Asbestos can be dangerous, so finding out they are in your home can be alarming. Because of the health hazards presented by asbestos, you should take the proper steps in handling and removing them if necessary in order to minimize possible dangers. If you find asbestos in your home, don’t immediately panic. The following tips can help you understand and handle an asbestos situation.
1. Don’t Mess With it
Unless materials containing asbestos have been disturbed or damaged, they are usually not harmful, so there is no need to panic. The best thing you can do in this case is leave any material containing asbestos alone. Disturbing them can cause exposure of the asbestos, in which case they can then be hazardous to your health and removal would be required.
2. Inspect the Material for Damage
Though you should try your best not to mess with asbestos-containing material, it is still wise to regularly inspect the material. Even the smallest damage can cause asbestos exposure without any explicit warning signs, which can be a major hazard to the health of everyone in the home. To avoid this, inspect the asbestos-containing materials for damages on a regular basis.
3. Do Not Touch the Material
While conducting these asbestos inspections, it is very important that you don’t touch any of the materials. Direct contacts can be a major hazard. In addition, touching the material can increase the risk of damage to the materials which can lead to exposure into the home.
4. Be Cautious with Material During Renovations
Because the slight disturbance or damage of an asbestos-containing material can cause harmful exposure, you should be extremely careful when doing any renovations to the home. Even the slightest renovation, such as drilling a nail into the wall, can cause the release of asbestos into the air. For this reason, you should take every precaution when doing any home renovations. If you have hired someone to do renovations, it’s important to notify them of the material and your concern.
5. Contact a Professional
If asbestos-containing materials have already been damaged, then you should contact a professional immediately. Even if the materials have not been damaged, it may be smart ensure future safety and contact home demolition services Los Angeles recommends. A professional asbestos abatement service can safely and securely remove the materials from your home.
Thanks to our friends and contributors from Nielsen Environmental for their insight into asbestos removal.
