Asbestos is a dangerous material that was commonly used in construction and manufacturing for much of the 20th century. If you have an older property, there's a good chance it contains asbestos. While asbestos only poses a health risk when fibres are released into the air, attempting DIY removal without proper training and equipment can disturb the material and release these hazardous fibres. This article explains why you should always hire expert asbestos surveyors to assess if asbestos is present, and work with professional asbestos removal companies if it needs to be removed from your property.
Know What You're Dealing With
Before beginning any work on an older property that may contain asbestos, it's essential to have a professional asbestos survey completed. Licensed asbestos surveyors use a variety of techniques to identify asbestos and determine if it's in a condition that makes removal necessary.
An asbestos survey company like Eagle Asbestos - Expert Asbestos Surveyors in the UK can survey your entire property or just sample materials. Common asbestos sampling techniques include visual inspection, testing tape or dust samples, and taking small material samples to send to a lab for analysis. Professional asbestos surveys give you documentation on where asbestos is present and its type and condition.
Without this expert insight, you won't know the full extent of asbestos risks in your property. Attempting DIY removal without understanding exactly what materials contain asbestos and where they're located is extremely hazardous.
Follow Strict Safety Procedures
Removing asbestos requires meticulous safety protocols and personal protective equipment (PPE). Licensed abatement professionals receive extensive training on safely containing fibres and limiting exposure.
When asbestos is disturbed without proper precautions, microscopic fibres can be released into the air. Once inhaled, these thin fibres can become lodged in the lungs and cause deadly diseases like asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma.
Specialised PPE like respirators, disposable coveralls, and footwear must be worn to prevent ingesting or inhaling fibres. The removal area also needs isolation, negative air pressure, and proper sealing and disposal of asbestos waste.
Without this specialised equipment and in-depth training, DIY asbestos removal puts your health and the health of anyone near the worksite at serious risk.
Use Proper Asbestos Disposal
After carefully removing asbestos materials, they must be properly packaged and disposed of as hazardous waste. There are strict regulations for transporting and disposing of asbestos at approved facilities.
Asbestos surveyors determine if materials require removal or can be safely managed in place. If removal is recommended, a licensed asbestos abatement company will handle disposal according to all state and federal regulations.
If you attempt DIY removal, improperly contained asbestos waste products could release fibres into your property and surrounding environment. You also risk hefty fines for violating hazardous waste disposal laws.
Allow Professionals to Protect You
Asbestos surveyor experts should always assess if and where asbestos is present. Licensed abatement professionals can then safely remove it if necessary.
Attempting DIY asbestos removal without proper asbestos surveys, equipment, training, and disposal protocols puts you and others at risk. It also exposes you to potential fines for hazardous waste violations.
