Good morning James, If I have read your question correctly, an asbestos survey should only be carried out by a trained and competent person. There is also a legal requirement to carry out a risk assessment to ensure that residents of the building are not exposed to asbestos fibres during the course of the survey. This will require that adequate precautions are taken by the analyst, for example, where possible the areas being sampled should be unoccupied and entry restricted during the sampling process. I would need more details to comment further.

James I presume you are meaning that the surveyor identifies a situation where there is an active significant fibre release in progress eg damaged fibrous insulation found adjacent to a walkway where there is continuing damage. Your first action must be to prevent further damage. This would be followed by remedial action including cleaning of all affected areas. You may also be referring to what should be donne with the information with regards to employees. I always take the view that any recording on personnel files should be preceded by a full written investigation report such that the full facts can be retrieved should it become necessary at some future date. It is a moot point whether the HSE must be informed and it really does depend on the circumstances of the discovery and the potential for significant exposure. I tend to investigate fully before deciding Bob

But what if the surveyor is from an outside consultants brought in to do the survey? He or she can't "barrier the area off" - the premises controller would do that. I imagine that the answer would be in that situation to report it immediately to the responsible person on site eg site manager, safety adviser. If they did not take it seriously, what then? Could be quite a dilemma. If you run to tell HSE would that be the correct thing to do as a consultant? No consultant would want to get a reputation as a whistle blower.

GerryD has given a good precis of a response. Might be an idea to have a few "alert notices" made up and kept handy to issue to the person in charge when such circumstance arises. As well as the "do's" I'd also include some "don'ts" (sweep or vacuum or attempt to do any sort of remedial work yourself. EM1 from the Asbestos Essentials (Task Manual) HSG210 should be the Surveyor's source for direction in these circumstances?