A SWINDON surveyor has warned companies not to panic if they are told they have asbestos in their buildings.

This year has seen the phased introduction of the Asbestos at Work regulations, which have tightened up the rules on checking for asbestos.

In May the responsibility for checking for asbestos was shifted from contractors to employers, and next month a licensing scheme will come in for laboratories that analyse samples of building materials to check for asbestos.

Because of the widespread use of asbestos in the railway works in Swindon, and the subsequent high rates of mesothelioma which became known as the Swindon disease in the town, all company bosses have been warned to brush up on the new regulations.

But Chris Bishop, managing director of QHS Services in Cheney Manor, says that although asbestos has rightly become a serious subject, there is not necessar- ily a need to have it removed, which can be a costly operation.

Mr Bishop, who has been surveying for three years, has only once recommended asbestos is taken out.

He said: "A lot of organisations have been sucked in to having asbestos removed.

"But the regulations require that asbestos is identified and measures are put in place to control it.

"You are given the choice to seal it, encapsulate it, or, as a last resort, remove it.

"But people are being told that asbestos should be removed.

"The only time you need to worry about the removal is when the building is to be demolished as long as there is no hazard or threat to people, it can be safely controlled."

Keith Taylor, a consultant for Continuity Business Services in Purton, said: "The Health and Safety Executive has stated that as long as the asbestos is in good condition it's best to leave it place rather than disturb it."

The next part of the Asbestos at Work regulations to come into effect will be regulation 20. This governs companies that analyse samples, and will introduce a licensing system to make sure methods are all up to scratch.