.
“We need this pool of highly-skilled and trusted operators to be involved in the safe handling of asbestos, in line with UK regulations. I’m also excited to be working with such a good mix of existing and new framework contractors, with 57% of contractors having historically not worked with EN:Procure previously.
“Providing modern, compliant and sustainable properties is at the core of what we do and we always aim to work with contractors who can demonstrate their dedication to providing social value and having an important impact on their communities.
“That’s why we are delighted to be joined by so many talented professionals who we know will make a positive difference, especially in prioritising skills and education in their own workforces, such as offering apprenticeships, with our support.”
The full list of contractors and lots can be found here.
Asbestos still a huge issue in construction
In November last year, High Speed Training published results from their research that found that asbestos is still often underestimated in how dangerous it is. It is also still responsible for around 5,000 deaths per year.
Specifically, the study found that:
• 26% of tradespeople who have encountered asbestos did not follow removal guidelines, with 26% saying their superiors told them to ignore the safe removal process
• 35% of tradespeople don’t think asbestos is hazardous
• 36% of those who aren’t concerned about asbestos said they view it as a problem of the past
• 46% of tradespeople believe the training they received about asbestos is insufficient
Dr Richard Anderson, head of learning and development at High Speed Training, said: “Whilst asbestos has been banned in the UK since 1999, it is still present in many buildings in the UK – with some reports3 stating it’s present in 1.5 million – and it can take as long as 30 years or more for symptoms of related diseases to appear, which really indicates the need for better awareness for tradespeople, their families, and the general public.
“Asbestos removal regulations are in place to make sure that the risk of exposure to harmful fibres is limited and it’s imperative that guidelines are followed, by a trained professional. It is never something that you should attempt to do yourself, whether you are a tradesperson or member of the general public. There can be serious risks to your health if asbestos is disturbed and fibres are released into the air.”
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