The EPA estimates that around 20% of all commercial or public buildings have some asbestos-containing materials in them. As a cancer-causing agent, asbestos needs to be removed from buildings before the public or employees can be allowed to be in the building.
Before you install a single new fixture as you renovate your historic building, you need qualified professionals to handle asbestos removal. We have five reasons why you must find qualified professionals like Environmental Demolition Group to take care of this hazardous material.
Laws and Regulations Pertaining to Asbestos
Federal regulations on asbestos removal are designed to protect people from the serious health risks associated with asbestos exposure. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) oversee most federal asbestos rules, which we follow to the letter at Environmental Demolition Group.
The EPA regulates the removal, handling, and disposal of asbestos materials under the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP). NESHAP requires companies and contractors to follow strict procedures when handling asbestos-containing materials. Among these regulations include properly wetting and sealing asbestos to prevent its fibers from being released into the air. This is before disposing of asbestos properly.
OSHA has specific standards under the Occupational Safety and Health Act to protect employees while handling asbestos. First, it requires employers to monitor air quality, provide training, and ensure that workers handling asbestos wear protective gear. Gear includes gloves, goggles, and a respirator that filters 99.97% of particles 0.3 microns in size.
Employers must also establish regulated areas when asbestos is disturbed. These areas are to be isolated from other work areas, with access limited to trained workers wearing protective equipment. Any employees working with asbestos must have regular medical checkups.
Health Risks of Handling & Disposing of Asbestos
Handling and disposing of asbestos carries serious health risks because of the risks of inhalation of asbestos fibers. Tiny fibers can be released into the air if asbestos-containing materials are disturbed. Once inhaled, these fibers become trapped in the lungs, where they can remain for years.
Over time, exposure can lead to various respiratory diseases, including asbestosis, a condition where lung tissue becomes scarred and breathing becomes difficult. Asbestosis has no cure and can worsen over time, leading to chronic breathing issues and other complications.
Additionally, asbestos exposure significantly increases the risk of lung cancer. People who handle asbestos without protective measures, especially over extended periods, face a high risk of developing this cancer. Even brief exposure can elevate the risk, and the likelihood is compounded for smokers.
Mesothelioma, a rare but aggressive cancer that affects the lining of the lungs and abdomen, is also closely linked to asbestos exposure. This cancer is almost exclusively caused by asbestos, with symptoms that may not appear until decades after exposure. This is why it’s vitally important to make sure qualified professionals handle asbestos to prevent health issues for workers and customers.
Proper Equipment Needed for Removal & Disposal
Proper equipment is essential for safe asbestos removal to minimize the risk of exposure to harmful asbestos fibers. Qualified professionals need respirators equipped with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters that block fine asbestos fibers down to 0.3 microns. Full-face respirators are often required in high-risk environments to provide additional eye and face protection.
Asbestos fibers can easily cling to clothes and be carried away from the worksite, posing a risk of secondary exposure. Workers must wear disposable, full-body coveralls with hoods and boot covers, that must be removed and disposed of safely after each shift. Safety goggles, gloves, and other gear further protect exposed skin and minimize direct contact with asbestos.
Qualified professionals for asbestos removal must use specialized tools and containment equipment. Negative air machines fitted with HEPA filters help prevent airborne asbestos from escaping the work area. Vacuum systems equipped with HEPA filters also allow for the safe collection of asbestos debris.
Knowing Where to Look for Hidden Asbestos
Even if your personnel are protected from asbestos and follow regulations, your team might not know where to look for hidden asbestos. It’s commonly found in insulation, particularly around pipes, furnaces, boilers, and ducts.
However, asbestos might be in other places you might not think to look because of its fire-retardent properties. It can also be present in floor tiles, ceiling tiles, and adhesives used for tiles. If one of these ceiling tiles comes loose and falls, asbestos might go airborne.
The carcinogenic substance can be found in textured paints, plaster, and joint compounds used for walls and ceilings. If there’s an old fireplace in your building, chances are there is asbestos in it. If walls cannot be knocked down and removed, handling asbestos in these areas might need other remedies.
Some roofing and siding shingles contain asbestos, along with the underlayment beneath roofs. Additionally, certain types of cement sheets and pipes used in construction and insulation may contain asbestos.
Knowing the history of the materials used in a building can help identify potential areas where asbestos might be present.
Because asbestos isn’t easily visible to the untrained eye, a qualified professional is needed for asbestos removal.
Ensuring Thorough Removal and Documentation
Asbestos must be disposed of in accordance with EPA guidelines. A qualified professional must handle asbestos removal properly to make sure none of it goes airborne to where the general public might be exposed to it.
Asbestos waste must be transported in labeled, leak-proof containers and disposed of at designated landfills that handle hazardous materials. This carcinogen must be handled safely throughout the removal and disposal process to protect workers, the public, and the environment.
Contact the Qualified Asbestos Removal Professionals at Environmental Demolition Group
Asbestos removal is just one step when it comes to cleaning up a commercial site that has hazardous materials. Our team can help you with the process of removing asbestos, other hazardous materials, and waste in general ahead of your renovation project.
Contact Environmental Demolition Group to request a consultation.
