Appropriate Asbestos Removal Procedures

The regulations concerning asbestos removal procedures and removing asbestos tiles vary from one country to the next. In all cases, the main objective is to ensure that the tiny fibers do not enter the air.

Scientists have not determined a safe level of exposure to the substance. It is assumed that any level of exposure is unsafe.

Buildings meant to be demolished must be sealed typically by using polyethylene film, duct tape and a negative air pressure machine fitted with a HEPA filter. All asbestos-containing materials are then removed before standard demolition crews can enter the work site.

Special class H vacuums designed specifically for the purpose must be used during the clean-up phase. Ordinary vacuums, even those fitted with a HEPA filter will spew the fibers back out into the air. Once the cleanup phase is done, the building can be demolished as usual.

In buildings that are currently occupied and those that are not scheduled for demolition, there are two options. One option is to seal off a portion of the building and follow the necessary asbestos removal procedures.

The other is referred to as “abatement”. This method does not require removing the asbestos-containing materials. It involves permanently enclosing them.

Abatement is only an option when the affected portion of the building will never be used again or accessed in any way. For example, a basement or crawl space could conceivably be filled with concrete if the area does not contain piping or other structures that might require maintenance.

The appropriate procedure also depends on the type of material involved. In some cases, the fibers cannot be dislodged. The materials are said to be “friable or non-friable”. For example, ceiling tiles and insulation are friable. The fibers can be dislodged and become airborne. Floor tiles are non-friable. Asbestos removal procedures are generally unnecessary for non-friable materials.

If you are involved in demolition or maintenance, you may have been exposed to these fibers. Exposure can cause a number of health problems including minor things like skin irritation and warts, as well as more serious life-threatening problems including lung impairment and mesothelioma, a type of cancer that is very difficult to treat.

People that receive a diagnosis of an asbestos-related disease may have grounds for legal action. Some lawyers specialize in this kind of litigation.

The fact that the fibers caused lung damage was known to the Ancient Greeks. The first lawsuits were filed against employers and manufacturers in the late 1920s. Over the years, millions of dollars in damages have been awarded to claimants.

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