Guest blog from Graham O’Mahony, Chair of UK Asbestos Training Association (UKATA)
The presence of asbestos in soils presents a significant yet often underestimated health risk in the UK. As redevelopment and brownfield regeneration projects increase, so too does the likelihood of encountering asbestos-contaminated land. It is essential that professionals working in soil science, construction, and land remediation understand the risks and legal responsibilities associated with disturbing such soils, and that they are adequately trained to manage them safely.
Asbestos was widely used in the UK throughout the 20th century in thousands of construction and industrial products, with its use coming to an end in 1999. During demolition, refurbishment, or poor waste disposal practices prior to regulation, asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) were often buried or left in situ. Over time, this has led to significant deposits of asbestos-contaminated soil, particularly on brownfield sites, former industrial locations, waste disposal areas, and around demolished buildings. This is also extended to the domestic gardens where domestic demolition resulted in products, normally asbestos cement, used as hardcore and buried within the garden. The legacy at the time was to reduce disposal costs to the site user, and it was often cheaper and easier to bury ACMs than dispose of them correctly – out of sight, out of mind.
Asbestos products came in many forms, which can be broadly categorised into main types of ACMs such as, cement based products, insulation products, board products, and many others. These categories can be further broken down based on the types of contamination found in the ground. Examples include visible fragments of ACM – such as asbestos cement, insulation board or pipe lagging, fibrous asbestos mixed throughout soil matrices, and residues left behind from demolished structures where asbestos was not safely removed.
The primary health concern arises from the inhalation of airborne asbestos fibres, which can occur if contaminated soil is disturbed without appropriate controls. Exposure is linked to serious diseases including mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, and pleural thickening. There is no known safe level of exposure, and the latency period of disease development can span decades.
Unlike asbestos in buildings, often encapsulated or fixed, soil-bound asbestos may be less predictable, more easily disturbed, and difficult to fully assess without thorough investigation and competent handling. An important point to remember, if the soil is not disturbed and left, the risks are contained, but agitating or disturbing the soil can yield exposures greater than the current clearance indicator that we work to when asbestos is removed.
The emphasis for many years in the UK has been ‘asbestos in buildings’, which brought about the asbestos surveyor and the asbestos management plan, but the drive and training was towards buildings, while land and soils where ignored. However, this approach changed many years ago, and now it is more and more common for asbestos land surveys to be undertaken prior to planned disturbance, with a view to identifying the risks early on in a project. It has to be said that this isn’t full proof, as the asbestos land surveys generally only provide a snapshot of the likelihood of hidden ACMs. Being aware is very important, as ACMs can be missed. There is no easy answer to this – other than removing all the soil as hazardous, which would eliminate the risk entirely. However, this isn’t a cost-effective approach. Therefore, the asbestos land survey is the first step to determining the risk and likelihood of ACMs.
The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR 2012) applies to asbestos in all forms, including that found in soil. Within the regulations:
- Any work involving asbestos, including soil disturbance, must be properly risk-assessed.
- A determination must be made on whether the activity is licensed, notifiable non-licensed work (NNLW), or non-licensed.
- Employers must provide workers with adequate information, instruction, and training.
- Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), air monitoring, and decontamination procedures must be in place.
All the above are determined by the risk….so how do we know what the risk is? Asbestos land surveys are now being undertaken prior to any proposed excavation, replacing the ‘old way of working’, if we find something, we will react to the risk. This way of ‘reactive actions’, has the potential to release fibres and increase the risk of exposure and spread.
UKATA plays a central role in raising awareness and delivering standards-compliant training to anyone who may come into contact with asbestos in soil. Training is critical not only for compliance but for the protection of workers and the wider public.
Recommended training courses include:
- UKATA Asbestos Awareness Training – For anyone who may encounter asbestos but does not disturb it directly. This includes site assessors, surveyors, and environmental consultants.
- UKATA Non-Licensed Asbestos Work Training – Essential for workers who may disturb ACMs during excavation or soil movement, including groundworkers, soil investigation teams, demolition teams, and remediation contractors.
- Soil-Specific Asbestos Awareness Modules – Specialised content addressing the detection, handling, and mitigation of asbestos in soils, tailored for environmental professionals and soil scientists.
UKATA approved training providers ensure that courses are in line with current legislation and practical site procedures, including how to interpret asbestos soil survey reports, implement control measures, and respond to accidental exposure.
For more information and to find UKATA-approved training providers, visit www.ukata.org.uk or call 01246 824437 for free advice.
UKATA is a leading authority on asbestos training provision, setting the highest standards in asbestos awareness and management training across the UK and internationally. Representing a network of approved training providers, UKATA ensures that all training meets rigorous quality standards to protect individuals and businesses from the risks associated with asbestos exposure.
With a mission to educate and raise awareness, UKATA works closely with industry stakeholders, regulatory bodies, and government organisations to promote excellence in asbestos management. UKATA-certified training is recognised as the highest standard and quality mark in asbestos training, equipping workers and employers with the knowledge and skills required to work safely and comply with legal obligations.
Through its commitment to maintaining exceptional standards and supporting professional development, UKATA plays a pivotal role in shaping a safer future for those working in asbestos-related industries.
