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Discovering asbestos during excavation, demolition or development can lead to work stoppages, safety risks and regulatory punishments. Working in Western Australia’s complex legal matrix, knowing asbestos’ early warning signs will allow you to investigate and manage risks before they escalate.
In this article, we outline 7 triggers for asbestos investigations. For more information or to arrange an investigation on your site, contact West Soil & Water.
A site’s use history is perhaps the strongest indicator of its asbestos risk. Asbestos containing materials were widely used in construction in Australia up until the late 1990s, so you should consider an investigation if your site was used for:
Manufacturing and industrial operations
Warehousing or workshops
Service stations
Older (including already demolished) residential housing and developments
Sites developed prior to the late 1980s are much more likely to contain asbestos.
Whilst asbestos cannot be identified by sight alone, visible material should raise immediate concern. When on site, look for fragments of:
Cement sheeting
Corrugated roofing
Insulation material
Vinyl flooring
Building debris mixed within soil
If these materials are present, an immediate investigation will determine what risks are posed to human health.
NOTE: Greater concern should be taken if the fragments are found in disturbed soil or fill
Excavation, trenching and other bulk earthworks can bring buried asbestos containing materials to the surface. In some instances, they can also breakdown those materials and increase the risk of fibre release.
Before works commence, consider an investigation if:
The origin of fill material is unknown
The site has been subject to previous earthworks or demolition
The works are taking place near older structures or utilities
A proactive approach to investigating safeguards your project against unplanned stoppages and regulatory delays.
Fill material is often taken from older demolition sites and unregulated stockpiles, making it an all too common source of asbestos contamination.
Fill material will require testing if:
You have no documentation to confirm its source
It appears to be an inconsistent mixture of materials
Soil across the site has a similarly inconsistent composition
Testing fill material early gives you guidance as to asbestos content in soils, reducing the risk of contamination spreading during development.
Sometimes, regulators decide when to trigger asbestos testing.
Legislation, local approvals and site specific obligations may require asbestos contamination (or a lack thereof) to be confirmed prior to works beginning. Under WA’s Contaminated Sites Act 2003, asbestos testing is often necessary in proving compliance
If you a redeveloping a site for residential, education, childcare or open space uses, you will be required to verify even low risk asbestos contamination. This ensures that the site is fit for the proposed use and will not pose long term health risks to occupants.
Older sites often lack comprehensive records. Is asbestos surveys are missing, reports outdated or remediation undocumented, it is best to carry out an investigation and be sure of exposure risks on site.
Relying on evidence gathered through precise monitoring methods is always better than working off of assumptions.
At WSW, our consultants base all their decisions on evidence, designing solutions that work with your site’s environmental and regulatory context. We review site history, carry out inspections and assess proposed uses to determine what level of testing is required and how an investigation should proceed.
Following investigation, our team can offer:
Asbestos remediation
Asbestos removal, including roofing and other structures, in partnership with commercial specialists
Reporting and compliance assistance
Conducting a thorough asbestos investigation is the surest way of protecting occupants against exposure and your project against compliance breaches. WSW conducts comprehensive, independent investigations to provide the clarity you need to proceed.
Fore more guidance about asbestos in soil or to enquire about our abatement and removal services, contact West Soil and Water today.