Removal of asbestos procedures first begins with
permits that you must obtain from your state regulators. These documents are a
guide on how to proceed with the abatement process and proper disposal after
removal of the material has been complete. The application that follows with
this permit is proof that you are taking full responsibility for safely
removing the asbestos from your home without contaminating those inside the
house or anyone else that could potentially come in contact with the loose
material until it is properly disposed of. There are also fees that vary from
state to state regarding the permit and application process. The list does not
include buildings owned by departments and agencies outside of Public Works,
such as the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, which has
identified the toxic substance in 21 Canadian-owned buildings, including
official residences of diplomats in the Vatican, Beijing, Tokyo, Washington and
Los Angeles. Numerous federal departments and agencies also operate buildings
containing asbestos within Canada. According to the Health & Safety
Executive asbestos is the greatest single cause of work related deaths in the
UK. It is likely that up to 1.5 million commercial, industrial and public
buildings in the UK contain asbestos materials. Asbestos was used in hundreds
of different products and buildings from the 1950s to the mid 1980s. Asbestos
cement was used up until 1999 in a variety of different premises and materials.
There are several preparatory steps necessary before the abatement process
begins. Those who are participating in the project should make sure all tools
are purchased and ready for the process (such as hoses, water sprayer, dish
washing detergent, pry bar and a knife). There is also specific equipment that
can be purchased for asbestos removal. You can find these resources by checking
in your local phone book for companies who specialize in making protective gear
and apparel. When beginning to remove the asbestos from the designated area, it
is imperative to keep the material wet at all times. This allows the fibers to
settle and not become airborne.
The goal for the abatement process is to remove the asbestos
without the particles becoming airborne. The material should be carefully
scraped off the surface into bags that are specially designed for asbestos
removal, sealed and handed over to the other worker to be sealed again. The
process for removing asbestos differs depending on what kind of asbestos you
are removing and what portion of the home it is in. For example, removing
siding may have different tasks for removal than if you are abating a room that
had flooring filled with the toxic material. Asbestos remediation is being
undertaken in tandem with floor by floor base building work, and is being
conducted with safety precautions that exceed provincial standards," wrote
John an assistant deputy minister from the department's Real Property
Branch, in a Nov. 17, 2010 memo. All aspects of asbestos containing materials
in non-domestic buildings and common areas of residential rented properties are
regulated by The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006, which came into force on
13th November 2006. These regulations stipulate the duty holder is anyone
responsible for maintaining and repairing all or part of a property, or who has
control of the building e.g. occupier or owner. The duty to manage covers all
non-domestic premises. Such premises include all industrial, commercial or
public buildings such as factories, warehouses, offices, shops, hospitals and
schools.