Standard Practice for

Drilling for Subsurface Investigations—

Unexpectedly Encountering Suspected
Hazardous Material

AASHTO Designation: R 21-96 (2009)

1. SCOPE
1.1. This practice is intended to help protect drillers in the event they unexpectedly encounter
suspected hazardous materials while performing subsurface investigations. This is accomplished
by training the drillers, identifying precautions to minimize risks of contamination, and
establishing a procedure to follow if suspected hazardous material is encountered. 1

1.2. This standard may involve hazardous materials, operations, and equipment. This standard does
not purport to address all of the safety concerns associated with its use. It is the responsibility of
the user of this procedure to establish appropriate safety and health practices and to determine
the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

2. REFERENCED DOCUMENTS
2.1. AASHTO Standard and Publication:
 R 13, Conducting Geotechnical Subsurface Investigations
 Hazardous Waste Guide for Project Development

2.2. ASTM Standard:

 D 420, Standard Guide to Site Characterization for Engineering Design and
Construction Purposes (Withdrawn 2012)

3. SIGNIFICANCE AND USE

3.1. There are three basic types of sites. One type is a known hazardous waste site. These sites contain
hazardous waste and have been formally labeled. This includes all Superfund sites and CERCLA
(Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, 42 U.S.C.
Section 9601–9657) sites. The second type is the nonhazardous site. These sites have no
hazardous material at all. The third type, which is the subject of this practice, is one that contains
unknown and unanticipated hazardous waste. This practice is intended to help drillers in situations
in which they have no advance warning that they will encounter hazardous material.

4. HAZARDOUS MATERIAL IDENTIFICATION

4.1. The first and most important step drillers must take in protecting themselves from contamination
is identifying the presence of suspected hazardous material. Proper identification depends on
awareness and knowledge of what to look for. All drillers on staff should be trained on how to use

TS-5b R 21-1 AASHTO

© 2013 by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.
All rights reserved. Duplication is a violation of applicable law.
 their senses and observe their surroundings for clues indicating the presence of hazardous or
explosive material.

5. MINIMIZING CONTAMINATION RISK

5.1. Drillers shall take routine precautions to minimize the risk of contamination through proper
protective gear, good work habits, and good hygiene. Contaminants enter the body through skin
absorption, cuts in the skin, inhalation, ingestion, and skin penetration (radioactivity).

5.1.1. Proper Protection—Drillers shall use skin protection (gloves, long-sleeved shirts) and work boots.

5.1.2. Work Habits—Drillers shall follow good work habits, including (1) avoiding skin contact with soil
and drilling fluid, (2) minimizing the risk of inhaling contaminants by using drilling fluid, and
(3) cleaning all equipment and tools before leaving the job site to avoid spreading contamination.
(When mud and soil dry out, contaminants can become airborne.)

5.1.3. Hygiene—Drillers shall clean off boots, gloves, clothes, etc., before entering a vehicle to avoid
spreading contamination beyond the job site and shall wash hands before eating, drinking,
smoking, or making skin contact.

6. PROCEDURE
6.1. AASHTO R 13 and ASTM D 420 (withdrawn 2012) describe procedures that govern the
investigation and site assessment process. Drillers shall take the following precautions in addition
to the precautions described in these standards if they encounter hazardous material.

6.1.1. Assess the Risk—Determine whether the risk is one of contamination or explosion. Natural gas
and some petroleum byproducts are explosive in very high concentrations.

6.1.2. Contamination—If the risk is of contamination only, any driller not properly trained should cease
drilling and leave the site. Drillers who have successfully completed a 40-hour course in
Hazardous Materials Training shall secure the site, while avoiding skin contact, ingestion, and
inhalation. After securing the site, the responsible party shall make the necessary notifications. All
contaminated material should be handled, contained, and disposed of according to current,
established procedures.

6.1.3. Explosion—If there is a risk of explosion, the drillers shall leave the site and let the hole vent. If
the smell remains or gets stronger, the drillers shall use an explosion risk meter, if they are
properly trained and certified (Note 1) to assess the actual risk of explosion. If the risk is
significant, the drillers shall properly decommission the hole in accordance with state regulations
and proceed to the next location.
Note 1—Drillers must be trained and certified to use the explosion risk meter. The decision to
proceed should be made by a responsible, qualified party, with input from the drillers.

7. KEYWORDS
7.1. Driller protection; hazardous material; subsurface exploration.

1
AASHTO Hazardous Waste Guide for Project Development, February 1990.

TS-5b R 21-2 AASHTO

© 2013 by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.
All rights reserved. Duplication is a violation of applicable law.