How you can eliminate asbestos exposure

How can you eliminate asbestos exposure?

It is estimated by the World Health Organisation that around 125 million people worldwide are exposed to asbestos in their workplace, and there are more than 107,000 deaths due to asbestos exposure. So, what can you do to eliminate asbestos?

It is recommended that you have an asbestos specialist remove any asbestos you find in your home and/or workplace. If you do, however, decide to do your own DIY asbestos removal, it is recommended you do an asbestos safety training course, and take the following precautions:

  • Cover up – Make sure you wear a good quality dust mask which has at least two straps to hold it in place. On top of this, also wear durable gloves, disposable protective clothing and safety goggles.
  • Avoid inhalation – Do not eat, drink, or smoke in the asbestos area you are working in, as you can inhale toxic dust. Make sure to thoroughly wash your hands and face before you have a meal when working with asbestos, and when you have finished for the day.
  • Avoid drilling/cutting into asbestos products – Asbestos products can lie in vents, flues and eaves, so do not drill holes into these places. You should also never try to cut into an asbestos cement sheet, and should remove and replace the entire sheet with a non-asbestos product instead.
  • Prepare the area(s) – If you plan on doing DIY asbestos removal, it is extremely important you let people know. Plan the removal around your family/friends/co-workers being absent from the area until you have finished, and also bear your neighbours in mind if it’s something that could affect them.

Disposing of asbestos

Asbestos waste needs to be disposed of in a particular way. Make sure you:

  • Put all your asbestos waste in a well-covered vehicle that won’t leak.
  • Leave asbestos waste at a landfill site that allows for it to be disposed of there. It is illegal to dump asbestos waste/products in domestic bins.
  • Look into hiring a licensed waste removal company, who can come and collect your asbestos waste and provide special asbestos skips.

To find out more about asbestos, its effects, and the precautions you can take, read our informative asbestos guide here.