Your Guide To Safe Asbestos Removal
Removing asbestos from your office building or facility is crucial to the prevention of asbestos exposure. Asbestos refers to a group of six naturally occurring minerals that are recognized by their microscopic, needle-like fibers that can easily get lodged in our lungs. Before the harmful effects of asbestos were discovered, asbestos was widely used in industries like construction because of their heat resistant and insulating properties. This is why it is common to find asbestos-containing materials in old buildings. However, it was found that these fibers are actually associated with various forms of cancer, such as mesothelioma, and asbestosis, which is the scarring of the lungs.
Asbestos becomes dangerous when these materials are being disturbed. This can occur during renovation efforts or demolition projects. The microscopic fibers can become airborne and enter our respiratory systems. Understanding the processes that go into the abatement of asbestos is extremely important.
Asbestos Inspection
If you are working in an old building or if you own an old property, you do not have to panic. This is because asbestos is relatively safe if it remains undisturbed. However, before you embark on any renovation project, you might want to consider hiring a professional asbestos tester to help you conduct an asbestos inspection. They will be able to carry out a visual inspection as well as take samples to send back to the laboratory for testing. In the unfortunate case where they find asbestos in your home, they will be able to hand you a detailed evaluation that tells you where the asbestos can be found in your home and the quantity of it. Furthermore, your asbestos inspector should be able to advise you on how to fix the situation or to prevent disturbing the asbestos.
Finding Asbestos Abatement Professionals
In accordance to the strict regulations, federal and state laws, the removal of asbestos has to be done a certain way. A good way to find a good asbestos abatement professional is to find someone that is certified by the EPA. What this means is that they have gone through the necessary training and the certification exam. They are also required to undergo refresher courses every year to make sure that they up to par.
Understanding the Abatement Process
The moment you have decided on the company that you want, it would only beneficial if you had a deeper understanding of the processes that go into asbestos abatement. This can help you to judge whether all the actions are in line with the state regulations as well. Before you decide to start the work, you should examine the contract that informs you of the professional’s detailed plan. This includes the guidelines that they have to abide by and the methods of removal of asbestos-containing materials.
You also have to ensure that there is good demarcation of the areas that the professionals want to inspect. The worksite needs to be marked out so that no living thing enters and risks getting exposed to asbestos. In order to prevent the fibers from travelling to other areas in the facility, air conditioning should be shut off as well. Note that asbestos-containing material should never be broken into smaller parts because this can make the fibers airborne. More importantly, the worksite should always be up to standard and clean. It should be cleaned with proper rags and vacuums so that asbestos does not spread.