G&L Always AIMS High – and Scores Top Marks in HSE Mystery Shopper Exercise

 

 

Independent HSE AIMS (Asbestos in Materials Scheme) assessment highlights the importance of consistency in asbestos analysis.

The HSE AIMS (Asbestos in Materials Scheme) Mystery Shopper Exercise has highlighted a critical issue within asbestos analysis services: inconsistency. While many providers can deliver acceptable results, very few demonstrate the level of accuracy and reliability required when performance is assessed over multiple interactions under real-world conditions. G&L Consultancy was one of the selected laboratories to achieve a perfect score.

 

Raising Standards in Asbestos Analysis

Asbestos analysis is not an area where “acceptable” is enough. Inconsistent results create unnecessary risk and can have serious implications for health, safety and compliance.

A busy UKAS-accredited laboratory, such as G&L Consultancy’s facilities in Somerset and Northern Ireland, can process hundreds of samples every day. Maintaining accuracy is vital to ensure samples are correctly identified as either positive or negative for asbestos. Incorrect analysis can affect project decisions, asbestos management strategies and, ultimately, the health and safety of those exposed to potentially hazardous materials.

To assess real-world laboratory performance, UKAS-accredited asbestos laboratories were unknowingly assessed by the HSE submitting ‘routine commercial samples’ rather than via the formal proficiency testing scheme.

These were ‘blind’ submissions, meaning laboratories were unaware they formed part of an industry-wide assessment. This approach ensured analysts treated the samples as they would any other client submission, rather than applying additional scrutiny because they knew the samples were being tested as part of a proficiency scheme.

This differs from the traditional AIMS process, where laboratories are aware that samples originate from the UKAS scheme. In the Mystery Shopper Exercise, samples were distributed by a trusted third party with no indication of their connection to the HSE.

Project Logistics & Findings

The third party (iON Consultants) was independently commissioned to randomly select laboratories from the UKAS website across England, Scotland and Wales. The organisation then distributed a series of test samples to the selected laboratories.

Laboratory analysts were assessed on several key aspects of bulk asbestos analysis, including the analysts’ ability to accurately determine the presence or absence of asbestos within complex samples and to identify all asbestos types present, helping to demonstrate the consistency and reliability of the analytical process as well as the identification of samples that do not meet the sufficient size criterion needed for accurate analysis.

The results from iON Consultants highlighted a significant difference between laboratory performance during recognised AIMS testing and day-to-day analysis.

Of the 59 laboratories assessed:

• 78% made at least one analytical error
• Only 22% achieved a perfect score
• HSE estimated that if these results were repeated across three rounds, 78% of laboratories would be classified as ‘Unsatisfactory’ under the AIMS scoring system

iON Consultants also highlighted the following findings:

• Sample 1 – 25% of laboratories failed to detect chrysotile (white asbestos).
• Sample 2 – Only 24% of laboratories detected all asbestos types present. 15% failed to identify crocidolite (blue asbestos), 75% missed amosite (brown asbestos), and 14% failed to identify both crocidolite and amosite.
• Sample 3 – All laboratories correctly reported the sample as containing no asbestos (NAD). However, only 7% commented on the sample’s unusual or deviating characteristics.
• Sample 4 – 86% of laboratories identified chrysotile within both the floor tile and bitumen adhesive. 12% identified chrysotile only within the tile, while 2% failed to identify chrysotile in either the tile or adhesive.

Commenting on the findings, Peter Cottam of iON Consultants stated:

“Alarmingly, the results produced by the mystery shopper initiative differ significantly from those of the AIMS scheme. They demonstrate a clear distinction in the laboratories’ approach to customer and proficiency scheme samples.”

The most common errors involved laboratories failing to identify all asbestos fibre types present within mixed asbestos-containing materials.

Top Marks Across the Board for G&L

Following the exercise, G&L Consultancy and the other participating laboratories were instructed by the HSE to review samples received via iON Consultants. This enabled G&L Consultancy to compare its original findings against the assessment criteria and confirm that its Somerset laboratory had achieved:

• 100% accuracy across all analysis results
• Correct identification and professional commentary on the deviating sample (1 of 2 labs that received a deviating sample to report it as such)
• Consistent performance across multiple assessment rounds

We are delighted to share that G&L Consultancy was one of the few laboratories to achieve a perfect result, correctly identifying every asbestos sample submitted, including the deviating sample.

This independent assessment demonstrates that our laboratory applies the same rigorous quality standards to every client sample as it does during formal proficiency testing.

 

The sample results (distributed by iON Consultants)

 

The G&L Consultancy sample analysis report which correctly identified all samples.

 

The G&L Consultancy sample analysis report, including the deviating sample which was noted accordingly.

 

Following the review process, laboratories that had incorrectly identified asbestos samples were required by the HSE to undertake non-conformance investigations to establish the reasons for the analytical errors.

The G&L Difference

The HSE Mystery Shopper Exercise was limited to laboratories in England, Scotland and Wales. However, the same stringent procedures, quality controls and commitment to accuracy are followed throughout G&L Consultancy’s laboratory operations, including our Northern Ireland laboratory.

Whether analysing routine samples or providing urgent turnaround services, our laboratories operate to the same high standards, ensuring consistency, reliability and confidence in every result issued.

The results of this exercise reinforce what our clients already expect from G&L Consultancy: a commitment to quality, accuracy and technical excellence.

You can submit a sample to be tested for asbestos by visiting our website and selecting your nearest laboratory. If you have any about potential asbestos-containing materials, you can contact our laboratories on the number below:

Somerset (serving England, Scotland & Wales) – 01823 443 898

Northern Ireland (serving Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland) – 02840 623 566

 

You can read the published iON Consultants insights here.