Asbestos in Soil: Expert Solutions for Asbestos Contaminated Soil

Asbestos in Soil in Australia, Perth, WA, Brisbane, QLD, Sydney, SERS, Site Environmental and Remediation Services

Asbestos in soil poses serious health and environmental risks. At SERS, we provide expert assessment and remediation services for asbestos contaminated soil, ensuring your site is safe and compliant with regulations.

Asbestos Contamination Management Across Australia

Naturally occurring asbestos and human activities are two reasons for soil contamination. However, it should not be a reason to compromise your health.

Our experts at Site Environmental & Remediation Services (SERS) are capable of sampling and identifying asbestos contamination in soil. We offer asbestos inspection through our team of experts.

Protect yourself and your property with our advanced asbestos risk assessment and remediation services!

What Is Asbestos Contaminated Soil?

Asbestos contaminated soil refers to soil that contains asbestos fibers, a hazardous material that can pose significant health risks when disturbed. These fibers are released into the air as dust particles, which, when inhaled, can cause conditions such as asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma.

How Does Asbestos End Up in Soil?

There are several ways asbestos can find its way into the soil. One major source is the demolition or renovation of older buildings that used asbestos-containing materials (ACMs), such as roofing, insulation, and floor tiles. If not properly handled, these materials can release asbestos fibers that settle into the surrounding soil. Another common source is illegal dumping, where construction waste or ACMs are irresponsibly discarded, leading to soil contamination. Natural occurrences may also contribute to asbestos presence in soil, particularly in areas where asbestos-bearing rock is close to the surface.

Asbestos and the Danger of Asbestos in Soil

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that has been in use in Australia since the 1900s. The material has found its way to industrial works and construction due to its extreme heat resistance, fireproofing quality, and being cheap.

However, long-term exposure to asbestos fibre can cause lung cancer, mesothelioma, and other complications.

Industrial activities and commercial works like asbestos mining are some of the reasons for the presence of asbestos in soil. When the soil dries and the wind blows along with asbestos fibre, it increases the health risk of people near the site.

Due to such a fatal impact on health asbestos in Australia has been banned since 31st December 2003.

Our Asbestos Assessment Service Processes

Our asbestos contamination risk assessment service is completed in three steps – Identification, Sampling and Remediation.

Identification

To determine the level of contamination in your site, we must conduct a thorough survey. At SERS, our dedicated team of experts conducts an in-depth evaluation of the site. The process involves determining the source of asbestos contamination in your property. The asbestos identification process goes through a few steps:

  • Visual Inspection by Experts

    Our professionals can identify the source of asbestos in your property after a good investigation. Our trained experts identify asbestos-containing materials if there are any present in your property.

  • Collecting Samples

    Our experts collect samples from different sites on your property for asbestos risk assessment. Then we send the samples for testing in our advanced laboratory.

  • State-of-the-art Lab Testing

    We then send the soil samples to our laboratory equipped with advanced soil testing tools. These samples get analysed to determine if there is any trace of asbestos on site.

Trust SERS to know accurately if there is asbestos in the soil of your property. Contact us today to look for asbestos in Sydney, Brisbane, or Perth.

Sampling

It is the next step after identification. Accurate sampling remains the core of asbestos inspection. To identify if you are living in an asbestos-contaminated land, quality sampling is necessary. At SERS, you are ensured of getting good quality soil and asbestos testing results.

Our method of sampling involves:

  • Targeted Sampling

    Our experts use advanced methods of sample collection. Targeted sampling is one of them. In this sampling technique, our experts target particular locations on-site depending on known sources.

  • Grid Sampling

    In the grid sampling method the entire area is divided into small grids (Ex. 3m X 3m grids) and soil samples are collected from each grid. It is done when we don’t know the exact location of asbestos contamination.

  • Trenching

    If information suggests that asbestos had been buried under the ground then this method of sampling is effective. Our experts can also use the Trenching sampling method in combination with the other two.

  • Quality Control

    Our responsibility to deliver accurate results starts with choosing a specific sampling method and it continues with our dedication to quality control. We safely carry out tests to ensure that you get the most accurate contamination risk assessment result.

Choose SERS to identify asbestos contamination across Sydney, Brisbane and Perth.

Site Remediation

After identifying asbestos contamination in the soil, we move to site remediation. A standard asbestos remediation strategy might not be a good fit for all the sites, so we provide bespoke solutions for you. Our remediation services include:

  • Risk Assessment

    Our experts visit the site and conduct a risk assessment process. It includes health risk assessment for our workers and possible sustainability risks after the removal of asbestos-contaminated soil.

  • Planning & Stakeholder Communication

    We communicate with all the stakeholders during the planning for the site remediation process. Depending on the location, type of contamination, and risk assessment, we deliver a bespoke solution for site remediation.

  • Excavation & Removal for Remediation

    To remove asbestos in soil from the contaminated site we excavate the contaminated soil and carefully remove it to a dedicated place for asbestos waste. We also plan in detail the removal process of contaminated soil.

  • Stabilisation

    To reduce the exposure of asbestos fibre in the contaminated soil we apply binding agents such as cement. Applying such materials over contaminated soil stabilises the toxic property.

  • Site Restoration and Handover

    After remediation of asbestos-contaminated land, we restore the site to its previous condition and hand over the land to its owner. They are properly instructed on how to keep the site from further asbestos contamination.

Why Choose SERS?

  • Customer-first Approach

    At SERS, we put customers first. We understand the limitations of customers and offer customised asbestos contamination risk assessment services.

  • State-of-the-art Technology

    Our laboratories are located across Australia and equipped with modern technologies. We ensure that you get the most accurate result of site assessment due to asbestos contamination.

  • Compliance

    We deliver our services while complying with all the relevant guidelines, such as environmental, governmental, and others.

Contact Us

If you have strong reason to believe that you are living near asbestos-contaminated land, contact SERS today! We offer bespoke solutions to your special needs. Delivering you the most accurate result is our aim and we ensure you get the value for your money.

If you suspect the presence of ACM on your property, we carry out tests to find traces of asbestos in the safety of our laboratories.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Friable and non-friable are the two different forms of asbestos. The former one in its dry form can be crushed by hand pressure to make powder. On the contrary, the latter cannot be crushed by hand pressure when it is dry.

Generally, you don’t need to report asbestos contamination in your property to the local government bodies. Just make sure the asbestos-containing material is not decaying and the asbestos cloud is not getting spread. However, if there is a possibility of the presence of asbestos in huge quantities under the ground, contact an environmental health officer or the Department of Health.

If you live in or near a building constructed in the 1980s, there is a high chance of asbestos in the cement. Besides, steer clear from suspected ACM unless it is proved otherwise. You can contact SERS to collect ACM and we will carry it safely for you to the asbestos collection point of the local government.