Removing Asbestos From The Air

How to remove asbestos tape safely from ductwork?

I am having a new furnace installed soon and when the consultant checked out my duct work he noticed asbestos tape on some of the ducts. He said before the installers come I should have Abatement (?) come and do it professionally, but is this something I can do safely on my own, and if so how do I go about doing it without releasing fibers into the air? Or is this strictly a professional problem I should consult someone on?

It’s not safe to do on your own that’s why a professional is needed to get it off there. They are trained, are wearing protective suits, and have the equipment to remove it and take it away from the home since it is considered a bio hazard substance. In some states there are specific statutes that prevent anyone other than a professional to remove it from the home.

Asbestos has been widely used in many building products because of its tensile strength and chemical and thermal resistance.

However, asbestos is extremely hazardous to workers handling it and to others in the area when it gets into the air and is inhaled. Asbestos is a carcinogen that causes lung cancer and mesothelioma.

Because of this hazard, laws have been enacted to prevent asbestos exposures. They include these requirements:

Fines
State law specifies a minimum $250 per day fine for failure to obtain an asbestos report. This fine can be applied to both the contractor and building owner. Additional fines may be applied if workers are exposed to airborne asbestos.

* Building owners must have their buildings inspected for asbestos before construction, renovation and demolition activities.

* Construction contractors – Disturbing asbestos materials during construction is a serious hazard. Before bidding or starting any construction work, they must obtain a written asbestos report from the building owner or owner’s agent.

* Asbestos abatement (removal) contractors — anyone handling or removing asbestos in Washington
o Must be certified.
o Must also notify L&I of any asbestos abatement projects they are going to work on 10 days prior to starting. Notify L&I of your asbestos projects.

Working safely with asbestos – for the home renovator

This entry was posted on Sunday, February 27th, 2011 at 6:57 pm and is filed under Mesothelioma Lawyers in San Diego, Mesothelioma Attorneys San Diego. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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