Asbestos records have to be accurate, current and easy to share. Whether you are a surveyor, a licensed removal contractor or a duty holder managing a property portfolio, the right asbestos management software should make surveys faster, keep your register up to date and give you evidence that stands up to scrutiny. Here is what to look for.
Why asbestos records need to be digital
Under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, duty holders in non-domestic premises must manage asbestos, which includes keeping an up-to-date record of where asbestos-containing materials are and what condition they are in. Paper surveys and spreadsheets quickly fall out of date, are hard to share with contractors and make it difficult to prove what was done and when.
8 things to look for
1. Survey and removal templates
The software should include forms for asbestos surveys and for removal works, capturing locations, material descriptions, condition and recommended actions consistently every time.
2. Photo evidence, location and timestamps
Every finding should carry photos, the location and the date and time it was recorded, automatically.
3. Locations pinned to drawings
Marking asbestos locations on building drawings makes the register far easier to understand, especially for contractors who have never been to the site.
4. A live asbestos register
Look for a register you can filter by building, portfolio, survey type and status, which updates as soon as new survey or removal records are signed off.
5. Actions tracked to completion
Recommendations such as encapsulation, labelling or removal should become actions with owners and due dates, tracked until they are closed with evidence.
6. Records that cannot be quietly changed
Ask how the system protects signed-off records. You want a full audit trail of who did what and when.
7. Secure client and contractor access
Clients and other contractors should be able to view the information relevant to their sites, and nothing else, without you emailing files around.
8. Works offline on site
Surveys often happen in basements, plant rooms and ceiling voids. Records should save offline and sync automatically later.
Questions to ask any supplier
- Can we run a real survey on the mobile app during a trial?
- How is the asbestos register kept up to date when new surveys or removals are completed?
- How do clients access reports, and can access be limited by site?
- What audit trail is kept, and can signed-off records be edited?
- What is included in the price, and are there setup or storage costs?
How BORIS does it
BORIS includes asbestos survey and removal works templates, photo evidence with GPS and timestamps, asbestos locations on live drawings, tracked actions, offline working and a secure client portal. See BORIS asbestos management software or book a demo.
Frequently asked questions
What is asbestos management software?
Asbestos management software replaces paper surveys and spreadsheets with digital forms, a live asbestos register, photo evidence and tracked actions, so duty holders and contractors can see where asbestos is and what is being done about it.
Do I need an asbestos register?
Duty holders in non-domestic premises must manage asbestos under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, which includes keeping an up-to-date record of the location and condition of asbestos-containing materials. A digital register makes this easier to maintain and share.
Can asbestos surveys be completed offline?
Yes. Good asbestos management software works offline on phones and tablets and syncs records and photos when the device reconnects.
