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When asbestos containing materials (ACMs) are identified on site, there is one question site managers must ask: how should they be managed?
While the terms removal, remediation and encapsulation are often used interchangeably, they actually refer to three distinct approaches to addressing asbestos risks. Each method is suited to different types of asbestos, site conditions and land uses, so it is important to have a clear understanding before you proceed.
West Soil and Water consults on, designs and implements asbestos treatment plans on sites across Western Australia. Our consultants use their understanding of all methods to create a strategy tailored to your site and its regulatory constraints.
This article explains each treatment avenue and how they can be selected to protect health, compliance and project integrity. For more information or to arrange a site visit, contact WSW.
Also known as abatement, removing asbestos is a complex process where ACMs are completely extracted and disposed of. This approach eliminates contamination hazards at the source. Our consultants will typically recommend removal when:
Asbestos is located in soil or building material
ACMs will be disturbed by your planned works
ACMs are friable or damaged
We adopt a range of safety measures during removal, isolating work areas, utilising protective equipment and installing filtration systems to protect workers and site occupants.
Full removal may be the most definitive solution, but it is also the most disruptive and expensive. It will likely require a temporary operational pause and will leave your project with strict regulatory oversight. It is important to discuss your options with an experienced asbestos remediation company prior to committing.
As one of the safer and more cost efficient treatment methods, asbestos remediation brings about the best long term outcome for your site. It is a broad term, referring to the process of managing contamination. It includes all planning, investigation and implementation activities that manage asbestos risk.
At West Soil and Water our remediation plans typically involve encapsulation or containment. In some circumstances, we may suggest partial removal of contaminated materials or controlled management of specific areas. In short, you can think of remediation as a hybrid of removal and encapsulation.
Ongoing monitoring and verification will be a necessity regardless of your chosen path.
Encapsulation controls asbestos exposure without removing the material. The ACM is treated with a specialised coating that prevents friability and fibres from becoming airborne, forming a protective barrier around the material.
Our consultants will opt for encapsulation when removal will cause excessive disruption or when asbestos is non-friable and in an undamaged condition. It is also important that the material will not suffer too much disturbance in the future, as this can affect the coating.
Encapsulation can prove faster, less invasive and more cost effective than full removal, especially for asbestos in soils. However, it does not eliminate the source of contamination and will require ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure its efficacy.
Removal, remediation and encapsulation might be closely related, but understanding their distinctions will help you find the most effective strategy for your project.
Removal
Eliminates asbestos completely
Most suitable for damaged or friable ACMs
Highest level of disruption and cost
Remediation
A broader strategy for managing asbestos risks
May involve combining techniques like removal, encapsulation or containment
Designed to suit specific site conditions and support long term land use
Encapsulation
Seals asbestos in place to prevent fibre release
Suitable when materials are stable and unlikely to be disturbed
Requires ongoing monitoring because asbestos remains present
The best way to be sure of your decision is by working with an asbestos remediation company like WSW. Our consultants will help you understand how the condition of your site’s ACMs and your proposed land uses can impact treatment planning.
Before you finalise your treatment approach, it is essential you complete a proper asbestos investigation. Having concrete data on the type, distribution and friability of asbestos on site sets site managers up for success. Without that information, failures and delays can emerge – removal can be unnecessarily extensive or encapsulation may fail to address hidden risks.
West Soil and Water helps clients across Western Australia determine and implement the most appropriate approach to managing asbestos contamination. Backed by 13 years of experience, our consultants have an in depth understanding of environmental and regulatory conditions in WA and design programs to suit.
Adopting an integrated approach, we move seamlessly from investigation into report production and remediation planning, offering efficiency and peace of mind. All activities are supported by post-remediation sampling and analysis. Where necessary, we engage external contractors for removal works.
West Soil and Water is proud to help WA projects in eliminating or managing asbestos contamination hazards. With a strong understanding of multiple treatment approaches, we can create a strategy tailored to your site conditions, regulatory constraints and operational goals.
To arrange a site visit, contact our office today.