Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2013C00288:reg:1850:p71
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2013C00288
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 1850 (pt 71/117)
Character Range: 547647–550780

of asbestos contamination                                                                              * smaller area/volume available for visual examination compared with test pits and trenches
     * sampling to 30 cm below likely limit of contamination or to likely maximum depth of soil disturbance                                                        * if contamination is buried and of unknown location and depth                                                     * measures may be required to protect workers and the public from potential fibre release during drilling/sampling
     * suspect asbestos materials and construction debris should be targeted                                                                                       * fibre control may be more successful than for test pits and trenches
     * core diameter should be at least 15 cm

Adapted from WA DoH (2009)
Careful documentation of the sampling process and rationale is essential to the assessment of the findings. A summary of the findings annotated on a suitable site inspection plan can be helpful. Documentation should include:
    * nature and condition of bonded ACM fragments and whether associated with potential free fibres
    * range and average size of fragments in each affected unit
    * description of affected fill/soil unit(s).
    * location and depth of samples taken for analysis
    * location/direction of photographs/videos
    * relevant details of equipment/machinery used (e.g. rake teeth length, rotor blade size, screen/sieve size(s).

    11.3.2      Assessing concentration and distribution of asbestos in soil
Bonded ACM is the most common and the most readily quantifiable form of asbestos soil contamination due to its ease of visual detection. Gravimetric assessment of bonded ACM is the recommended measure for total asbestos contamination where FA and AF (derived from bonded ACM only) are not likely to be significant as established by the PSI including the site inspection (as a guide, this may be taken to be where FA and AF together are likely to make up less than 10% of the total amount of asbestos present).

For sites contaminated with bonded ACM only (i.e. no insulation materials or other non-bonded asbestos products), assessment for free fibres is only warranted where greater than 10% of the total bonded ACM is significantly damaged i.e. present as small pieces less than 7 mm x 7 mm or can be crushed/crumbled with hand pressure.

Guidance on calculating asbestos concentration in soil is provided in Section 4.10 in Schedule B1.

For large area methods (hand-picking/raking, tilling and mechanical screening), the weight of bonded ACM and its condition should be recorded for each grid area or location evaluated. A grid area of up to 10 m x 10 m is generally reasonable when large surface areas are impacted; however, non-impacted soils should be excluded from calculations to avoid dilution effects.
For localised methods (test pits, trenches and boreholes) samples should be taken from each relevant stratum in one wall of test pits and trenches or each relevant stratum for boreholes at