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3 Valuable Tips to Follow when Handling and Disposing Crocidolite Asbestos

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Crocidolite asbestos is also known as blue asbestos. It occurs in natural bundles that are straight, sharp and long. This type of asbestos is more dangerous than the others because it is highly brittle, and when it breaks, it releases needle-like fibres that can easily be inhaled, causing health complications such as asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung cancer. All the six minerals that are known as asbestos were banned from use in construction because the connection between inhaling the loose fibres and the three diseases mentioned was established. Here are the three tips you can follow to handle and dispose of asbestos without risking your health.

The removal process

It is highly recommended to let professionals handle local asbestos removal. However, if you are going to handle the removal by yourself, you have to ensure you wear the recommended protective gear. Before you start working on a surface, hose it down with a mixture that will be one part polyvinyl acetate and ten parts water. Ensure all the asbestos stays wet until it is packaged to be transported.

Tools to use

While there is a possibility that some of the bits where asbestos has been used might be hard to remove using manual tools, it is generally recommended that you avoid powered tools. Hand-held tools like guillotines and hand saws will produce fewer volumes of dust when in use and they will also break down asbestos into larger particles, as opposed to small and breathable fibres, which are likely to be produced by power tools. It is also great to minimise the amount of cutting you will do on asbestos products that are made from cement.

Cleaning up after removal

Clean up should start by getting rid of all the clothes and other protective gear that you wore during the asbestos removal process. Do not use high-pressure water jets to hose down anything that remains after asbestos removal. Do not sand or dry-brush them beforehand if you are thinking about painting surfaces to keep the asbestos intact. Always shower and wash your hair after handling asbestos, even when gloves are used in the process.

If the asbestos affects more than just your building, it is your responsibility to alert the neighbours about the asbestos removal process. Have them on board when creating your clean-up strategy. Finally, all asbestos, cleaning and protective material should stay wet until packed to reduce the possibility of particles becoming air-borne and people inhaling them. 


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