Repositioning the Audit Process: Uncovering True Value in Rigorous Audit Results

Adam Fox • 24 July 2024

Audits provide unique insights into the day-to-day operations of a business.

Introduction

Audits are pivotal in ensuring business operations not only meet industry standards but also function effectively and efficiently. However, the process of undergoing an audit is often viewed as stressful and confrontational. It is essential for audit clients to reframe this perception, seeing audits not as punitive evaluations but as fundamental tools for significant growth and improvement. This article aims to shift the narrative—from fearing rigorous audit results to valuing them as indispensable tools for enhancing company integrity and compliance.

Understanding Audit Outcomes

The natural reaction to a challenging audit might include feelings of frustration or defensiveness. It’s understandable; it feels daunting to have your business vulnerabilities exposed. However, it’s crucial to recognise that an auditor who uncovers significant issues is not an adversary but a strategic ally. This partnership is fundamental in the quest to fortify and enhance your business operations.

The Pitfalls of a "Perfect" Audit

A flawless audit report might appear to be the ultimate goal for any business, but it's important to scrutinise what such an outcome actually represents. Does it genuinely reflect an operation without faults, or does it mask deeper, underlying issues? Auditors who focus solely on delivering pleasing results might inadvertently create a false sense of security. The stark reality is that issues which are overlooked or unreported can eventually lead to severe consequences when they are uncovered by regulatory bodies such as the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). This often results in substantial penalties and significant financial and reputational damage.

The Real Value of a Rigorous Audit

Acknowledging Emotions

Audits can trigger high emotional responses, particularly when findings highlight potential risks or critical areas needing improvement. Clients might respond with emotional outbursts or defensive postures, often because the audit’s findings touch on sensitive issues such as financial constraints or operational shortcomings. Auditors must approach these reactions with understanding and empathy, recognising the client’s emotional state while guiding the conversation towards a more rational and constructive dialogue.

Focusing on Facts

The core purpose of an audit is to uncover factual details about processes and controls that might be underperforming. Keeping discussions focused on systemic issues rather than personal faults is vital. By pinpointing problems within processes and supporting these findings with solid evidence, auditors help clients see the issues from an objective standpoint, thus detaching emotional reactions from the practical implications.

Prioritising Process Over People

It is common for individuals involved in an audit to perceive findings as personal criticisms, which can cloud judgement and hinder constructive responses. Auditors need to clarify that most audit findings relate to errors in processes—such as a lack of awareness, insufficient funding, or inadequate training—and are not necessarily indicative of personal incompetence or negligence. Helping clients understand this distinction can shift their perspective from taking personal offence to focusing on operational improvements.

Strategic Benefits of Embracing Audit Findings

Embracing rigorous audit results is far more than merely accepting critiques; they are opportunities for critical operational enhancements. Each finding provides a chance to address and rectify gaps that, if left unchecked, could evolve into more severe compliance or efficiency issues.

Learning from Every Audit

Audits provide unique insights into the day-to-day operations of a business. Whether revealing unnoticed inefficiencies, overlooked regulatory misalignments, or areas where resources are either overused or underutilised, audits help shape strategic decisions that can lead to significant improvements.

Building a Culture of Continuous Improvement

By embracing the results of each audit, companies can foster a culture of transparency and continuous improvement. This proactive stance not only prepares businesses to handle future challenges but also positions them as reliable and ethical market leaders.

Enhanced Expertise Through Professional Associations

Our auditors not only conduct rigorous audits but also sit on the Audit and Technical Committees for leading trade associations such as ACAD (Asbestos Control and Abatement Division) and ASESA (Asbestos Safety and Environmental Association). This involvement ensures that we stay at the leading edge of industry changes, equipping our clients to always be one step ahead of the competition. The primary audits we offer are Licensed Asbestos Removal Contractor (LARC) audits, and we are the UK's leading provider of these services, working closely with ACAD, ASESA, and Assure 360.

Conclusion

Facing challenging audit results is a crucial step in the continuous journey towards business excellence. Effective auditors do not simply identify issues—they provide a framework through which these issues can be understood and rectified. Ultimately, a "bad" audit result is a powerful catalyst for strategic enhancement, offering far more long-term value than the fleeting satisfaction of a "perfect" but potentially superficial audit.

Call to Action

Do not let the allure of favourable audit results detract from the primary purpose of the process. Embrace rigorous audits as vital tools for identifying and resolving issues that could compromise your business's success and integrity. Contact us today to learn how our detailed and thorough audit services can help transform your operational challenges into opportunities for growth and leadership in your industry.

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Asbestos and the Circular Economy: Why It's Time to Stop Burying the Problem

by Adam Fox • 9 April 2025

Asbestos and the Circular Economy: Why It's Time to Stop Burying the Problem Twenty-five years after asbestos was banned in the UK, we’re still digging a hole—literally and metaphorically. Every day, across the country, asbestos waste is double-bagged, labelled, loaded into skips, and driven to landfill, where it will sit indefinitely, taking up valuable space, creating ongoing liability, and adding to our already bloated environmental burden. And yet, 2025 presents a different path. A smarter one. One that replaces disposal with repurposing, and turns a dangerous waste product into a useful, circular resource. The technology exists. So the question we should be asking isn’t “Can we recycle asbestos?” It’s “Why the hell aren’t we doing it already?” Landfill is Failing Us—But We’re Still Relying On It Let’s start with the basics. There are still over 1.5 million buildings in the UK that contain asbestos, most of them now approaching the end of their useful life. As these structures age or undergo refurbishment, the volume of asbestos waste is only going to increase. Right now, we handle that waste the same way we did decades ago: • Identify it • Remove it (usually under fully controlled conditions) • Seal it in heavy-duty plastic • Drive it to landfill • Bury it • Forget about it Except we don’t forget, do we? Because landfill space is running out. Disposal costs are going up. And the environmental cost? We’re only just starting to count it. There’s a Better Way—and It Already Works Here’s what most duty holders don’t realise: We no longer have to bury asbestos. Thanks to recent advances in thermal treatment technology, we now have a method that can safely denature asbestos, breaking down its fibrous structure and rendering it harmless. Companies like Thermal Recycling in the UK are already proving this is not science fiction. They’re using high temperatures to transform asbestos cement products—like corrugated roofing sheets—into an inert ceramic material that’s completely safe. But here's the best bit: That material isn’t just neutral. It’s useful. It can be crushed and graded into aggregate, which can be used in road construction, paving, and concrete mixes. Instead of creating a waste burden for the next generation, we’re creating a valuable, low-carbon building material. Why Aggregate Matters in the Carbon Equation The production of virgin aggregates—through mining and quarrying—is energy-intensive and environmentally damaging. It contributes significantly to CO₂ emissions and destroys natural landscapes. So by replacing some of that demand with recycled aggregate from denatured asbestos, we: • Cut carbon emissions • Reduce dependence on extraction • Shrink the environmental footprint of infrastructure projects • Extend the life of quarries and reduce waste tonnage That’s not just a win for waste management. That’s a win for the entire construction supply chain. And yet most people in the industry don’t even know it’s possible. Why Are We Still Burying What Could Be Reused? As someone who’s worked in asbestos compliance for over 20 years—and now helps business leaders manage risk more intelligently—I’ve seen the same patterns play out time and time again: • “We’ll just do what we’ve always done.” • “This project’s tight on budget—landfill’s cheaper, right?” • “We’re just following the usual route—it’s less risky.” Let’s be honest. That mindset is outdated, short-sighted, and lazy. Cost may always be a factor, but the belief that landfill is “cheaper” needs to be challenged. Once you factor in: • Long-term environmental costs • Reputational risk • Rising disposal fees • And the public pressure for sustainable practices Thermal recycling is already starting to make sense. Especially when the output is something usable, not something buried. Licensed Contractors: You Don’t Get a Free Pass Either This isn’t just about clients or duty holders. Licensed Asbestos Removal Contractors (LARC’s) have a moral obligation here too. And I say that not from a place of opinion—but from first-hand experience, day in and day out for over two decades. Too often, LARCs put profits over progress. They default to landfill because it’s faster, easier to price up, and keeps their margins clean. They know the alternatives exist—but they don’t explore them, let alone offer them to their clients. When you hold a licence from the HSE, you’re not just a business—you’re a guardian of public health. That comes with responsibility. Choosing the most sustainable, forward-thinking disposal route should be part of that. Especially when the technology is available, proven, and legal. It’s time for the industry to stop hiding behind what’s convenient and start leading from the front. A Moral Obligation for Everyone Involved Whether you’re a: • Local authority managing public buildings • Developer under pressure to go green • Commercial landlord looking to reduce liability • Or a licensed contractor with influence over disposal routes —you have a responsibility to look beyond the cheapest or fastest option. If there’s a proven, safe, and more sustainable way to manage asbestos, you have a duty to understand it before choosing to ignore it. Because let’s be honest: “We didn’t know” isn’t going to wash when the public starts asking why we’re still filling landfill sites with a problem we already have the technology to eliminate. So What Can You Do Differently? No one’s asking you to overhaul your entire waste strategy overnight. But you can—and should—start asking better questions: • “Is landfill our only option here?” • “Could this waste stream be recycled instead of buried?” • “What suppliers, contractors, or experts do we know who can help us explore this?” You don’t have to be a global pioneer. But if you’re in a position of responsibility, you should at least be aware that the old way isn’t the only way anymore. Final Thought: The Future Is Circular—Whether You Join In or Not Asbestos will be with us for decades to come. That’s a fact. But how we handle it—and whether we choose to keep repeating the past or do something smarter—is up to us. Thermal recycling and other denaturing technologies offer a rare opportunity to do something that actually moves the industry forward. Not just ticking the compliance box. Not just burying the problem. But solving it—and turning it into something useful in the process. If you’re involved in asbestos management in even the slightest way, ask yourself this: Are you part of the problem, or part of the solution?