Asbestos is a common material found in many homes and buildings from the late 1800s to the early 1990s. It was used as insulation, fireproofing, soundproofing material, roof tiles, siding, and more. Asbestos has been known to cause various illnesses such as mesothelioma or lung cancer when inhaled. Safety should always be your number one priority, so make sure you take all necessary precautions before starting work. You and your workers should take the asbestos training Australia-wide program. If you are an asbestos contractor or demolition company, the safest way to dispose of asbestos is by following the steps below.
The Asbestos Removal Preparation
Making sure everything is set up and prepared properly is a must. First off, you can make sure your workers wear safety gear. It includes safety shoes, respirators, and disposable Tyvek suits, depending on the amount of asbestos you will be removing.
It would help if you also focused on containment. Ensure there is a barrier between where you are working and everything else to prevent any spread of contamination. It can include putting plastic sheeting down with duct tape on the ground and garbage bags along with doorways.
The Process of Asbestos Removal
Now, when it comes to asbestos removal, you need to ensure the area is adequately ventilated. It should be in an open space with no obstructions and windows opened to allow for airflow. Safety comes first for asbestos removal, so you absolutely cannot do this job without proper respiratory protection equipment, such as dust masks or respirators that can protect your lungs from any asbestos exposure during the work process. You also need to make sure that you are working with small sections at a time. For example, if the area is four feet by six feet, then work on one square foot at a time and take your time while removing it. This way, you will prevent any damage to adjacent materials or structures nearby.
The Cleaning, Transport, and Disposal of Asbestos
Once you are done removing asbestos, then comes to proper disposal of it. First of all, get rid of any non-friable material, which means that the asbestos cannot be crushed by hand or with a hammer to become airborne again. If it is friable, you should wet the material down to prevent any dust or fibers from becoming airborne. If your state requires that you have proper documentation for asbestos removal, then use disposable cameras to take pictures of everything before and during work to prove that all materials are correctly removed.
After this has been done, transport should be done as early as possible and only by a licensed asbestos contractor. Finally, the actual disposal should be done according to your state’s laws, which require that it be disposed of at an EPA-approved landfill or incinerator facility. In all honesty, you will not want to tackle this job without professional help from an asbestos removal company that can ensure that everything is done safely and by the book.
In summary, asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral used as an insulation material because it does not conduct electricity. Still, there are now safer and more efficient materials to use for this purpose. The safest steps to dispose of asbestos depend on the type you have – be sure to check with your local government before disposing of any hazardous waste! Stay safe by following these simple tips above when handling or removing asbestos from your home.…
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