When it comes to creating a healthy home, it must be built on solid foundations, have a strong structure, and be structurally sound.
For some properties, that might not be quite so, especially when it comes to the presence of asbestos. If your home was built before 2000, there is a chance that asbestos may be present in your home, currently hidden from sight.
Creating a healthy home environment will often begin with addressing hidden hazards like asbestos, which can be the cause of severe respiratory conditions and cancers.
In this guide, we’ll look at how to create a healthy home environment and how that begins by addressing hidden hazards like asbestos.
The Essential Steps for Asbestos Management
When it comes to dealing with asbestos, whether it’s suspected or found, it’s important to follow the careful steps required to remove it safely. By doing so, you minimize the risk of falling ill or causing harm to others in your household.
1. Professional Identification
If your home was built before 2000, there’s a high likelihood of asbestos being present. That’s why you mustn’t be dealing with it alone. Hiring a certified inspector is the best choice.
You should ideally conduct an Asbestos Survey rather than guessing or assuming a certain way. You may already be suspect of asbestos, and if that’s the case, it’s better to get a professional opinion now than to sit on it any longer than necessary.
2. Leave Undamaged Materials Alone
Asbestos is generally safe if it remains intact, but that doesn’t always happen. If it’s undisturbed, then you should be able to leave it alone without any harm. You are also able to seal it with an alkali-resistant paint or primer to prevent fiber release.
You’d only need to worry about removing it if you’re doing any renovation work or you stumble upon it accidentally.
3. Avoid Any High-Risk DIY Actions
Never sand, saw, drill, or use wallpaper scrapers on any suspected asbestos products. These actions will release toxic dust into your home’s air, and once it’s in the air, your home becomes a real danger to you and your loved ones.
Any high-risk DIY actions can be a foolish thing to do, especially if you’re aware of their presence.
4. Hire Certified Professionals for Removal
For high-risk materials or major renovations, it’s always best to use a qualified professional who follows the strict protocols when it comes to decontamination and air monitoring for asbestos removal.
5. Safe Handling
If you’re legally permitted and trained to handle materials like asbestos cement, it’s important to do the following:
- Dampen the material with a spray to prevent dust
- Wear disposable P3 respirators and hooded overalls
- Double-bag waste and dispose of it as hazardous waste at a designated facility.
Your home must be a safe place for you and your family, so if you suspect asbestos is in your home, it’s best to deal with it as promptly as possible.
Feature image by Bermix Studio on Unsplash
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