Perhaps you’ve heard that the government allows homeowners to take care of asbestos removal in cases involving under 10 square metres of material. In your desire to save money, would you be willing to go through the immensely convoluted undertaking and expose yourself, your loved ones, and your neighbours to this dangerous substance?

While it’s true that some DIY removal operations are allowed, this doesn’t mean that homeowners have free reign to go about the task in any manner they choose. They need to adhere to the correct procedure and use protective gear and equipment.

There truly are so many concerns and considerations in the endeavour. These include the following general points:

• Finding out the hazards and possible consequences.
• Learning the proper procedure and identifying restrictions.
• Putting together a control plan for the safe removal of asbestos.
• Obtaining personal protective gear, proper removal equipment, and other necessary materials.
• Learning proper waste containment and disposal.
• Learning decontamination techniques.

Each one is a thoroughly technical task involving intricate details that you have to be cognizant of in order to carry out the removal project without compromising anyone’s health and the immediate environment.

If you want a clearer picture of how to safely remove asbestos, imagine yourself going through the following tasks:

• Putting your things in a place that is safe from possible contamination.
• Lining surfaces with plastic sheeting.
• Sealing all exit points, including vents.
• Purchasing personal protective equipment for immediate disposal after use.
• Purchasing or renting proper removal equipment.

So far, you’ve only managed to prepare for the actual task. Think about removing entire sheets of cement, careful not to disturb the material to prevent asbestos fibres from being released. You’ll need help. Your helpers will need skills and training. What if it turns out that you’ll need to deal with more than 10 square metres? What if some of the material turns out to be friable? You’ll need a licence to deal with friable asbestos.

At the end of the day, all the hassles and very real health risks are not worth the money you think you’ll save. It’s really better to simply engage the services of a licensed professional removalist who already has the training, the gear, the equipment, and the experience to handle everything for you. In hiring a pro, you can be confident that the job will be executed correctly with the lowest possible risk of exposure.

Jim’s Hazardous Material Removal are trained experts in the safe removal and disposal of asbestos containing materials.

For a free quote or to speak to a professional about your job call 131 546. No job too big or small.