4 Tips to Keep Your Family Safe from Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos is well-known as a dangerous material around the world. Although the UK banned this material more than 20 years ago, there are still many homes and buildings that contain asbestos. And if you’re moving to a new house or thinking about carrying out some renovations, worrying about asbestos is indeed an issue. Any home built before the ban is likely to contain asbestos. So, how do you ensure the safety of your family and prevent accidental exposure?
Learn about the safety guidelines and what you need to do if you suspect asbestos in your home
The government published extensive information so that the public knows what to do. You can find the information online and use it as a guide. If you suspect specific areas in your home contain asbestos, the first thing you need to do is contact an expert. The good thing is, there are plenty of local survey and removal companies around the country. A survey is necessary to detect asbestos beyond what’s visually identifiable. Conducting a test is also necessary to identify the type of asbestos as well as the extent of risk. They will also recommend whether to remove the asbestos or add a protective layer to prevent disturbance.
Relying on the recommendations of an expert is essential because the effects of asbestos exposure don’t occur right away. What you want is to prevent the possibility of long-term contamination.
Learn about the common locations of asbestos in a residential building
There are plenty of misconceptions surrounding the presence of asbestos in homes. What every homeowner needs to know is that asbestos may have been used in different areas. Although commonly associated with insulation, there are other applications of asbestos. For example, it was common decades ago to mix asbestos fibre in cement. So, external locations such as garages can contain it.
Educate family members about the danger of asbestos
If you're positive that there is asbestos in some areas around the house, it's vital to educate family members especially kids. Disturbing or damaging the location will release asbestos fibres into the air. If you've already had a survey conducted, then you know the locations to avoid. Usually, the removal company will recommend leaving low-access areas as they are. But, it's still best to exercise precaution. Kids may want to explore the house. If you can, close off these areas and make them inaccessible to children.
Don’t attempt DIY asbestos removal
In the course of doing simple repairs, it’s possible to come across asbestos and think that the best course of action is immediate removal. This is probably the worst thing you can do because removal should only be done by professionals. Breaking and disturbing asbestos will release fibres into the atmosphere. Without proper safety procedures, you may end up inhaling the fibres and endangering your family in the process. Instead of attempting to remove the asbestos, contact a removal company right away and cordon off the area for added safety.
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