Soil Washing and Treatment

Soil washing uses water and chemical solutions to separate contaminants from excavated soil on remediation sites.
The process removes hydrocarbons, heavy metals, and organic pollutants from soil for reuse or reduced-hazard disposal.
Mobile soil washing plants involve screening, mixing, hydrocyclones, and settlement tanks processing large volumes.
Workers are exposed to contaminated dust, chemical wash solutions, and noise from processing equipment.
The COSHH Regulations 2002 require assessment for all contaminants in the soil and chemicals used in washing.
Wastewater from soil washing must be treated before discharge under an environmental permit.
Heavy plant including excavators, conveyors, and trucks operates around the processing area continuously.
Contaminated soil stockpiles can generate dust and runoff requiring suppression and containment measures.
Health surveillance is required for workers regularly exposed to contaminated soil and wash chemicals.
The Environmental Permitting Regulations govern the operation of mobile soil treatment facilities on site.

Protect workers health	Contaminated soil contains carcinogens, heavy metals, and toxic substances that cause serious illness.
Environmental compliance	Soil washing creates contaminated wastewater that must be treated and discharged under permit conditions.
Legal duty	COSHH 2002 and environmental permits require strict controls for all soil treatment operations on site.

Do

Don't

Complete a COSHH assessment for all identified soil contaminants before processing begins
Wear RPE, chemical-resistant gloves, and coveralls when handling contaminated soil
Suppress dust from contaminated soil stockpiles using water sprays and covering sheeting
Treat all wastewater from the washing process before discharge under the environmental permit
Monitor air quality around the processing area for dust and volatile contaminant levels
Maintain exclusion zones around mobile processing plant to prevent pedestrian contact
Enrol workers in the health surveillance programme for contaminated land exposure
Contain all runoff from soil stockpiles and washing areas within bunded treatment systems
Brief operatives on the specific contaminants present and the required control measures
Decontaminate vehicles and equipment before they leave the treatment area on site

DON'T handle contaminated soil without PPE specified in the COSHH assessment
DON'T discharge wash water without confirmed treatment to environmental permit standards
DON'T allow contaminated dust to blow off site without suppression and containment controls
DON'T eat, drink, or smoke until hands and face are washed after handling contaminated soil
DON'T walk through the processing area without maintaining safe distances from moving plant
DON'T stockpile contaminated soil on unlined or unbunded ground without containment measures
DON'T skip air monitoring where volatile organic compounds may be released during processing
DON'T allow untrained workers to operate mobile soil washing plant or processing equipment
DON'T mix treated and untreated soil without testing to confirm the treated soil meets criteria
DON'T ignore health surveillance requirements for workers on contaminated remediation sites

See also: Contaminated Land Safety Awareness | Contaminated Groundwater Handling

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