Asbestos Experts: On Asbestos Identification and Removal
Asbestos is naturally occurring fibres that have great capacity to resist fire and corrosion. Human fascination with this mineral had started with the ancient Greeks, who were impressed by its ability to resist fire. Centuries later, in the era of industrialization, manufacturers garnered a new found interest in its ability and used it for the purpose of insulation, strengthening and fireproofing of other products. The relationship was a happy one until we realized that this mineral had potential to cause terminal illnesses, mainly mesothelioma cancer. And that’s where asbestos experts come in.
It would be wise to know how to deal with an asbestos infestation to save your health from wrongful termination. Here are a few tips from asbestos experts on how to deal with an asbestos attack in your homes.
Step one: Identify if you actually have a problem by looking for the following visual cues:
- Colour - Generally off-white but can be brown or blue, as well.
- Places where asbestos generally shows up – Heating ducts, fireplaces, degraded pipes, wiring, attics or basements, walls and ceilings, old vinyl floorboards and roofs.
Step two: Some things that you must never do
You must never attempt to clean up the infestation on your own, especially with a vacuum cleaner or a duster, because you could end up causing the debris to become airborne, something regarded as a potentially dangerous act. Let the asbestos experts do it.
Step three: Hire the Asbestos Experts
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| Asbestos Experts |
Remember that visual identification is just a small step and isn’t a permanent solution. Always remember to call a licensed professional to ensure safety to yourselves and the ones around you. Do remember that these experts are trained in the removal of toxic substances, so trust their judgement. And just because prevention is better than cure, remember to have the house inspected after the clean-up is complete.
Despite this being discouraged, you could attempt to remove firmly-bound asbestos yourself. But to do that you need to ensure that you follow a few rules of thumb, as suggested by asbestos experts.
- Refrain from using power tools, sandpaper, or compressed air (risk of making the fibres airborne) to clear the infestation.
- Do not attempt to wash off the asbestos with high-pressure hoses.
- Do not walk on asbestos infested floor boards. You may fall through it!
- Ensure that the asbestos is kept wet throughout the surgery that you shall perform to enable minimal chances of it becoming airborne.
- While working with asbestos, try to do so in ventilated areas to avoid immediate exposure to the mineral fibres.
- Always wear Personal Protection Equipment (PPE). Ensure that your mask is firmly held in place and your eyes are covered.
- Refrain from drinking, smoking, or eating in the infested area. Always wash your hands with water and soap if you ever take food breaks.
- While wetting the asbestos, do so gently without the use of any power tool.
- Do not drill or cut into the infestation, no matter how small it is.
- After the bits/sheets are removed, try not to drop them lest the fibres become airborne.
- Asbestos experts seal the house using plastic sheets and tape, remove all the furniture, especially children’s toys and cribs or beds and cover all the vents.
- Prepare the area to which you would be moving the sheet of asbestos by using plastic sheeting to ensure that the ground doesn’t get contaminated.
- During disposal, ensure that the asbestos is dampened, double-wrapped, and tagged in plastic. Make sure that the bag used is thick and that it is labelled clearly as asbestos waste.
Overall, be safe while attempting to do this yourself and it’s advised to hire asbestos experts.
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