0845 8623840Insights
iON Consultants Makes Key Appointment to Asbestos Team
Date: 11/02/26
iON Consultants has appointed Jamie Probert as a Senior Asbestos Consultant to support our next phase of growth. Having worked in senior operational roles in asbestos risk management, Jamie brings valuable experience and will play a key role in providing greater support and assurance to our customers.
Jamie began his career as an asbestos surveyor and analyst, gaining experience across multi-site estates in the commercial, industrial, nuclear, and rail sectors. He later transitioned into an operational and consultative role, leading three regional offices and 40 site staff. A natural team player with strong analytical skills, Jamie is well versed in delivering practical and effective support that ensures the safety and environmental stewardship of our customers’ people and operations.
To give customers an insight into Jamie’s expertise, we asked him a series of questions on the asbestos management industry, the challenges it faces, and how organisations can be better supported in complex environments.
Q: Which asbestos-related issues do you most frequently see in organisations, particularly in terms of management and compliance?
A. Many companies have substandard or outdated asbestos registers, often due to a lack of resources or expertise. Poor recordkeeping is often the result of an inadequate understanding of dutyholder responsibilities under CAR 2012. If information is missing or inaccessible, communication between teams fails. Contractors do not receive the appropriate briefing before the work commences, which puts all stakeholders at unnecessary risk.
Gaps in records have the potential to compromise the safety of any asbestos-related project. Air test certificates, clearance reports and waste documentation must be kept and made available for audits or HSE inspections. Maintaining an up-to-date asbestos management register is a legal duty designed to protect contractors and building users. The register provides an accurate, up-to-date overview of potential risks, enabling dutyholders to properly control them and keep everyone associated with the building safe. I would urge anyone with concerns about the completeness or accuracy of their asbestos management register to prioritise addressing them.
Of course, time and budget pressures can also compromise risk and safety. These constraints must not take precedence over smart, risk-based decisions. By following the correct procedures, projects can progress efficiently and avoid unexpected issues, delays and cost escalations.
Q: Are there any recurring compliance gaps you’re seeing across the industry?
A: One of the biggest issues I have identified is that organisations often treat asbestos management as a one-off task rather than an ongoing responsibility.
Q: What do dutyholders typically underestimate about asbestos risk or compliance?
A: Dutyholders often underestimate how quickly a low-risk situation can escalate if good management procedures are not in place. Exposure risks stem from human failures, which include inadequate planning, incomplete information, and ineffective communication.
Q: What can dutyholders do to reduce asbestos-related risks or delays?
A: Ensure that you commission the right asbestos survey at the right time. Many dutyholders and project managers are unsure which type of survey they need, but the scope must be clearly defined. Providing a clear brief ensures that the survey will actually cover the planned work. Ultimately, the key is to understand what needs to be inspected and to select the most suitable specialists to carry it out.
Q: What does “good” asbestos management look like in practice?
A: Having a good management system in place alongside robust policies and training is key. In my experience, the organisations that manage asbestos the most effectively are those that treat it as an ongoing management process. They plan ahead, use data strategically, brief contractors fully, and review their arrangements regularly. This approach significantly reduces both risk and disruption.
Q: How is asbestos management changing in the industries you serve?
A. Asbestos management is moving away from static surveys and paper registers to live digital systems that are more accessible, easier to update, and simpler to maintain. Dutyholders are beginning to understand that asbestos management encompasses more than just surveys. Early planning, improved training, ongoing management, and better communication are all equally important. The industry is shifting from reactive problem-solving to planned, risk-based management. From our perspective at iON Consultants, this is a positive and welcome change!
iON Consultants provides multidisciplinary compliance expertise that helps organisations manage risk, meet relevant standards, and improve the safety and quality of their operations. As the latest member to join the team, Jamie is looking forward to providing customers with the technical support and practical advice that will enable them to adopt best asbestos management practices and embed a proactive safety culture across their estates.