Product Overview

Summary: This Asbestos in Soil Management Safe Operating Procedure provides a clear, compliant framework for identifying, assessing and controlling asbestos-contaminated soil on Australian worksites. It helps organisations manage complex WHS and environmental obligations, protect workers and the public from exposure, and keep projects moving without costly shutdowns or regulatory action.

Asbestos in soil presents a unique and often misunderstood risk profile for Australian workplaces, particularly in construction, demolition, civil works and land development. Disturbing contaminated soil can release respirable asbestos fibres, exposing workers, nearby occupants and the public to significant long-term health risks and triggering strict regulatory intervention. This Safe Operating Procedure sets out a structured, defensible approach for managing asbestos in soil from initial suspicion or identification through to validation and clearance.

The SOP guides you through site assessment, classification of asbestos-containing material (ACM) and asbestos-contaminated soil (ACS), risk assessment, control selection and safe work methods tailored to outdoor and excavation environments. It addresses common challenges such as managing unexpected finds, working around underground services, coordinating with hygienists and laboratories, and integrating asbestos controls into broader construction and remediation programs. By implementing this procedure, organisations can demonstrate due diligence under Australian WHS and environmental legislation, reduce the likelihood of project delays, and provide workers with clear, practical instructions for working safely around asbestos-impacted ground.

Key Benefits

• Ensure compliance with Australian WHS and contaminated land requirements for asbestos-contaminated soil.
• Reduce the risk of worker and public exposure to airborne asbestos fibres during excavation and earthworks.
• Standardise decision-making for identification, classification, remediation and validation of asbestos in soil.
• Minimise project delays, stop-work events and regulatory notices arising from poorly managed asbestos finds.
• Provide clear, site-ready guidance for supervisors, contractors and consultants working on asbestos-impacted land.

Who is this for?

• Construction Project Managers
• Site Supervisors
• WHS Managers
• Environmental Consultants
• Contaminated Land Specialists
• Civil Engineers
• Demolition Contractors
• Remediation Contractors
• Local Government Infrastructure Managers
• Facilities and Asset Managers

Hazards Addressed

• Inhalation of airborne asbestos fibres released from disturbed contaminated soil
• Exposure to asbestos-containing fragments (ACM) during excavation, stockpiling and screening
• Cross-contamination of clean areas, vehicles, tools and equipment with asbestos-contaminated soil
• Environmental dispersion of asbestos via wind, water run-off and inappropriate spoil handling
• Manual handling injuries associated with handling soil, ACM fragments, bags and waste containers
• Plant and equipment interaction risks during controlled excavation and remediation activities
• Psychosocial stress and anxiety among workers due to uncertainty about asbestos risks

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 References, Definitions and Abbreviations
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities (PCBU, WHS Manager, Site Supervisor, Workers, Consultants)
• 4.0 Overview of Asbestos in Soil Risks and Regulatory Context
• 5.0 Pre-Work Planning and Desktop Review (historical use, previous reports, utilities)
• 6.0 Site Assessment and Identification of Suspected Asbestos in Soil
• 7.0 Classification of Asbestos-Containing Material and Asbestos-Contaminated Soil
• 8.0 Risk Assessment and Determination of Required Controls
• 9.0 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Decontamination Requirements
• 10.0 Controlled Work Methods for Excavation, Handling and Movement of Asbestos-Impacted Soil
• 11.0 Dust Suppression, Air Monitoring and Perimeter Controls
• 12.0 Management of Unexpected Asbestos Finds and Stop-Work Procedures
• 13.0 Segregation, Stockpiling, Labelling and Temporary Storage of Contaminated Soil
• 14.0 Transport and Disposal of Asbestos-Contaminated Soil to Licensed Facilities
• 15.0 Site Housekeeping, Decontamination and Waste Management
• 16.0 Validation Sampling, Clearance Criteria and Reporting
• 17.0 Training, Induction and Competency Requirements
• 18.0 Communication and Consultation with Workers, Neighbours and Regulators
• 19.0 Emergency Response Procedures (fibre release, control failure, weather events)
• 20.0 Recordkeeping, Documentation and Continuous Improvement

Legislation & References

• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: How to Safely Remove Asbestos
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: How to Manage and Control Asbestos in the Workplace
• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and corresponding state and territory WHS Acts
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (Cth) – Asbestos and construction work provisions and equivalent state/territory regulations
• National Environment Protection (Assessment of Site Contamination) Measure (NEPM)
• AS 4964: Method for the qualitative identification of asbestos in bulk samples
• AS/NZS 1715: Selection, use and maintenance of respiratory protective equipment
• AS/NZS 1716: Respiratory protective devices