Asbestos Removal, Disposal & Cleanup


Asbestos Removal, Disposal & Cleanup

Asbestos had been widely used in construction and building in previous decades and now poses a threat to people's health, especially if you are renovating or demolishing part of your house. It is important that you treat asbestos with the respect that it deserves and take all necessary safety precautions to limit the health risks to you and your family.

  1. Where You Find Asbestos In Old Houses    
    If you have an old house then it may contain asbestos, which is a naturally occurring substance that due to its strength and special resistance to heat & electricity, was used in many building products and materials in the mid 20th century. Some of the main places where you will find asbestos in old houses is in roof insulation, wall and floor tile underlay, heat/fire insulation at the back of the fireplace, oven & fireplace flues, under eaves on brick houses and cement sheeting used on the exterior walls of houses or backyard sheds.
  2. Why You Should Be Cautious Around Asbestos    
    In the last few decades the majority of developed countries have banned the use of asbestos materials in building and construction because exposure to the asbestos dust and fibres is now known to cause mesothelioma, which is a malignant form of lung cancer. For this reason it is vitally important that you are cautious around asbestos and that the removal and disposal of any asbestos related products is done in a safe and professional manner.
  3. Check How Old The House Is Before Renovating    
    Before you begin your renovation and demolish or rip up things like tiles, insulation, roofing or a fireplace stop and think about how old the house is. If it was built before the early 1980's then it quite possibly could contain asbestos products and materials. Houses that were built during the 1980's have a much less chance of containing asbestos related products because the use of asbestos was phased out during this decade. The older the house is the more likely it is that some sort of asbestos building materials were used in its construction and if you are unsure then it is a good idea to get professional advice and an asbestos inspection and test.
  4. Do You Have To Remove Asbestos Before Renovating    
    If you have had a professional come in and given you a positive asbestos identification then you have a few options if you still want to renovate your house. Firstly you should ask the asbestos consultant if the materials are undamaged and still in good condition, because if this is the case then you may be able to skip any asbestos removal and simply cover, seal & paint over it. If, however, the absetos materials are damaged in any way or pose a risk to your family's health then you should have them removed professionally and safely.
  5. How To Best Get Rid Of Asbestos From Your House    
    In order to remove and get rid of the asbestos at your property you can either do it yourself or engage the services of a professional asbestos specialist. The cost of asbestos removal and disposal by a professional will be a few $1000 however it is preferable if you have any doubts about your ability to perform asbestos removal and disposal properly without putting the health of you, your family and your neighbours at risk. Although asbestos dust can be toxic the chance of inhaling asbestos fibres whilst removing it yourself, and the subsequent risk to your health, is low IF you take the proper safety precautions.
  6. The Right Protective Equipment For Handling Asbestos    
    If you have decided to deal with your property's asbestos yourself then it is vitally important that you wear all of the right personal protective equipment for you own safety. You should purchase or hire a proper half-face filter respirator that has been specifically designed for working with asbestos. Cheap dust masks DO NOT protect you from inhalation of asbestos dust and fibres, so don't try and save money and put your own health at risk. You should also purchase disposable overalls, head wear, gloves, safety goggles and wear sturdy boots to stop your skin from coming into contact with the fibres.
  7. Always Dispose Of Clothes After Handling Asbestos    
    If you are removing the asbestos from your house yourself then you should always use disposable coveralls or overalls, disposable hat and disposable gloves in order to prevent the contamination of any part of your normal clothes, shoes, hair or skin. Once you have finished handling the asbestos you must spray your disposable cloths with a light water mist, take them off and seal them in asbestos waste bags for disposal along with the other asbestos waste. Remember to ALWAYS keep your respirator on whilst you do this and NEVER reuse, keep or shake the disposable clothing.
  8. Always Shower Immediately After Handling Asbestos    
    A very important step that you must not forget if you are handling asbestos is to have a decontamination shower immediately after you have finished working with all of the materials. A shower will help to remove any asbestos dust that has found its way to your body and you must also remember to wash your hair thoroughly as well after handling asbestos related products.
  9. Things You Should Never Do With Asbestos    
    If you are choosing to do the asbestos removal yourself make sure that you NEVER do any of the following activities. Each of these activities will release huge numbers of the dangerous asbestos fibres and dust into the air and potentially harm yourself, work colleagues and neighbours.
    NEVER use power tools such as an angle grinder, circular saw or electric sander.
    NEVER use a high pressure water cleaner on asbestos products.
    NEVER use compressed air on materials made with asbestos.
  10. Where To Dispose Of Your Asbestos    
    In most developed countries asbestos disposal is restricted to specific hazardous waste landfill sites and you have to use one of these places to get rid of your asbestos related products and waste. Ring your local government or council offices to find out where the nearest asbestos waste sites are located, how much the cost of asbestos disposal will be and what requirements you must adhere to when safely wrapping the asbestos waste in order to minimise the chance of fibres being released into the air (even at the asbestos disposal site).

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