Commercial and industrial buildings built during the first half of the 20th Century may contain asbestos in the roof, walls and floors. The material is highly carcinogenic and can cause lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis. There are two classes of asbestos. Friable asbestos is prone to abrasion and can be broken by hand pressure. This type of asbestos can release fibres into the atmosphere. Non-friable asbestos cannot be broken by human hands. It is less likely to release fibres unless you use a power tool to cut the asbestos.
In Australia, property owners are advised to remove friable asbestos from their property. Most people will also opt to remove non-friable asbestos although it is not considered dangerous. Below is a guide on how to handle and dispose off commercial asbestos.
Handling Asbestos
Hire an asbestos abatement company to remove the asbestos. The company will conduct a property inspection to determine the type and location of asbestos on the property. The company should observe the following safety measures when handling asbestos:
Asbestos Disposal
After removal, the abatement company should create a decontamination unit for the workers to remove contaminated clothing and tools. Contaminated clothes should be disposed of with the asbestos waste. Alternatively, they could be cleaned at an appropriate dry cleaner. Clean the room using an asbestos vacuum cleaner. Besides, conduct an air test to ensure the property does not have any trace of asbestos.
Asbestos transport can be a delicate affair. As such, most abatement companies will take appropriate measures to ensure members of the public do not come into contact with the dangerous materials. More often than not, the truck carrying the asbestos will be approved to transport hazardous goods.
Asbestos should be transported to a landfill accredited to handle the asbestos waste. At the landfill, the asbestos is buried into the ground. The landfill's management develops a site map indicating the various asbestos burial spots. It prevents them from digging up previous burial spots. If the landfill does not have adequate space to bury the asbestos, the abatement company will move the asbestos to a storage facility. The company will hire burial space at a landfill once they accumulate a lot of asbestos.
Learn more about the process by contacting asbestos disposal companies.
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