What To Expect WIth An Asbestos Survey and Removal

Asbestos maintenance and removal can be a hazardous undertaking with some serious risks for both the employees and property inhabitants, as a result of accidental exposure to microscopic airborne asbestos fibers. Exposure can, long term, lead to life-threatening illnesses such as lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis. It is therefore paramount from the start that employers ensure all reasonable measures have been taken to safeguard both employees and the general public from any exposure to asbestos whilst working on location.

Thankfully, well-established protocols, practices, and legislation are now in place to help ensure that asbestos and asbestos-containing materials are managed safely thereby reducing the risk of exposure. It is vital and indeed mandatory that correct asbestos removal protocols are followed to minimize any risk.

For anyone new to this area of work, it can appear a bit complicated. To help you understand the process of asbestos removal and asbestos survey in Colorado Springs and other areas, there are steps outlined below for you to look over and help you understand the process better.

• First and foremost you need to identify whether asbestos is present in the building where work is due to be carried out. A survey will be conducted. If the work to be performed is intrusive and extensive you will need to carry out a Refurbishment and Demolition Survey. An Asbestos Management Survey, on the other hand, is purely to aid the management of any asbestos present during the normal occupation of a building where there is no intention to disturb it in any way.

• Having established the presence of asbestos you will need to carry out a Risk Assessment and compile a Management Plan in accordance with guidelines issued by the Health and Safety Department for working with ACMs. This will highlight the potential for asbestos exposure during any work and identify who may be at risk. It will also dictate what work methods are required to provide effective control of the risks.

• Next, it must be determined whether the work to be carried out is licensed or Non-licensable work. Most work involving higher risk working and/or removal of asbestos will require a contractor licensed by the HSD. Examples of licensable work include but are not exhaustive of the following:
  
  Longer-term rather than sporadic exposure to asbestos and ACMs
  Work on asbestos coatings including removal and any work that might disturb pipe lagging.
  Work on asbestos insulation boards.
  Work which is likely to exceed the Control Limit for asbestos exposure.
  Any work involving loose-fill insulation or asbestos millboard

• Confirm that any contractor carrying out the work holds a valid license and has the appropriate training, protective clothing, and breathing apparatus to perform the work safely.

• The Licensed Contractor must ensure any areas where asbestos is located and due to be disturbed are sealed off using polythene and timber to create an airtight enclosure in order to contain asbestos airborne fibers. Controlled wetting techniques such as spraying, injection with needles or using a sealant can now be employed to restrict and reduce the release of fibres into the air. Air monitoring techniques must also be employed to ensure control levels are never exceeded and to ensure the area concerned is safe for reoccupation.

• The licensed Contractor must make sure that any contaminated waste is securely double bagged and sealed in asbestos waste sacks, appropriately labeled and safely deposited at a specialist licensed waste disposal site.

• Removal operations must strictly follow decontamination procedures upon completion of asbestos removal from the location and at the end of any shift involving work with asbestos.

• Once the contaminated waste has been removed, all surfaces in the sealed-off area will need to be environmentally cleaned to remove all remaining debris and residues. This will entail vacuuming and wiping clean all exposed surfaces before a visual inspection by the site supervisor.

• Once the work has been completed the contractor or client will hire a third-party certified lab to undertake an inspection of the area and, if the analyst is satisfied that the area is clean enough, carry out an air test within the area prior to dismantling of the enclosure.

Prior to any asbestos removal procedure being flagged off, it is necessary to get a survey done of the intended place. Any and all asbestos survey in Colorado Springs and other places are to be conducted by certified professionals who are experienced in this regard and know exactly where and how to look.