Perth Asbestos Removal WA can be dangerous when it becomes airborne and inhaled. Its crystalline fibers can cause mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer.
Disturbing asbestos during building repairs, renovations, or demolition releases fibers into the air. This puts workers and residents at risk.
Before work begins, professionals will isolate the affected area with negative air pressure units and plastic sheeting. They will mark all infected areas.
Asbestos is a dangerous material that must be dealt with by professionals. Inhaling asbestos fibers can lead to a veritable hydra of respiratory diseases, including mesothelioma and lung cancer. Even minor repairs or remodeling projects can involve asbestos and should be done only by a professional who is trained to handle it. This can include removing or repairing flooring, roofing, and siding.
Generally, asbestos-containing materials in good condition do not release harmful fibers into the air. However, disturbance of such materials during building repairs or renovations may cause them to crumble or break apart and release asbestos fibers into the air. This is especially true if the asbestos-containing material is water-damaged or has been subjected to cutting, sanding, drilling, or sawing.
In addition, if the asbestos-containing material is friable (it can be broken into small pieces that easily disperse), it should be wetted down before being removed or disturbed. This helps prevent the spread of asbestos fibers. Wetted material also will not float in the air as readily, making it easier to clean up.
All workers must wear disposable suits, hoods, gloves, and shoe covers while working on any part of a project that involves the removal or disturbance of asbestos. They must also use a respirator in an area where the air has been contaminated by asbestos dust. Sometimes, it is necessary to seal off an entire building of occupied regions during abatement. This can be a huge undertaking that can cost more than the actual demolition of the structure.
Workers must decontaminate themselves once the reduction is complete before leaving the abatement area. They should enter a “negative air” room where the air is drawn through a series of filters, including a HEPA filter, to remove any asbestos fibers before exposure to the outside atmosphere. A third-party firm must regularly perform air monitoring outside the negative air room to confirm that no elevated asbestos levels are present.
In addition to the safety measures listed above, all employers shall have an equipment change room adjacent to the negative air machine and be supplied with impermeable bags or containers for disposal of contaminated clothing and gear. All employees must regularly check and change into fresh protective clothing before entering the regulated area and shall transfer their contaminated clothing to an equipment room at the end of each shift. Alternatively, employers can substitute other engineering or work practice controls for the ones listed above when data show that those controls will provide an equivalent level of employee exposure control. However, such substitutions must be documented and approved by the Agency.
Before beginning any asbestos abatement work, the professional must prepare the work area. This entails shutting down the HVAC system and sealing air ducts. Surfaces that don’t require abating must be covered with thick plastic sheeting to prevent contamination. It’s also important to put up barriers, warning signs, and barricades to keep people out of the area while the work is underway. The workers must then ensure that they have access to clean water (usually a garden hose will do), clean buckets, fresh rags, a solid waste container, and the proper personal protective equipment. It is also recommended that they have access to a supply of wet wipes to wash their hands frequently during the process.
Before taking a sample, the contractor must wet the material using a fine mist containing a few drops of detergent. This reduces the release of asbestos fibers into the air during sampling. It’s also important to wear disposable gloves and clean hands after sampling. The sampled material must be patched and sent to an NVLAP-accredited laboratory. The NVLAP website has a list of accredited laboratories.
The contractor must also prepare the work site for abatement by cutting off the HVAC system and physically closing off areas that don’t require work with tarps. The area must be sealed using thick plastic sheets and negative air pressure units. This will keep any contamination from spreading outside the work area. It’s also important to put up barricades and warning signs to keep people out of the area while the asbestos removal process occurs.
Trained professionals must do any work involving the demolition or disturbance of ACM. Even if a material only contains trace amounts of asbestos, it can pose a risk if the fibers become airborne. For this reason, it’s always best to have all work involving asbestos – including sampling, minor repair, and demolition – performed by a licensed asbestos professional.
Homeowners considering renovating or doing DIY home repairs should know that many building materials, from floor tiles to roof shingles, contain asbestos. These non-friable asbestos materials, called bonded ACM, are tightly bound in the product they are used in. They don’t release fibers into the environment unless they are damaged or deteriorate over time. However, friable ACM — such as pipe and blown-in insulation — is dangerous because the loose fibers can be released into the air. They can then be inhaled and cause serious health issues. The simplest way to deal with this is to hire a qualified asbestos abatement contractor. This way, you can be sure that the work is carried out properly and that your family will not be exposed to hazardous asbestos.
Many people who do their home renovations may be concerned about the possibility of asbestos in their homes. It is important to have a professional inspect and assess these materials before any work is done. However, the majority of household asbestos is fine. Most asbestos in the home is not friable and does not easily release fibers into the air, even when it becomes damaged or disturbed. This is because it is tightly bound in the materials that contain it (i.e., floor tiles, roofing, and siding).
Professional abatement contractors should do asbestos removal or major repairs if the asbestos is likely to be disturbed. It is also recommended that sampling and minor repairs should only be carried out by people who have been trained to handle asbestos.
To minimize the release of asbestos fibers into the environment, the work area must be marked and sealed off. The contractor should also ensure that air ducts are sealed and that the HVAC system is disabled. The contractor should also ensure that all family members and pets are informed about the dangers of this work area and are kept away until it is safe to return.
It is also recommended that the industrial hygiene firm should inspect the work area preparation before the abatement contractor starts the actual removal. They will ensure that all asbestos-containing material has been located through a thorough survey, that regulated areas are clearly demarked, and the air quality is monitored throughout the project.
When the asbestos removal starts, all contaminated surfaces are cleaned by wet methods with damp mopping and vacuuming using HEPA filters. This will include walls, ceilings, floors, and equipment. Once all the contaminants are cleared, a professional will test and certify the area to confirm that the air is below OSHA regulations.
After the cleanup, all asbestos waste will be wrapped in plastic sheeting and double-wrapped before being loaded into the vehicle for disposal at an approved site. Once the waste has been removed, all workers will wash their clothes and hair with water and soap before leaving the work area. This will minimize the chances of bringing back asbestos particles that could be disturbed elsewhere in the house.
It is also recommended that you speak with several contractors before deciding. Compare their services and the costs before choosing one. Choose a contractor who will hire an independent monitoring firm to oversee the asbestos removal process. This will add to the cost but will give you peace of mind that your asbestos removal is performed properly and safely. If you suspect a contractor is not following OSHA regulations, report them to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
