Industrial Asbestos Removal
Industrial sites present some of the most demanding conditions for asbestos removal work. Large-scale structures, live operational environments, high-level access requirements, complex logistics, and the need to keep the client's operations running throughout all require a contractor with the scale, experience, and planning capability to manage it properly.
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Emchia Asbestos Solutions Ltd is an HSE-licensed asbestos removal contractor with over 25 years of experience delivering licensed removal programmes across industrial sites throughout the UK. Our teams operate from our head office in Chorley across the North West, Midlands, and London, and we have delivered industrial contracts up to £5,000,000 in value. Contact our team to discuss your project requirements.
HSE-Licensed Industrial Asbestos Removal
Industrial asbestos removal involving licensable materials must be carried out by a contractor holding a current HSE licence under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. This applies regardless of the scale of the project or the type of industrial environment. Emchia holds a full HSE licence and operates in full compliance with the regulations across every site we work on.
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Our industrial work covers warehouses, manufacturing facilities, processing plants, logistics and distribution centres, and large-scale pre-demolition and remediation programmes. We are experienced in acting as both licensed removal contractor and principal contractor depending on the scope and complexity of the works.
For procurement teams and facilities managers who need to check our geographic coverage before making contact, we operate across Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Birmingham, London, Preston, and the wider UK.
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We hold ISO 9001 for quality management, ISO 14001 for environmental management, and ISO 45001 for occupational health and safety, alongside Cyber Essentials certification. These are the accreditations that major industrial clients and their procurement frameworks require before a contractor can be considered for appointment, and we maintain them through independent audit across all of our operations.
What Industrial Asbestos Removal Involves
Asbestos removal on industrial sites follows the same legally compliant process as any licensed removal programme, but the scale, environment, and operational constraints of industrial work introduce complexities that demand experienced site management at every stage.
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Before any removal begins, a refurbishment or demolition survey is required to identify and classify all asbestos-containing materials across the site. On large industrial sites this can be a substantial exercise in its own right, covering roof structures, service runs, plant rooms, floor areas, and equipment. Once the scope is defined, the removal programme involves:
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Once the scope is defined, the removal programme involves:
A 14-day notification period to the HSE before licensed works can begin
Establishing controlled respirator zones and physical barriers across the relevant work areas
Safe access to high-level structures using MEWPs, scissor lifts, and cherry pickers operated by trained and competent personnel
Careful removal, double-bagging, labelling, and transfer of all asbestos waste along designated routes to a licensed carrier
Clearance air testing and certification for each phase of the works before areas are handed back
On large industrial sites, phased sequencing is often essential to keep the programme on track while maintaining safety standards and allowing the client's operations to continue where required. Emchia's contracts management team handles the planning and coordination throughout, providing a single point of contact for the duration. Get in touch with our team to talk through the scope and survey requirements for your site.
Continuous air monitoring throughout the works by an independent UKAS-accredited analyst
Delivering Asbestos Removal on Live Industrial Sites
The ability to deliver large-scale asbestos removal within a live industrial environment, without disrupting operations, is one of the most significant differentiators between contractors in this sector. It requires operational planning at a level that most smaller operators cannot match.
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Emchia has delivered exactly this type of project at scale. That means managing large workforces across multiple simultaneous workfaces, coordinating phased sequencing to keep the programme moving while maintaining the highest safety standards, implementing strict exclusion zones and access controls to protect both operatives and the client's workforce, and handling the logistical demands of a major industrial site safely and efficiently.
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Where clients have critical operational requirements, such as stock that needs to remain in place, plant that cannot be shut down, or areas that must stay accessible, our teams plan and deliver around those constraints rather than asking the client to work around us.
Case Study: Ford Motor Company, Daventry
Project value: £5,000,000 Duration: 16 weeks Role: Principal Contractor
Emchia were appointed to deliver asbestos removal works at Ford Motor Company's Daventry site in August 2024, one of the most significant industrial asbestos removal contracts undertaken in the UK in recent years. Over a 16-week programme, up to 80 Emchia operatives worked simultaneously across the site to safely remove and decontaminate widespread asbestos cement debris throughout Ford's expansive warehouse buildings.
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The scope of works included thorough decontamination of roof trusses, purlins, storage racking, lighting conduits, and floor areas throughout the warehouse. Emchia established controlled respirator zones with physical barriers, warning signage, and a dedicated waste route to protect operatives and prevent cross-contamination throughout. A critical requirement from Ford was that stored stock items be carefully removed, cleaned, and reinstated in their original positions to maintain operational continuity; this was managed through meticulous labelling, tracking, and close coordination with Ford's in-house team throughout the programme.
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Safe access to high-level structures was achieved using scissor lifts and cherry pickers operated by trained MEWP-qualified personnel, with banksmen managing movements and maintaining exclusion zones at all times. Live electrical systems within the warehouse required enhanced task lighting, strict exclusion zones, and constant supervisor oversight to mitigate risk throughout the works.
Rigorous housekeeping practices minimised slip, trip, and manual handling risks across the site at all times.
All asbestos waste was securely double-bagged, labelled, and transferred along designated routes before removal from site by a licensed carrier. Independent UKAS-accredited analysts, alongside Ford's in-house health and safety team, inspected and signed off each phase of the works, ensuring complete compliance and client assurance at every stage of the programme.
The project was delivered safely, on programme, and ahead of expectations.
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Contact our team to discuss a project of similar scale or complexity.
Emchia's Accreditations and Compliance
Major industrial clients and their procurement frameworks require contractors to demonstrate independent verification across quality, environmental management, and health and safety before appointment. Emchia holds the following accreditations, each maintained through independent audit:
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ISO 9001 - Quality Management. Demonstrates that our processes meet internationally recognised standards for consistent, high-quality delivery across every project.
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ISO 14001 - Environmental Management. Confirms that our approach to environmental impact, including waste handling and disposal, meets the required standard for responsible commercial contracting.
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ISO 45001 - Occupational Health and Safety. The internationally recognised standard for workplace health and safety management, relevant to every project we deliver.
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Cyber Essentials - Information Security. Increasingly required by public sector clients and large commercial organisations as a condition of contractor appointment.
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Real Living Wage Employer - Emchia pays all employees at or above the Real Living Wage, reflecting our commitment to running the business properly at every level.
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Constructionline Gold - The recognised pre-qualification standard used across public and private sector procurement, confirming that Emchia's accreditations, insurances, and health and safety credentials have been independently verified and are kept current for buyer due diligence.
Talk to Our Team About Your Industrial Project
Emchia works with facilities managers, principal contractors, and procurement teams on industrial asbestos removal projects across the UK. Whether you are managing a contained removal within a single industrial unit or planning a large-scale programme across a major site, our team has the scale, accreditations, and track record to deliver it properly.
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There is no drawn-out process. Contact us with your project details and we will come back to you promptly to discuss scope, survey requirements, and next steps.