Asbestos removal can be quite dangerous for contractors working on commercial or residential projects. American homeowners in particular typically exclude asbestos from their list of household materials that should be replaced if found to contain the mineral. Commercial Asbestos Removal is often a complex and lengthy process because of the number of different varieties of Asbestos. Domestic Asbestos Removal is generally a fairly simple process, although it does involve a fair amount of manual labor. Asbestos insulation is flammable and therefore poses quite a danger of starting fires in areas where it might be installed.
Asbestos exposure occurs when people are exposed to Asbestos while they are living or at work. If exposed while at work, workers need to be warned of the Asbestos danger, given ample time to decontaminate and get proper medical attention, and the area needs to be cleaned up. Most health records will reflect a person being exposed to Asbestos and then treated. The treatments could range from:
It’s important to be aware of the Asbestos Materials license category before starting Asbestos Removal work. Many companies fail to take the time to check whether the license category applied to the Asbestos Insulation they were handling. It’s possible for some companies to operate in both categories; however, you need to make sure that your safety and health record fits into one or both categories.
Health monitoring is required to be performed following Asbestos removal, either by the contractor or health monitoring authorities such as the National Asbestos Management Board (NIMB). Health monitoring involves collecting samples of Asbestos particles for testing and/or examination. Samples are sent for independent testing to an independent laboratory. This helps to determine whether or not Asbestos is being disturbed and released into the air during the removal process, and also assess any potential risk to people who may be exposed to the Asbestos while the Asbestos was present. If Asbestos is present in the sample samples then the laboratory will conduct the same tests it would if Asbestos was present in the immediate environment. Learn more about Domestic Asbestos Removal Hereford here.
Asbestos fibers are released into the environment through disturbed Asbestos material during Asbestos removal. disturbed Asbestos-containing materials include such things as ceiling tiles, wallpaper, plaster, plasterboard, drywall, asbestos roof shingles, floor paint, cracker, and fire door sealants. Asbestos is released during Asbestos abatement, as well as during cleaning and maintenance of Asbestos products. In fact, Asbestos is released by itself in very small quantities and is easily washed away, so it’s unlikely that Asbestos-related particles would make their way into your household unless there has been significant Asbestos exposure.
However, when there has been Asbestos exposure, there can still be a lingering effect from Asbestos in the home. In these situations, a company will usually request that the property is inspected for any Asbestos release, and if there are any, the samples are tested for Asbestos contamination. It’s common for businesses to request that any lower-risk asbestos-containing materials such as cement, roof tiles, wallpaper, or drywall be removed and properly cleaned before they re-use them. This ensures that Asbestos contamination does not occur in the future and that Asbestos products are used in a safe manner.
Some industries will apply to have their own Asbestos Testing and Management Plans (WMS) in place, under the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992. These plans will vary between industries, but will usually state the type of Asbestos use that will be required before any Asbestos release is allowed. For instance, you would not be able to remove Asbestos based paints or waterproof coatings from a building unless you had your own personal WMS. Under the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992, all Asbestos-related employment must be managed through a designated company and there must be adequate controls in place to protect Asbestos workers from Asbestos-related illnesses and fatalities. If you have concerns about your job, you should contact your local council and find out if there are any Asbestos Testing and Management Plans in place for your area.
If you have been exposed to Asbestos while working, you may be entitled to compensation. Asbestos poisoning is not only expensive in terms of medical treatment but is also very costly in terms of losing work time and causing mental health effects. You may be eligible to claim compensation for Asbestos exposure, including medical and lost wages due to your Asbestos exposure, and lost earnings because of Asbestos exposure, such as retraining costs and travel expenses. The last factor, lost earnings, is especially important in this situation because most people who have been exposed did not receive any monetary benefit at all from their Asbestos exposure. If you believe that you have been exposed to Asbestos, it is very important that you talk to an expert right away to learn more about your rights, as well as your legal options.