Asbestos: The Analysts' Guide

This guidance is for analysts involved in asbestos work. It is the authoritative source of asbestos analytical procedures within Great Britain.

The guidance has been updated to take account of findings from Health and Safety Executive (HSE) interventions and developments in analytical procedures and methodology. It provides clarification on technical and personal safety issues, especially in relation to sampling and 4-stage clearances. New information on sampling soils for asbestos is included.

The guidance is designed to assist analysts in complying with their legal obligations. The publication should also be useful to asbestos consultants, occupational hygienists, safety professionals, asbestos removal contractors, building owners and facilities managers.

This July 2021 amended version includes corrections to:

• Tables A2.6, A4.2, A4.3 and A6.4
• Figures A2.7 and A2.8
• Appendix 4: Annex 3
• The sentence specifying the use of toluene and cyclohexane in sample treatment has been removed from para A2.21.
• The explanation as to how polyethylene fibres can be distinguished from chrysotile by analysts using PLM has been changed at paragraph A2.61.

Please Note: Analysts should note that local printing of the HSE reference sample images on pages 128 and 129 from this web version is unlikely to produce sufficiently high-quality reproduction for reference purposes.

Asbestos testing laboratories will find information on the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) accreditation transition process at https://www.ukas.com/accreditation/standards/laboratory-accreditation/asbestos/.