Asbestos Awareness in Soil and Made Ground

This syllabus sets out the guidance issued by the UK Asbestos Training Association (UKATA) for the provision of asbestos awareness in soils and made ground training, as contained within the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR). The document provides the syllabus for the training along with guidance on the minimum content of all courses.Asbestos in soils awareness training is required to be given to employees whose work could foreseeably expose them to asbestos. In particular, it should be given to all people employed on projects to redevelop brownfield sites and or sites that have previously been occupied by industrial buildings that have been demolished, where it is foreseeable that their work will disturb the soils and ground on site and may expose them to ACMs that may be present within the soils on site. Exemption from this requirement would apply only where the employer can demonstrate that work will only be carried out on sites in which the soils are free from risk of airborne fibres.

NB:

• Asbestos in soils awareness training is not training to work with any forms of asbestos. It is likely to form the first part of training for work on sites that contain ACMs within the soil. On its own it is does not meet the legal requirements laid down under the CAR.
• The document provides the training syllabus requirements along with guidance in relation to the minimum ‘mandatory’ course content for all courses.
• Training providers/trainers can offer bespoke or tailored training for the remainder of any training session; providing that the ‘mandatory’ core requirements are delivered.

The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, Regulation 10 requires every employer to ensure that adequate information, instruction and training is given to their employees who are, or who are liable to be, exposed to asbestos, or who supervise such employees.This syllabus is concerned only with asbestos awareness training for people working on brownfield sites as per paragraphs 232 and 233 of the associated code of practice and shall be defined as ‘Asbestos in Soils Awareness Training’.The syllabus will assist employers to meet their legal obligations by explaining the properties of asbestos and its effects on the health of individuals, the types, uses and the visible manifestation of asbestos in soils. The course will also highlight the general precautions that need to be followed to avoid the risks from ACMs in soil in both planned work and in emergencies.

Supervisors and trades personnel, including trainees, such as but not limited to: site managers/supervisors/agents, site remediation employees, construction workers, ground workers, plant and machinery operators, utility installers/ maintainers and other such professionals.

Architects, building surveyors, designers (including principal designers) and other such professionals may require a more developed course which includes the core syllabus in this course, together with an additional module which includes the interaction between the various duties under the Construction Design and Management Regulations 2015 and those within the CAR.

The duration of the training can be divided into three categories; the chosen category should be determined by undertaking a training needs analysis on individual delegates attending open courses or discussions with the client at the time of booking to establish the correct course and duration for the training:

ASA1) Initial training with no previous asbestos awareness training undertaken: The expected duration for this training will be 1 day or a minimum of 6 learning hours, this training must include the asbestos awareness element as laid down in the Asbestos Awareness Syllabus.

ASA2) Initial training with previous UKATA certificated asbestos awareness training within 6 months of the start date: Verification of the asbestos awareness training must be undertaken by the training provider and must be no more than six months from the date of the asbestos awareness training, should the asbestos awareness training fall outside of this then ASA1 training will be required. The expected duration for this training will be ½ day or 3 learning hours.

ASA3) Refresher training should be considered if work methods change or gaps in competency have been identified by means of carrying out a TNA. It is important to note that Reg 10 of the ACoP requires employers to make sure that anyone who supervises employees who are liable to disturb asbestos during their work ensures they receive the correct level of information, instruction and training to enable them to carry out their work safely and competently and without risk to themselves or others.