Consider These Safety Precautions during the Three Major Phases of Asbestos Removal
Asbestos removal is a task you can perform on your own. During the removal, you need to take the necessary precautionary measures to minimise the exposure of anyone to the asbestos. To help you with this, here are some safety precautions you should consider in each of the three asbestos removal stages.
Stage 1: Preparation
Before you start the actual asbestos removal exercise, you will want to prepare the site to ensure that you won't put anyone at risk of inhaling the asbestos dust or fibres. Therefore, start by displaying warning signs to inform people that asbestos removal work is in progress. These signs shouldn't be removed until the removal exercise is completed. You will then have to proceed by isolating your asbestos work site to ensure that asbestos dust or fibres don't find their way out.
For instance, if you'd be working indoors, consider using impermeable polyethylene sheets as enclosures. The polyethylene sheeting can also be used for outdoor application such as removal of asbestos roof sheeting. Simply create barriers using the polyethylene sheeting.
When working indoors, remember to seal any openings, including your windows and doors. To prevent the distribution of the asbestos dust and fibres, shut down your ventilation system and remember to seal all the ventilation ducts as well.
Stage 2: The Actual Removal Process
The second stage involves the actual asbestos removal process. If you will be working on elevated areas, such as your roof, consider hiring scaffold for safety. To prevent too much dust being produced during the removal, consider wetting all the ACMs (asbestos containing materials) using a low-pressure washer spray. All the ACMs that you remove should be wrapped in polyethylene sheets for larger materials such as ceiling board and roofing sheets, and in impermeable bags for small or broken asbestos pieces.
Stage 3: The Clean Up
Clean-up can be done after the end of each work shift as well as after the removal job is completed fully. You may not complete the asbestos removal job all at once. Therefore, if you are doing it in shifts, remember to pack and seal any used overalls in impermeable polyethylene bags.
At the end of the asbestos removal exercise, use clean water to clean all the equipment used during the removal. Do this before removing them from the work site. Any polyethylene sheets used as floor linings or barriers should also be properly being washed before being disposed of as asbestos waste.
However, remember that asbestos removal is usually conducted by licensed professionals, such as McMahon Services. Therefore, seek permission from your local council first before proceeding with the task.