Episode 48 – Forever Chemicals: PFAS in the Construction Industry

In this episode of the Construction and the Climate Podcast , 39 Essex Chambers’ barristers Camilla ter Haar and Ruth Keating are joined by Michael Salau and Nathan Modell of Beale & Co discussing ‘Forever Chemicals: PFAS in the Construction Industry’.

Key takeaways from the episode include:

• Risk: PFAS contamination on sites presents significant concerns for developers, consultants, and contractors in the construction industry. For developers, purchasing land with historic PFAS contamination can lead to unexpected remediation costs, project delays, and increased regulatory challenges.
• Insurance: As awareness grows, insurers have adopted more restrictive approaches to coverage. Increasingly policies including PFAS-specific exclusions, limiting coverage for liabilities arising from contamination.
• Litigation: Growing concerns over PFAS exposure are translating into legal action, and could set a major precedent for future litigation, much like the rise of asbestos-related cases in the past.