Asbestos in Soil London — 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
Canary Wharf & Royal Docks
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.
Stratford, Park Royal & redevelopment
Foundations, drainage, service installation, piling and formation reductions can expose previously buried asbestos-containing fragments within heterogeneous made ground.
hazardous-waste interface
Excavated material that becomes waste must be assessed against the relevant hazardous-waste and hazardous-waste requirements alongside occupational asbestos controls and the remediation strategy.
Useful references include CL:AIRE asbestos-in-soil guidance and GOV.UK hazardous-waste guidance.
Former industrial land, dockland and demolition fill can create asbestos in made ground
Royal Docks & Thames-side redevelopment
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.
Stratford, Newham & East London
Foundations, drainage, service installation, piling and formation reductions can expose asbestos-containing fragments in heterogeneous made ground on previously developed sites.
Park Royal & industrial land
One visible fragment does not define site-wide distribution. Interpretation should consider source history, fill depth, ground conditions, earthworks, exposure pathways and the proposed end use.
Useful references include CL:AIRE asbestos-in-soil guidance and GOV.UK land-contamination technical guidance.
London and Greater London support through ASM's local Mayfair office
ASM supports projects throughout London, Greater London and wider Greater London and the South East through its local London office, led by the London office team. UKAS-accredited bulk sample analysis is undertaken at ASM's Sunderland headquarters laboratory within the applicable accredited scope.
ASM London Office
3rd Floor
45 Albemarle Street
Mayfair
London
W1S 4JL
London: 020 3004 4184
National: 0330 433 9680
Monday–Friday
08:00–18:00
UKAS Accreditation No. 32982
London and Greater London coverage
Mayfair, Westminster, Soho, Marylebone, Fitzrovia, Holborn, City of London, Canary Wharf, Camden, Islington, Hackney, Kensington, Chelsea, Hammersmith, Fulham, Southwark, Lambeth, Wandsworth, Battersea, Clapham, Greenwich, Lewisham, Croydon, Kingston upon Thames, Richmond, Ealing, Hounslow, Brent, Barnet, Enfield, Waltham Forest, Newham, Barking and Dagenham, Bromley, Harrow, Hillingdon and wider Greater London.
Attendance is subject to project requirements, scope, access and availability.
Soil remediation, watching briefs and capping are not described as UKAS-accredited activities. ASM holds UKAS 32982 for defined inspection and testing activities that may support a soils project where applicable.
London services connected to contaminated-land work
Connect the ground strategy to sampling, air monitoring, demolition, removal and wider redevelopment decisions.
London & Greater London 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.