What should I do if I find Asbestos?
If you believe you have found asbestos, it is highly important not to disturb the asbestos-containing material due to the dire health effects asbestos can have to those exposed to it.
It is also not a long-term solution to simply seal asbestos – some products on the market give you the products to essentially ‘cover up’ the asbestos, which does not eliminate the issue. Additionally, these products often cost roughly a third of a full removal service, so you are barely saving money in comparison to a permanent solution. The asbestos needs to be fully removed by a professional in order to be considered safe.
Asbestos removal services are as inexpensive as they have ever been because there are plenty of businesses offering their services now. However, it is imperative that you use a company like Asbestos Removals Australia, who has a strong presence in the field and experienced staff you can trust.
Our process for Removing Asbestos once you’ve identified it
Removing asbestos is a process that requires dedication to procedural elements such as safety and adherence to government standards. Asbestos Removals Australia is committed to delivering quality service while ensuring health and safety for the residents and staff involved in the operation.
Prior to removal works, it is important to test the asbestos containing material to confirm what type of asbestos is present. Both bonded and friable asbestos containing materials have different removal procedures that must be followed.
Professional staff are then scheduled to visit the property and spend the time required removing the asbestos containing material in floors, walls, ceilings and other areas needing treatment. All asbestos removal areas will be decontaminated using only up to date equipment. A clearance inspection is then completed by an independent party to ensure your property if left asbestos free.
All asbestos containing material will be transported by truck to a licensed waist disposal facility. An EPA tracking document will be provided on completion of the works.
What are the removal timeframes?
This depends completely on the severity of the asbestos, and will vary from case to case. The amount of asbestos, access to the asbestos, and required resources will all affect the removal timeframe. It also needs to be taken into account that airborne asbestos fibres can remain in the area after the removal process, and thus it is required that the air in the property is cleansed, which will add to the overall time.
With this in mind, it is difficult to guarantee a general timeline. Smaller projects can take as little as one day, whereas larger projects can take around one week. These specifics will be determined when your home or workplace is examined by a professional asbestos remover.
Am I safe in my house, or will I have to move out?
Again, this will depend on the severity of the case. If the asbestos is contained to one part of the property, it can be sealed off with industrial plastic sheeting which prevents contamination to other areas. If this is the case, you may not need to vacate your home at all. In most cases, however, the safest option is for the tenants to be separated from the property during the removal process.
How do I get a Quote?
Getting a free quote is easy – simply visit Get a Quote and one of our experts will be in touch!
Is there a difference depending on where I found it?
Contaminated land or soil
Asbestos-contaminated soil typically contains non-attached pieces of asbestos cement products and other material containing asbestos. Contamination is often detected during waste disposal, damage following a severe weather events, building and road construction and excavation, and with weathering over time.
The correct control and remediation measures for such soil can be determined by a risk assessment conducted by an independent licensed asbestos assessor or another suitably qualified operator. The services of a Class A licensed asbestos removalist will be required when any friable asbestos is to be removed. Where more than 10 square metres of non-friable asbestos is to be removed, a Class B license will suffice. 10 square metres or less of non-friable asbestos can be removed by any person however it is advised that all asbestos containing materials be removed by a licensed asbestos removalist.
External
There is increased risk of public exposure when asbestos is located externally on your property. For this reason, it is necessary to place signage around the site and block off any points of public access. There are variations in how to deal with asbestos removal in external locations, the details of which are outlined in the articles below:
Internal
Each internal material requires a unique removal procedure, the details of which are outlined in the articles below:
Natural Disasters
Home owners, businesses and volunteers who are involved with a clean-up and recovery of buildings damaged by floods, storms and other natural disasters should take precautions to ensure the safety of themselves and those around them.
Fire
During a fire, asbestos containing building materials will typically crack or spall. Spalling occurs when flakes of the material ‘pop’ off due to the build-up of pressure inside the material. This happens when water turns to steam. Asbestos fibres released during a fire are mainly released through spalling. Fires involving asbestos containing materials can produce a range of asbestos debris, including unburnt and partly burnt pieces. Some asbestos containing materials can be severely damaged during the fire.
Minor disturbances, such as walking on the site or wind blowing over the site, are unlikely to generate significant quantities of airborne asbestos. More significant disturbances, such as during clean-up or demolition of the fire-damaged building must be done safely to ensure the level of asbestos fibres in the air is kept very low.
To minimise disturbance of the debris, persons should be warned and prevented from walking on or through the fire debris. This can be achieved by erecting warning signs cautioning people from entering the boundaries of the property containing the fire damaged building. An existing fence around the boundary of the property may be used to affix the required signage and aid in preventing persons from entering the debris area. If signage is not sufficient to keep people out of the debris zone consideration should be given to erecting a fence.
Cleaning up after floods and storms
Employers and workers involved in the flood and storm recovery efforts must still remember their obligations under Queensland’s health and safety laws.
These laws are in place to protect Queenslanders. By being vigilant and maintaining safety during this difficult time, you can help reduce the risk of death, injury and illness to yourself, your workers and others involved in the clean-up and repair effort.