Asbestos in Soil Dundee — control the groundworks from first fragment to final validation
Unexpected suspect asbestos uncovered during excavation?
Stop disturbing the affected location, prevent plant and personnel trafficking through the discovery, control access and avoid mixing the affected soil into clean stockpiles until the find has been assessed.
One fragment does not automatically define the asbestos risk across the whole site
Ground-risk decisions need to consider distribution, material form and the earthworks that will disturb the soil.
Distribution
Establish whether contamination is isolated, concentrated in a hotspot, associated with a fill layer or dispersed through made ground.
Asbestos form
Intact cement fragments present a different handling question from fine, highly fragmented or friable asbestos debris.
Earthworks
Excavation, screening, stockpiling, loading and processing change exposure and spread potential compared with undisturbed buried material.
Build the asbestos strategy around site history and proposed earthworks
Historic buildings, demolition footprints, imported fill, former industrial activity and previous investigations can help explain likely source and distribution.
The asbestos strategy should align with foundations, drainage, services, piling, formation reductions, landscaping and stockpile movement.
Useful information
- site investigation report
- previous land use
- made-ground depth
- previous asbestos results
- earthworks drawings
- stockpile / haul routes
- receptors and boundaries
- future land use
A watching brief should actively manage discoveries, not simply observe the excavator
Pre-start review
Review investigation data, excavation areas, controls and unexpected-find procedure.
Observe relevant works
Monitor soil disturbance so suspect materials can be identified before wider spread.
Manage discoveries
Stop, redirect or segregate affected work and coordinate sampling or assessment.
Record evidence
Document locations, depths, samples, photographs, soil movements, instructions and outcomes.
Picking, targeted excavation, capping or a combined strategy?
The appropriate approach depends on asbestos form, distribution, development layout, waste/material status and the agreed remediation strategy.
Controlled picking
Can form part of a strategy where contamination is visible, accessible and suitably robust.
Targeted / bulk excavation
May be needed where asbestos is dispersed, highly fragmented, more friable or incompatible with development.
Retention beneath cover
Can be considered where the site-specific remediation strategy and regulatory/material position support on-site retention.
Air monitoring
Task-appropriate monitoring may support excavation, screening, picking or perimeter questions where justified by the risk assessment.
Dockland, redevelopment and demolition fill can create asbestos in made ground
City Quay & Broughty Ferry
Former industrial and dock-related land can contain demolition debris, imported fill and historic structures that require a site-specific asbestos strategy during enabling and groundworks.
Dalmarnock, Maryfield & redevelopment
Foundations, drainage, service installation, piling and formation reductions can expose previously buried asbestos-containing fragments within heterogeneous made ground.
Scottish waste interface
Excavated material that becomes waste must be assessed against the relevant Scottish waste and special-waste requirements alongside occupational asbestos controls and the remediation strategy.
Useful references include CL:AIRE asbestos-in-soil guidance and SEPA special-waste guidance.
Jute, shipbuilding, dock, industrial and demolition history can create complex made ground
Waterfront & former industrial land
Dundee's industrial legacy includes jute mills, shipbuilding, whaling, docks, engineering and manufacturing. Previously developed sites can contain variable fill and demolition debris alongside other contaminants.
Port and redevelopment projects
Foundations, drainage, service installation, piling and formation reductions can expose buried asbestos-containing material on long-developed sites.
Risk-based interpretation
One visible fragment does not define the whole site. Interpretation should consider source history, distribution, fill depth, asbestos form, exposure pathways, earthworks and proposed end use.
Dundee City Council's contaminated-land strategy describes a strategic, risk-based approach to historically contaminated land and redevelopment. See the Dundee contaminated-land strategy, CL:AIRE asbestos-in-soil guidance and SEPA special-waste guidance.
Dundee and Tayside supported by ASM's Scottish survey, analytical and project teams
Dundee projects are coordinated through ASM's Scottish regional team. James Brown, Regional Manager Scotland, coordinates Scottish enquiries with ASM surveyors, analysts and project teams. East and Central Scotland support is based from Edinburgh, with additional Scottish resource from Glasgow. UKAS-accredited bulk sample analysis is undertaken at ASM's Sunderland headquarters laboratory within the applicable accredited scope.
ASM Scotland Team
James Brown
Regional Manager Scotland
Edinburgh office
Third Floor
3 Hill Street
Edinburgh
EH2 3JP
0131 202 4096
Glasgow office
Suite 2-3, 48 West George Street
Glasgow G2 1BP
0141 212 9351
National: 0330 433 9680
Monday–Friday
08:00–18:00
UKAS Accreditation No. 32982
Dundee, Tayside & East Central Scotland coverage
Dundee City Centre, Waterfront, City Quay, West End, Perth Road, Blackness, Hilltown, Stobswell, Maryfield, Lochee, Charleston, Menzieshill, Downfield, Kirkton, Fintry, Whitfield, Douglas, Broughty Ferry, Barnhill and Invergowrie, with wider attendance across Monifieth, Carnoustie, Arbroath, Forfar, Kirriemuir, Perth, Newport-on-Tay, Tayport, Cupar and the wider Tayside / North East Fife area subject to project requirements.
Attendance is subject to project requirements, scope, access and availability.
ASM's defined asbestos inspection activities are accredited to ISO/IEC 17020 and defined testing activities to ISO/IEC 17025 under UKAS accreditation number 32982. Current UKAS schedules define the precise scope and accredited locations.
Dundee services connected to contaminated-land work
Connect the ground strategy to sampling, air monitoring, demolition, removal and wider redevelopment decisions.
Dundee & Tayside FAQs
What should we do if suspect asbestos is found during groundworks?
Stop disturbing the affected area, prevent unnecessary trafficking and spread, control access and arrange competent assessment before the affected excavation continues.
What is an asbestos watching brief?
It is competent support during relevant excavation and soil movement, including observation, unexpected-find control, sampling coordination, monitoring where appropriate and records of discoveries and actions.
Can asbestos cement fragments simply be picked out?
Sometimes controlled picking can form part of a remediation strategy where contamination is visible and suitably robust. It is not automatically suitable for dispersed or friable contamination.
Does one negative sample prove the site is clear?
No. Made ground can be heterogeneous, so interpretation needs to consider site history, sampling coverage, distribution, depth and proposed earthworks.
Is air monitoring required on every contaminated-ground project?
No. The need and monitoring type should be based on the risk assessment and actual activity.
Is asbestos-in-soils remediation UKAS accredited?
No. Soil remediation itself is not described as UKAS accredited. ASM holds UKAS 32982 for defined inspection and testing activities that may support a project.
Send the site information before more affected ground is moved
Provide the site address, investigation data, asbestos results, remediation strategy, discovery locations, earthworks plan, photographs and programme. ASM can define an appropriate watching-brief, analytical or remediation-support scope.