Most older properties in Australia still contain asbestos. If you are living in a house constructed before 2000, you should be mindful of this. It is better to proceed with asbestos testing and confirm your doubts. It will help you to do asbestos removal and get rid of the harmful materials that occupy your living space.
Asbestos testing Brisbane is not something that you can casually do. That’s because asbestos exposure risks your good health. This is why you need to take appropriate precautions during DIY asbestos testing. Let’s take a look at 7 such precautions that you should be taking as you try to get rid of asbestos from your property.
Identify the potential asbestos-containing materials
The very first thing you should do is to identify the potential asbestos-containing materials. Asbestos was commonly used in insulation, ceiling tiles, floor tiles, and roofing. Sometimes you may be able to find asbestos in the siding as well. You should familiarise yourself with the common materials that contain asbestos. Then you can walk around your property and see if you can find such materials. If you come across any such materials, you need to mark their location. Make sure that you don’t disturb or touch such materials. Just take note of where they are and move on.
Get the help of a licensed asbestos assessor
You are not 100% familiar with the asbestos testing procedure. It is a more complex process than you think. For example, it involves collecting samples carefully from asbestos-containing materials. During the sample collection, it is important to make sure that no fibres escape to the environment and contaminate. Then the samples are collected into airtight containers. You will need to test these samples at a state-of-the-art laboratory. This is where you can seek the assistance of a licensed asbestos assessor.
An asbestos assessor will ensure compliance with safety regulations during asbestos testing. Therefore, you can minimize the safety risks of asbestos exposure. They also have access to laboratories where they can do testing. You will be able to get a comprehensive report at the end of the testing procedure. It will clearly explain the nature of the asbestos issue that you have. Then they can offer professional asbestos removal Brisbane to help you get rid of asbestos as well.
Use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
If you are going ahead with DIY asbestos testing, you need to be mindful of your safety. This is where you should wear Personal Protective Equipment or PPE at all times. Asbestos fibres can easily become airborne. You will end up inhaling them. This is where you will have to deal with the health risks of asbestos.
PPE you should wear must include disposable coveralls and gloves. It should also provide a respirator with HEPA filters. You should be getting safety goggles as well. After you wear the PPE for asbestos testing, you should dispose of it correctly. This will help you to overcome environmental contamination.
Contain the testing area
During asbestos testing, you need to adhere to the legal regulations on asbestos handling. This is where you should contain the testing area. You can get to know more about the asbestos contamination signs and how contamination happens. Then you can contain the area so that you will not be causing any contamination.
You can seal off the area with plastic sheets and duct tape. This will help you in creating a controlled workspace. You will also need to minimize foot traffic and movement within the testing area. This can help you to reduce the potential fibre release. By taking such measures during residential asbestos testing, you can ensure a safer environment for everyone.
Avoid disturbing the ACMs you suspect
You need to take note of asbestos in building materials you have. Until you confirm your doubts, you should refrain from disturbing such materials. If you disturb any material that contains asbestos, you will end up releasing asbestos fibres into the environment. This can be dangerous to you and people who stay in the home with you. You may even create a health risk for your neighbours.
If you are not too sure if a material contains asbestos or not, you should contact certified asbestos inspectors. You shouldn’t worry too much about the asbestos testing cost. It is worth it when compared to the long-term impact of asbestos damage.
Wet the asbestos-containing materials you suspect
You will often come across asbestos in older homes. Upon realising such asbestos-containing materials, you will need to wet them. You may do this by spraying water on the materials. This will help you to keep the fibres together and avoid releasing them into the atmosphere. Asbestos fibres are more likely to become airborne when the material is friable and dry. That’s because you can easily crumble them. Having good asbestos hazard awareness is important in such situations as well. Then you can minimize the risks of self-asbestos testing by spraying water.
Professional asbestos sample collection
To proceed with identifying asbestos in your home, you should collect samples and test them. If you are trying to collect the samples on your own, you must adhere to the safety precautions. For example, you should be using specialised equipment for sample collection. To inspect the samples, you will need to seek the assistance of a NATA-accredited laboratory.
If you try to collect samples without proper equipment or training, you will be leading yourself to a dangerous situation. This can lead you to asbestos exposure as well. Make sure that you don’t take any such unwanted risks. Always get the help of an expert asbestos testing company and be safe.
Final words
Now you are aware of the steps to take during asbestos testing. Instead of going through all the trouble on your own, it is worth working with a professional company. Then you will not just get help with asbestos testing, but also with asbestos removal.
Author Bio
Henry is an experienced content writer with over 12 years of expertise in creating informative and engaging articles. With a passion for storytelling and research, Trevis has contributed to various industries. The articles written by Henry cover a variety of topics, ranging from technology and science to health and lifestyle.