To build your dream out, you need space but with land proving hard to come by, people are buying older houses. So what people can do sometimes is purchase an old home, knock it down and build again, however doing it this way can expose you to a nasty thing called asbestos.

It needs to be handled professionally as asbestos can be deadly. That is where asbestos removal professionals come in. But what exactly are the procedures for removing it?

In this article, we will go through all the proper procedures involved in removing asbestos. 

If you are looking at removing asbestos then this article will give you all you need to know and what to expect from the professionals that will be dealing with it.

Description of work

If there is wear and tear on a section of asbestos then you could be in danger as it is deadly to us if we breathe it in.

For a company to be able to remove the asbestos they have to be qualified, be certified in the removal of it and their work practices MUST comply with Federal and State Regulations. Also the company or business has to supply all the materials, services, equipment, and insurance (if you are a subcontractor). 

Personnel Protection

Worker protection procedures

The worker procedure is very complex, however, we aim to make it as easy to understand as possible.

- Every single worker and authorized visitor that enters the site MUST remove their clothes in a clean changing room and then put on a respirator and the proper protective clothing before going into the work area.

- After the workers leave the worksite, they have to take off all their gross contamination clothes before they leave the site and go to the equipment room with just their respirator on. Then they move to the showers and clean the outside of their respirator, take it off and then clean themselves.

- After showering, each worker then moves to the clean change room and gets back into their street clothes. After arriving for work the next day the workers simply repeat this process.

- Workers cannot smoke, eat or drink while they are in the asbestos work area.

 Building Protection

Materials need when removing asbestos include

• Plastic sheet (polyethylene)
• Tape for sealing joints.
• Wetting agent (Surfactant)
• Impermeable containers 
• Warning signs and labels as needed by OSHA Regulations.
• Trowel or Spray to protect against fire.
• Insulation material for patchwork.

Equipment needed to remove asbestos

• Disposable coveralls 
• Footwear 
• Gloves (ONLY disposable latex gloves, neoprene or Nitrile gloves)
• Shoe covers (MUST cover shoes entirely and be secured above the ankle.)
• Mask (Worn at ALL times while in the work area with a minimum P2 filter.)
• Protective eye-wear (MUST always be worn in the work area)

Execution

We will now go through the execution of before, during, and after asbestos removal.

Before (Preparation) 

- All the electric power to the house or building needs to be shut down. Workers should provide temporary light so they can work safely.

- All ventilating air systems need to be turned off. With tape and plastic they need to be sealed. 

- All objects in asbestos area and pre-cleaned using a HEPA vacuum and will then need to be covered with plastic sheeting (minimum 4 mils thick) and tape.

- Use a HEPA vacuum to thoroughly clean the entire work area and do not use methods that will make dust come up.

- EVERY single opening has to be sealed off with tape and plastic sheeting which includes windows, doors corridors, grills, and skylights just to name a few.

- The walls and floors need to be covered in two layers of plastic (6 mil each on the floor and two layers of 4 mils on walls). Cover the floor first and then cover the walls so the plastic overlaps by at least 12 inches.

- Airlocks to exits and entrances from the work areas need to be provided.

- All objects on the ceiling need to be cleaned ( lights)

- Emergency exits must be visible

Decontamination Enclosure systems

A place inside the work area where workers can decontaminate from asbestos. Architect has to approve before building it.

The decontamination system MUST have an equipment room that has two curtained doorways (one to the shower, the other to the work area). The shower room needs to have at least one shower and towels and soap must be there at all times.

The clean room needs just one doorway that leads into the shower. The exit or entrance leads to uncontaminated areas. Worker's need space to store clothes and personal belongings.

There also needs to be a washroom and a holding area both with airlocks with the washroom. This then leads to a work area and the holding area leading to an uncontaminated area.

Built with wood or metal, the system needs to be strong. Plastic sheets on its sides and all edges need to be sealed.

Maintenance of enclosure system

Work stops if damaged. Inspected daily.

Asbestos removal – How to do it?

First, the workers will spray any asbestos material with amended water and they do this so it limits the number of asbestos fibers that are released into the air. The workers will consistently do this to prevent fibers from moving.

REMOVE ASBESTOS VERY CAREFULLY

When working at heights a dust-proof chute for asbestos will be used for added safety. The seal-filled containers with wet asbestos can be removed and they should be clean, if not they are cleaned again in the washroom then moved through an uncontaminated area.

After stripping, areas must be wet brushed and cleaned after asbestos is taken away with a proper method. Surfaces need to be wet when doing this.

Encapsulated sealer is then sprayed.

Clean up

Surfaces need to be wet cleaned where asbestos was found and windows kept shut . 

After thoroughly cleaning the work area, workers wait 24 hours to allow all the dust to settle. Then go in and clean the work area again with a HEPA vacuum on all surfaces. A visual inspection is done and before leaving, all the equipment needs to be cleaned. 

Preoccupancy clearance, Air monitoring, and re-establishment

The director of Industrial Hygiene will then do a re-occupancy inspection of the asbestos work area. Cleaning will continue if any asbestos is found. When the work area is clear from asbestos, the director will then do air monitoring testing as part of the clearance. 

Items will be ready to use again once the cleaning has finished.

Conclusion

Hopefully, we have given you an in-depth review of all asbestos removal procedures. Just remember that it is better to let professionals handle any asbestos. They are trained and they have guidelines and procedures to follow to ensure every bit of asbestos is removed.