What to Do if you Find Asbestos?
To the untrained eye, asbestos can be hard to identify as it can be found in many different forms and various places around the home including the wall sheets, roof, tiles, and piping. As a rule, it’s likely a home built before the 1980s will contain asbestos, as it wasn’t removed from production until the mid 1980s and banned altogether in 2003. If you suspect your home has asbestos or have found some suspicious looking materials in your home, you may be wondering what the best course of action is when it comes to safely removing and disposing of the material. To help you, we’ve compiled a short guide on ‘what to do if you find asbestos’, and the harm reduction techniques you can apply if you’ve accidentally disturbed asbestos.
What to do if you find Asbestos: Are you at risk?
What to do if you find Asbestos?
If you think you may have found asbestos in your home, don’t touch it. Asbestos-containing materials are mostly a cause for concern if they appear to have wear and tear or look as though they can easily be damaged. In some cases, asbestos-containing materials can be sealed with a protective sealant if it’s too difficult to remove. However, if there is deterioration present, building materials can release harmful asbestos fibres into the air, which can wreak havoc on your lungs if breathed in.
Looking for residential asbestos removal? Contact Myers Asbestos Removal today for a free quote.
What to do if asbestos is disturbed?
Wondering what to do if asbestos is disturbed? If you’ve accidentally broken a building material you suspect may contain asbestos, it’s advised you wipe your clothes with a damp towel and place the cloth and clothes into a sealed bag. Though it may seem logical to use a vacuum cleaner to get all the remaining dust particles, it can release more fibres into the air. It’s worth calling a professional if you’re concerned about spreading the fibres, for advice on properly disposing the materials. You can call a removalist or find your nearest asbestos disposal centre for instructions on proper disposal.
What to do if you’ve been exposed to asbestos fibres?
If you’ve been exposed to asbestos, be sure to contact your local GP for a check up as soon as possible. X-rays can potentially show if you’ve breathed in any fibres, but the effects of exposure can take up to 30 years to have any effect. If you have been exposed to asbestos and the fibres have attached to your lungs, you will have to be monitored closely for any potential symptoms of asbestos-related diseases. As your body is not able to get rid of the fibres, close monitoring is the only way to ensure any potential disease is caught early and managed effectively. However, it’s worth remembering that asbestos-related diseases usually require a lot of exposure, and it’s extremely rare to incur any problems from one-time exposure.
How do I dispose of asbestos?
Asbestos can’t be simply disposed of at your local dump, and you can expect to receive a large fine if you’re caught. Each council has its own rules and regulations about asbestos disposal, which can usually be found on their website or by contacting them directly. For peace of mind, it’s recommended you get a licensed asbestos removal company to dispose of the materials as they have the proper PPE gear and equipment to dispose of asbestos safely.
Looking for commercial asbestos removal? Contact Myers Asbestos Removal today for a free quote.
Think you may have found asbestos in your home?
If you suspect you may have stumbled across asbestos, contact Myers Asbestos Removal Brisbane today online or by calling 0412 314 588 to have a professional team safely perform asbestos testing and remove any asbestos found in a home or office location.