We have found some material while digging a trench in a quite remote field on a domestic premises that looks like asbestos.

All work has stopped......what is the next course of action if we want to carry on the work and get the potential asbestos removed.

This asbestos is flat and looks like AIB....so from memory we would need a licensed contractor to remove it?

If it is white asbestos we can dig it out (with all control measures in place) and dispose of it as per the regs, am I correct in saying this?

How much roughly does it cost to get the material tested to see if it is asbestos?

Could we just refill the trench and not be under any responsibility for it being there?

Get it analysed first to confirm or refute the presence of asbestos. Stopping the job was the right course to follow. Do not resume until after it is known what the material is. I would be reluctant to advise you of the next course of action as there are too many ifs and buts based on the info you have supplied but have a look at the asbestos task essentials on the HSE web to further guide you. If it is AIB the you would need to use a licensed asbestos removal contractor unless the work can be deemed sporadic and low intensity (CAR 2006 L143, pages 10 & 11 give more information), but do not assume what the product is. Bear in mind that it might be asbestos cement and to comfirm this a density test as well as the analysis needs to be undertaken (L143, pages 5 & 6). Don't rely on colour either as this doesn't always indicate what type/ form of asbestos you are dealing with. As Bob has stated, sampling is relatively cheap but you need to factor in the cost of the surveyor taking the sample. Don't refill the trench though, just report to the relevant enforcing agency (EA?) and let them advise accordingly.