Asbestos is a harmful substance that can cause serious and long-term health problems. The good news is that asbestos can be safely removed from your home or commercial property by trained professionals. It’s essential that any asbestos found in your home is removed properly to ensure the safety of yourself and those living with you. Asbestos can also cause harm to the natural environment so it’s important that any waste is disposed of correctly.
Asbestos fibres enter your lungs when you breathe in the particles. This can cause a variety of health issues including cancer, respiratory problems and heart disease. These symptoms won’t show themselves immediately but may develop years after exposure. It is for this reason that it’s so important to have any asbestos removed by professionals.
Hiring a professional asbestos removal company is the safest and easiest way to have any asbestos removed from your home or commercial property. This is because abatement companies are equipped with the experience and specialised tools to remove it safely and efficiently. They are also fully licensed to dispose of any waste that contains asbestos in designated landfills.
Before starting any work that involves handling or removing asbestos, a contractor must first get a written contract that specifies the work plan and cleanup procedures. It’s also a good idea to contact local health departments, the Environmental Protection Agency’s regional office and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s regional offices to see what regulations apply in your area. Before starting work, a contractor must wet all materials and wear personal protective equipment (PPE) such as a face mask with two straps, disposable coveralls with a hood, gloves and safety glasses or goggles to protect the eyes. Work areas must be enclosed to prevent the spread of dust and all contaminated materials should be double bagged in 6-millimeter plastic bags.
It is also vital to keep activities to a minimum in any area that has damaged or suspect asbestos material as this can disturb and release the tiny fibres into the air. You must also keep children and pets away from the area. Do not dust, sweep or vacuum any debris that may contain asbestos and do not saw, sand or drill any materials.
If you are unsure if a particular material contains asbestos, it’s a good idea to take a sample before working on it. This can be done by wetting the material with a mist of water containing a few drops of detergent. It’s also a good idea not to disturb the material any more than necessary when taking a sample.
The best option is to have your asbestos removed and disposed of by a professional, certified and licenced asbestos abatement company. This is the only way to be sure that the removal and disposal process is carried out in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. The cost of hiring a skilled team to do the work for you is well worth it to avoid any potentially dangerous consequences.