Politics aside, the Australian example is interesting and despite significant expenditure is still nowhere near resolved. National guidelines were introduced in Australia in 2013 via the National Environmental Protection (Assessment of Site Contamination) Measure 1999, as amended 2013. Asbestos in soil is becoming a major issue in Australia and the guidelines presented have assisted in developing practical risk management practices. From what I can gather there are no current UK guidelines (apologies if am wrong as I have been away from the UK for twenty years and am just in the process of returning). I am currently dealing with three sites where this is the major issue needing to be addressed. Strangely, the requirement for building audits has reduced from yearly to five yearly (noting the subtleties of the legislation do note it should be done of building works have been completed).
Cheers
John
John D Iddles
Director
Agon Environmental Pty Ltd
3/224 Glen Osmond Road, Fullarton 5063
Adelaide SA 5000
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-----Original Message-----
From: Contaminated Land Management Discussion List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of David E Jackson
Sent: Thursday, 14 July 2016 12:33 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: A timely reminder...
Dear Dr Boyle,
It is a shame that you seem to have taken such a personal dislike to me and I am at odds to know what I have ever done to deserve it. You have no idea what my particular politics are and I do rather object to your characterisation, particularly when you insist on espousing it on a public forum.
The JISCmail forum is an appropriate and effective forum for circulating news and updates relevant to the sector. I am sorry if you don’t think my recent posting are of interest or use to the group. I would have thought recent studies illustrating the health impacts of primary and tertiary asbestos exposure would have been very relevant, and the latest HSE data would be essential reading for those responsible for OHS of workers.
In respect to your last point, my LA tend to refer practitioners, (whilst we wait for JIWG), to the SoBRA asbestos in soil sampling protocol & decision making algorithm (Simon Cole, April 2015), which is both practical and coherent. Of course much of this is based on Dutch RIVM (Swartjes & Tromp) methodology which itself was adapted and adopted into Australian guidance. The CIRIA C733 practitioner’s guidance references the work conducted by Addison. This methodology, which relies on air monitoring to derive life time exposure, is useful for assessing public health risk in real time but is unable to estimate future health risks, essential for determining the suitability of land for future development. Of course despite these two approaches being widely promoted I see few examples of them actually being used.
A final point. I am a regulator. My job is to critically and objectively review the work of others, against the standards set in published guidance, to identify deficiencies and omissions and make balanced risk decisions about the contamination status of land. I am a chartered professional and public servant and I am directly accountable both to my professional body and the community I serve. I take my responsibilities very seriously. Whilst I am annoying and pedantic and likely to cost them a little more, most practitioners understand, respect and appreciate that – after all they live in the community I serve too!
Best wishes, David
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