Asbestos in Soils Awareness

Introduction

This course sets out the guidance issued by the Industry Approved body for the provision of asbestos in soils awareness training, as contained within the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR). The document provides the syllabus for the training along with guidance on the minimum content of all courses.

Asbestos in soils awareness training is required to be given to employees whose work could foreseeably expose them to asbestos. In particular, it should be given to all people employed on projects to redevelop brownfield sites and or sites that have previously been occupied by industrial buildings that have been demolished, where it is foreseeable that their work will disturb the soils and ground on site and may expose them to ACMs that may be present within the soils on site. Exemption from this requirement would apply only where the employer can demonstrate that work will only be carried out on sites in which the soils are free from risk of airborne fibres.

Purpose

The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, Regulation 10 requires every employer to ensure that adequate information, instruction and training is given to their employees who are, or who are liable to be, exposed to asbestos, or who supervise such employees.

This course is concerned only with asbestos awareness training for people working on brownfield sites as per paragraphs 232 and 233 of the associated code of practice and shall be defined as ‘Asbestos in Soils Awareness Training’.

The course will assist employers to meet their legal obligations by explaining the properties of asbestos and its effects on the health of individuals, the types, uses and the visible manifestation of asbestos in soils. The course will also highlight the general precautions that need to be followed to avoid the risks from ACMs in soil in both planned work and in emergencies.