General Safety Tips and Advice on Asbestos Disposal

For many individuals, the mere mention of “asbestos” is more than enough to strike fear and panic. But this should not be the case. If you ever discover asbestos in your property, know that getting rid of it is quick and easy, as long as you know what you’re doing. So, before you even think about taking action, below is a case to consider, as well as some safety tips:

William Daniel’s Case

In 2002, a resident of Ohio was fined $22,600. He was also asked to complete 208 hours of community service and was sentenced to 13 months in prison. Why? He violated the Clean Air Act, improperly disposing of 469 bags of asbestos waste and putting the health of the public at risk.

Proper Asbestos Disposal Tips

So, how do you dispose of asbestos properly? Here are some safety tips to take into account:

1. Consider the condition of the asbestos.

Asbestos is generally divided into two major groups: friable and non-friable. Friable is when the asbestos can crumble by hand pressure, while non-friable is the contrary.

If the asbestos is categorised in a non-friable condition, this means we can just leave it as is. The safety measures one can apply is to paint the edges and surfaces to seal in the fibres and prevent them from escaping. Smoothening the surface and the edges is not recommended as it will cause the fibres to be released into the air.

Handling friable asbestos is riskier. When special care is not applied, the fibres may break up. To properly dispose of it, one should seek expert advice or professional asbestos removal services.

2. Contact your appliance manufacturer.

If you suspect that an appliance contains asbestos, it is advised that you contact its manufacturer right away. Provide them with the model of the appliance, as well as the manufacture year. If they confirm that the item contains asbestos, ask for expert advice on how to dispose of it.

To get the contact information of the appliance manufacturer, you may refer to the yellow pages or search online.

3. Call asbestos disposal agents.

Disposing of small quantities of household waste with asbestos may be easy, but if we’re handling large quantities already, then it is best that you get in touch with professional asbestos disposal agents. They know the rules and laws concerning asbestos disposal, and most likely, they will observe and follow them accordingly.

4. Dispose of asbestos on a calm day.

One of the key elements in the safe disposal of asbestos lies is making sure that the fibres do not fly into the air. To do so, experts advise to dispose of asbestos on a humid and a calm day. During such days, the risks of exposure are at a bare minimum.

5. Keep asbestos sheets wet.

Dismantling structures and properties can cause asbestos fibres to separate and fly. When doing so, keep asbestos sheets wet with soap water. After that, pack the sheets in heavy gauge plastic sheets. You can store the smaller pieces in two layers of plastic bags, while the rest can be picked up using a wet piece of cloth. 

What’s Next?

There you have it! These are just among the safety tips you may take into account to ensure that asbestos fibres do not pose dangers to the environment. And now that you know the safety drill, the next thing to be familiar with are the local regulations and rules. You don’t want to be served with the consequence like William Daniel, right?

When in doubt, we suggest that you seek help from professional asbestos removal companies. They already know what to do, so you just need to sit back, relax, and wait as they complete the removal process.