Asbestos used to be one of the most widely used building materials in the past. It was extremely popular due to its versatility, uniqueness and ability to withstand even the harshest of conditions. Asbestos that were non-friable had been used for homes. They were utilized in drainage floor tiles, cement sheets and roofing. Certain countries are still dealing in jobs with asbestos exposure potential in their airports, heavy manufacturing industries, etc. However, most countries around the world have banned the building material as experts discovered that it released fine fibers from the material. If this was exposed to human beings, it would result in lung cancer. It also caused various other health concerns. Hence, if you suspect that the house you live in has asbestos, then you should remove it and safely dispose it. This post looks at the 7 asbestos removal tips to help you get rid of this harmful building material.
It is extremely important for you to find out if your home has been built using asbestos. Only, then will you be able to remove it. The asbestos removal tips in this guide will make it easy for you to eliminate any asbestos that you suspect has been used for building your home. Make sure to take some precaution when following the below tips to ensure that you remain fit and healthy.
- Dampen the Place
The most important asbestos removal tip involves dampening the area where the asbestos is. Before you remove the asbestos, you need to dampen the area as dampening will help prevent the spread of asbestos fibers. The fiber is harmful to human body. Therefore, wet the asbestos to prevent the fiber from rising. It will reduce any health risk from occurring. The wetting of asbestos should be continuously controlled even when you are bagging it as it will reduce any emissions of the durst during the entire sealing process.
When dampening the place, ensure that there is sufficient water supply. Spray a wetting agent or just water on asbestos during removal and stripping of asbestos and afterwards until the material has been properly disposed. The wetting application method used should involve drenching the material so as to penetrate through it.
- Cover All Surrounding Areas with Polythene Bag
The surrounding area should be covered with a polythene sheet during the asbestos removal process. The surfaces of materials should not be exposed to the material if they do not readily absorb water or the wetting agent such as floor tiles, ceiling tiles, and pre-molded thermal insulation have been adequately wetted. Furthermore, ensure that no visible dust is there (settled or airborne) or any asbestos debris in the vicinity. By covering the surrounding area with polythene bag, the asbestos would be left open for you to remove. It will help avoid contamination of the area as the asbestos dust would simply land on the polythene sheet. The polythene sheet should be appropriately disposed.
Additionally, it is advised to switch off all of the fans, the air conditioning and heating vents to prevent the asbestos dust from making its way inside them. Otherwise, it would be very expensive for you to clean these areas.
- Relocate Pets and Family
Before beginning with the disposal and removal process, it is vital for you to relocate your pets and family members to ensure that there are no accidental encounters with the asbestos.
It is very important for kids and pets to not come at the site as they are more sensitive to the asbestos. It is advised that you send them to your friends place or anywhere else.
- Place a Warning Sign
There are always some curios people around who make their way into dangerous situations. These people would end up visiting the site where you are in the process of removing and disposing asbestos. This is why it is important to place a warning sign right next to the site of operation. It will help prevent any unsuspecting visitors from entering the site or improperly handling any of the asbestos material. The warning sign will keep them at bay.
- Proper Packaging
Once the waste has been removed, you need to ensure that asbestos is packaged in a waste bag or plastic bag. During this process, you need to keep the material wet until it has been fully packaged. Confirm where all of the contaminated tools and waste has been packaged. Then, seal the package entirely using adhesive tape. Keep in mind to label these with proper description so that people know that it is actually asbestos waste. Place warning stickers on the packaging, permanent ink should be used when labeling the packages.
- Pre-Disposal Storage
Until the asbestos material has been transported to the disposal site, you need to ensure that it has been placed in a waste bin that is labeled with asbestos waste until the final removal of the material. It will help ensure that people handle it as necessary.
- Disposal and Transportation
As the asbestos gets transported in a safe manner to the right facility that deals with asbestos waste disposal, you should make sure that the designated environmental agency has been informed. The environmental agency will show the requirements for dealing with asbestos waste and its transportation to final disposal. Hire a licensed firm to take care of the disposal and transportation process if it is difficult for you to handle it on your own.
Conclusion
If you are not sure if your home actually contains any asbestos building material, you should contact a licensed firm to properly inspect your home. In addition to this, if it is difficult for you to handle the process of disposal and removal on your own, then you should simply contact the company to undertake the entire process. However, you have to make sure that they follow safety tips as mentioned in this post to protect the lives of everyone, including your pets and neighbors. Look for a reputed asbestos removal company to help you with the removal and disposal of asbestos. A professional company would already have a set of rules in place.