New online learning for dealing with Non-licensed work for Asbestos in soil

Joanne Kwan, CIRIA Project Manager provides and overview of CIRIA's new training for dealing with asbestos in soil

 Asbestos is toxic and a class 1 carcinogen known to cause serious illnesses. Poor disposal practices, demolition and other anthropogenic processes have resulted in asbestos often being present in the ground, particularly on brownfield sites. Regulation 10 of CAR2012 stated that ‘Every employer must ensure that any employee is given adequate information, instruction and training where that employee is liable to exposure of asbestos’.  ACOPL143 further stated that ‘In addition to the asbestos awareness, those employees whose work will knowingly disturb ACMs, and which is defined as non-licensed work, should receive additional task-specific information, instruction and training’. They also need to have annual refresher training’.

However companies are not always able to provide adequate training for staff needed.  A recent CITB report, Training and skills in the construction industry shows one of the reasons is the lack of available courses.  

There is no reason why e-training can’t be used more often in the contaminated land industry. CIRIA’s new online course Non-licensed work on Asbestos in soil (NLW) will allow delegates to learn in their own time and at their own pace.

The training will use text, case studies, videos and quizzes focusing on:
• how to assess and manage risk from asbestos containing soils (ACS) for NLW (and Notifiable NLW) for small and large projects;
• the legal responsibilities and how to comply CAR 2012;
• the principles of how to put on PPE, RPE and apply other emergency procedures correctly; and
• how to apply guidance such as ACOPL143 and CAR Soil when dealing with projects affected by ACS.

Due to the nature of this type of training the practical aspects required by attendees will differ and be determined by their Employers Training Needs Assessment (TNA). 

Whilst the e-training will explain and demonstrate the use of decontamination facilities, PPE and RPE; it does not include construction of mini-enclosures and use of control techniques, such as class H vacuum cleaners (BS 8520-3:2009) nor provide opportunities for the delegate to try and practice for themselves.