Reduce & Remove Asbestos Dust Safely

Asbestos is the name given to a group of naturally occurring mineral fibres that were extensively used in building products due to their insulating and fire-proof properties and overall strength. Over time, it has become known that inhaling asbestos fibres can cause diseases such as pleural plaques, asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma.

As such, it’s extremely important that you take the proper precautions when trying to remove asbestos from your home.

When researching asbestos removal you’ll always come across two terms – friable and non-friable. Non-friable means that the asbestos fibres are in the product held solidly and are less likely to become airborne unless the product is damaged. Friable asbestos products are loosely packed and can be crushed easily in the hand leading to airborne dust.

This dust can be deadly and in itself can lead to illnesses already discussed. Therefore, if you’re going to be working with asbestos it’s important that you use common sense. Here’s some tips to reduce and remove asbestos dust while you’re working:-

• Use hand tools when working with asbestos. Do not use power tools or cutting discs.

• Do not sand asbestos surfaces when dry. This will release harmful dust into the air.

• Wet any asbestos material before cutting or sanding to reduce dust emissions. Remember, do not use a high-pressure water jet.

• Add detergent to the water to help soak up asbestos fibres.

• When cleaning asbestos roofing or cladding use a low-pressure water system. Do not use a blasting system or any abrasive methods.

• Clean up the area thoroughly and dispose of waste carefully.

We recommend that you do not attempt to remove asbestos from your home by yourself. It is far safer to employ a trained asbestos removal contractor who has been educated in safe asbestos removal and who has all the necessary equipment.