Dealing with asbestos, no matter the environment, can be a bit intimidating. Everyone knows how dangerous it is to deal with the nasty stuff, but there isn’t so much information to guide how you test and remove it. Luckily, there are a number of services that can provide you with expert assistance throughout the process. Let’s take a closer look at where you can find these services, and what you need to watch out for.
Know what you’re dealing with
First of all, it’s important to have at least some understanding of what it is you’re dealing with. Asbestos is a durable fibre that was used in a number of building materials, primarily from the 1930s until the 1980s. As a result, it’s still found in a lot of buildings that had work done on them during that time period.
The main thing to know about asbestos is that it’s highly carcinogenic, especially when inhaled. The fibres can easily enter into the air or water if the material is disturbed – hence the need for caution when attempting to remove it.
Initial research
For your initial research, you’ll likely need help in two general areas – testing, and then if those tests are positive for asbestos, removal.
Testing
If you think that you’ve spotted a material in your property that could contain asbestos, the first thing you’ll need to do is get that material tested. Luckily, testing for asbestos is a relatively simple process. There are plenty of service providers across the country that you can send samples off to in the post in a small sealed bag; they’ll be able to analyse the sample and provide you with a clear answer as to what it is you’re dealing with.
Removal
If your tests come back positive and you decide that you need to get the material removed, you’ll need to find an asbestos removal service. While it can be tempting to try to remove it yourself, this is generally a bad idea.
Even if you manage to protect yourself properly during the removal with appropriate PPE, if you don’t contain the material when it’s being removed you can easily contaminate the surrounding area. If this happens – especially with more volatile varieties of asbestos – it could end up being extremely difficult and expensive to decontaminate the area.
Depending on where you are, getting in contact with a removal specialist shouldn’t be too tricky. For example, there are great directories to help you find asbestos removal companies in London, and similar resources for the rest of the country as well.
Check certifications
There are certain regulations that control how you’re supposed to deal with asbestos removal, especially in businesses and other public spaces. You need to make sure that the services you hire to help you out are all certified and fully compliant with those regulations, so that you don’t run into any issues further down the line.
By getting help from qualified, experienced service providers in these main two areas – testing and removal – you should be able to deal with any asbestos you find without too many issues at all.