Rank: New forum user 
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Interested to know if any practitioners have any experience with creating controls for working on land known to be contaminated with asbestos? The work area is adjacent to a pipeline within a culvert, just below grade. The asbestos (originally pipe lagging) is known to be present within the soil upon which the work party is expected to work. Before commencing the work there is concern that there is total reliance on PPE, training and supporting procedures (double bagging etc.). I am wondering if further controls such as wetting down of the floor and laying down a 1000 gauge polythene sheet over the floor would benefit controls to reduce likelihood of exposure. Any experience or knowledge in this field would be much appreciated. Regards
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Rank: Super forum user
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Need to have more info before any advice can be given.
Bob
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Rank: New forum user
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Hello Bob, here's a little more information on the task in hand. The work is located on a refinery and we have been requested by the client to complete an integrity inspection using an ndt technique on a pipeline. The ground immediately beneath the pipeline and within the location of the inspection is known to contain asbestos insulation left over from stripping activities completed many years ago. The material is encapsulated within the surface strata and could be unsettled if walked upon. A R.A has been completed by the client that aids to form a SSOW in which I have for review. My main concern is the reliance on PPE within the assessment and was wondering if further controls such as those I have listed above may be beneficial? Training, P3 respirator face fit, dispoable suit, bagging and decontamination procedures etc.have all been listed within the document. Thanks for you time
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Rank: Super forum user
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This is not an uncommon situation except for the part where U have been told in advance that the asbestos is present
The way to go is to undertake a full Job Safety Analysis with the RA thereafter and go with your findings noting that the HSE guidance is [in reality] related to asbestos inside factories, offices, schools and similar areas and not for the outside environment
The reliance on *PPE may be the only way to go noting reasonably practicable as it is in many industrial / work situations especially so where the Asbestos is below the surface soil noting that the grounds maintenance people [if there are any] would be doing some sort of maintenance here and they would be using PPE as against other controls [*remembering that U did not even have PPE when U were in your pram at the side of the road when mum was waiting to cross and all those asbestos brakes were used in cars etc so the air was full of particles]
Undertake your JSA/RA and then post again
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Rank: Super forum user
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Try and make sure that the ground when dug out and moved to storage area is damped down. When we have been exposing contaminated soil within military establishments, we have hosed the ground to prevent dust when excavating, covered and kept spoil damp whilst doing work. While working in trench we have draped polythene down sides and when started back fill allowed this to encapsulate the pipes, when returning back fill keep damp again. makes compaction harder as damp ground does not bode well with compactor plates, but small rollers work well.
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Rank: Forum user
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Hi I would first be looking to have an environmental clean carried out of the contaminated area by an HSE licensed contractor and a sample taken of the asbestos containing material to determine the type of asbestos present if the asbestos is an amphibole supresion with water alone will be ineffective also air tests must carried out to determine the fibre levels in the area so as not to exceed the control limit we cannot give a respirator to a man without knowing what levels are in the area so as not to exceed the capabilities of the respirator remember asbestos kills more people that any other single work related cause so should treat it with respect
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Rank: New forum user
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Thankyou for your valued comments and time. Regards
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