Asbestos was commonly used in buildings and homes until the mid-1980s when it was discovered that exposure to this mineral could lead to serious health problems such as lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis. Although the use of asbestos has declined dramatically since then, many older homes still contain asbestos. It is important to safely remove asbestos from your home to protect your familys health. The process can be dangerous if not done correctly. Here are four key home tactics for safely eliminating asbestos.
Recognising Asbestos Components in Your Home
The first step in safely eliminating asbestos from your home is testing where the asbestos is located. Asbestos was widely used due to its resistance to heat and its excellent insulation properties. Therefore, it can be found in many places including floor tiles, insulation of heating systems, roofing shingles, textured paint, cement and wall insulation among many others.
If your home was built before the 1980s or if you suspect that there could be asbestos-containing materials, you should consider having it inspected by a licensed professional. They have the training and experience to identify these materials and can provide advice on how to deal with them.
Hiring a Professional Asbestos Removal Contractor
Removing asbestos from your home is a task better left to professionals. When mishandled, asbestos fibers can become airborne making them easy for you or your loved ones to inhale.
An experienced contractor understands the necessary precautions needed during the removal process and they come with appropriate tools and protective equipment. They also know how dispose of the material in accordance with environmental laws hence eliminating chances of legal trouble.
Safe Handling and Disposal of Asbestos
If you are determined to remove small quantities of non-friable asbestos yourself—though it’s strongly advised against—you should be very cautious. Always wet the materials before starting removal to reduce airborne dust. You ought wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) – a respiratory mask certified for handling asbestos, gloves, goggles and disposable overall for optimum safety. Then you will need seal removed material in polyethylene bags designed specifically for asbestos disposal.
Remember that tossing these bags into regular trash bins is both unsafe and illegal in many places; disposal must be at designated facilities which accept asbestos waste.
Maintenance Tactics For Non-Removal Cases
In some instances however, if the asbestos-containing material is still in good condition (non-friable), not worn out or broken down such that no dust is being released into the air; then probably, encapsulation or covering provides a safer solution rather than removal.
As encapsulation involves applying seals or covers over materials so trapped fibers cannot escape into atmosphere. You might need professional help in this too.
Conclusion
Mishandling of asbestos exposes us to severe health hazards hence requires sensible approach towards its management at home scenarios too. Henceforth vigilant recognition or identification plays crucial role here followed by deciding whether to hire professionals or adopt DIY techniques under strict safety considerations. Remember whichever path we choose, disposed materials must reach their acceptable locations only without any fail thus playing our role towards maintaining well-being at individual as well as societal levels.
