Asbestos – The Risk on Site and How to Mitigate It

The Background

Asbestos was used extensively across several industries, with its use in housing and commercial properties popularised in the 30s and 40s as it provided great sound and heat insulation, fire resistance and had the advantage of being a hardy material that was cheap to procure.

It was however found that there were several risks associated with asbestos including its risks as a carcinogen and its links with respiratory diseases. This eventually led to a phased ban on asbestos in 1985, which concluded with a total ban on the use and import of any type of asbestos in 1999. This means that any buildings constructed before 2000 run the risk of containing asbestos.

Geotechnical Challenges with Asbestos

As we continue to redevelop brownfield sites, asbestos contamination is becoming more of a challenge to geotechnical engineers. The health risks associated with exposure to asbestos are well documented and the wellbeing of our engineers and surrounding team are paramount.

We must identify and quantify the presence and extent of asbestos contamination, which requires specialised sampling and testing methods, as well as considering factor such as the type, condition, and location of the asbestos as well as the planned land use and redevelopment activities. As asbestos is a fibrous material, it is more harmful if it has been fragmented and disturbed as this increases the risk of airborne particulates.

If asbestos has been identified on site, the next step is to select and implement appropriate remediation strategies, which may include encapsulation, removal, or disposal of asbestos-containing materials, as well as continuous monitoring and maintenance on site in case other deposits of Asbestos are found.

General best practice includes carrying out a detailed desk study to inform the design for works and the development of a suitable and sufficient risk assessment. If the desk study finds evidence that asbestos is likely to be present, the risks can then be assessed, and control measures can be put in place before the work commences.

Get in touch