Contaminated soil & land management

Land or soil contamination occurs due to the presence of chemical substances and toxic waste in the soil. Consequently, some human activities can alter the natural state of soil and cause it to get contaminated. These activities include:

Mining,
Oil spillage from an underground storage tank
The use of pesticides, insecticides, and other related chemicals in agricultural practices,
Improper disposal of chemical waste, and lead paint
The industrialisation of industrial activities.

Ways soil can get contaminated with asbestos

Among other toxic chemicals, asbestos is a hazardous material that could cause soil contamination. Some of the ways that asbestos can get into soil include:

Suppose asbestos removal work was done on your property carelessly and unprofessionally. This could lead to asbestos contaminants finding their way into the soil.
Through improper dumping of asbestos materials on sites or landfills not approved for disposal of such wastes.
Incomplete clean-up after the demolition of structures and buildings constructed with asbestos-containing materials can result in contaminated land.

Conducting a soil test or sampling will help identify the presence of asbestos in soils. On examination, asbestos can be found present on the soil surface or buried deep into it.

Management of asbestos contaminated soil

If asbestos-contaminated soil is disturbed, the asbestos fibres get released into the air and pose serious health risks to whoever inhales it. However, if managed the right way, it would not pose any health concerns.

Managing soils contaminated with non friable asbestos

In this case, materials like asbestos cement containing bonded asbestos contaminants could be present on the surface of the contaminated soil or shallowly buried beneath the soil surface. At Irwin Asbestos Management, our team of experienced asbestos specialists will identify such materials and remove them either by handpicking or tilling (in the case of soil surface contaminated with crumbs of asbestos). We guarantee the safe removal of non-friable asbestos from contaminated soil with great caution to prevent the asbestos fibres from becoming airborne.

Managing soils contaminated with friable asbestos

The handling and removal of friable asbestos requires experience and skills. Firstly, the contaminated parts of the land should be identified and secured with a warning sign. Doing this would help prevent the asbestos soil from being disturbed. You can keep the contaminated soils damp to prevent the asbestos fibres from being released into the air. You can equally take an extra measure of covering the area with plastic sheets to seal it off completely.

Before the asbestos removal, our licensed asbestos consultants conduct a risk assessment, asbestos air monitoring, asbestos clearance inspection, and issue asbestos clearance certificates. Only after this can the removal and disposal of asbestos commence. All asbestos waste must be sealed in a container and safely disposed of at a landfill site that legally receives such waste.

Dealing with asbestos buried deep in the soil

Asbestos-contaminated land should be left undisturbed; it should only be disturbed during the redevelopment, remediation, and management of such sites. All asbestos remediation and management plans for contaminated sites should follow the national environment protection measures.

At Irwin Asbestos Management, we provide asbestos removal services within Brisbane and its environs. We believe we are the right team for the job. We observe occupational hygiene, guidelines given by safe work Australia, and the codes of practice for remediation and management of asbestos.