By Lee Snodgrass. Pinterest Email Pocket Flipboard. Alamy What Is Asbestos? Is Asbestos Harmful to My Health? When Is Asbestos in a Home Dangerous? Check for Tears, Abrasions or Water Damage If you suspect a part of your home may contain asbestos, check periodically for tears, abrasions or water damage.
Call for an Inspection First Before calling an asbestos abatement contractor, however, you should contact an industrial hygiene firm to inspect the affected area. Contact an Asbestos Abatement Contractor Before work begins, get a written contract specifying the work plan, cleanup and the applicable federal, state, and local regulations which the contractor must follow such as permits, notification requirements and asbestos disposal procedures. Removal If you decide on removal, be sure to get written assurance from the contractor that he or she has followed all local asbestos removal and disposal laws.
Only contractors licensed by the state to perform asbestos abatement activities should undertake its repair and removal. As when hiring any contractor, ask for references and a list of similar projects that the contractor has recently completed. Check with your local air pollution control board, the local agency responsible for worker safety and the Better Business Bureau to see if the firm has had any safety violations.
Insist that the contractor use the proper equipment to do the job and that workers wear approved respirators, gloves and other protective clothing. Homeowners should also verify that the contractor has a general liability and workman's compensation policies that cover this type of work.
Get a professional opinion before starting the renovation and hire a professional to conduct the removal. Power sanding floor tiles, plaster walls or partitions made partly from asbestos can release dangerous quantities of inhalable fibres into the air. To find a professional who can test a sample of your material for asbestos, see Directory of Qualified Laboratories in BC www. These contractors use specialized and personal protective equipment and professional methods for removing asbestos dust and disposing of the material safely.
Skip to main content. Print Feedback Email a link Share. Asbestos: When Should I Worry? Last Updated:. July Download PDF:. What is asbestos? Which health problems are caused by asbestos? It could increase your risk of getting a variety of diseases such as: Asbestosis scarring of the lungs Lung cancer Mesothelioma a rare form of cancer of the lining of the body cavity Many factors influence how exposure to asbestos will affect your health. Download the free OSH Answers app. Search all fact sheets:.
Asbestos is a hazard to health when the fibers are disturbed and become airborne. This means that asbestos poses health risks only when fibres are present in the air and then people breathe them into the lungs.
Fibres can be released into the air when asbestos-containing products break down. This release can happen through deterioration or when the material is cut or disturbed.
Health Canada provides the following recommendations for homeowners who may have asbestos in their house:. If asbestos is found, hire a qualified asbestos removal specialist to get rid of it before beginning work.
Avoid disturbing asbestos materials yourself. This increases the risk to your health and your family's health. Check with your provincial and territorial workplace safety authorities to find out the qualifications or certifications needed in your area.
If you have vermiculite-based insulation in your attic, it may contain asbestos. To avoid exposure to asbestos fibres, do not disturb vermiculite-based attic insulation in any way or attempt to remove it yourself.
Make sure:. If you have vermiculite-based insulation in your attic, some may have fallen inside your walls over time. Therefore, you should seal cracks and holes with caulking around:.
From: Health risks of asbestos , Government of Canada. If asbestos is damaged, some of the small fibres from the material can escape into the air like dust and cause damage to your lungs if you breathe it in. It can sometimes lead to lung diseases and cancer that only show many years later so it is important that you recognise the problems early. Asbestos material is damaged through decorating and DIY work in your home such as drilling, sanding and sawing. There are lots of places where you can find asbestos material in your home as it was used to mix with things like cement and plaster.
It is important that you leave the asbestos alone and contact us as soon as you can, especially if you are planning any DIY in your home. That way we can check all of the areas you want to work on before it causes you any harm.
Using a vacuum to hoover it up may spread the fibres more. We can provide better advice on what happens next so get in touch. We are dedicated to managing asbestos-containing materials in our homes and keep a register for all properties and schemes. If you would like to find out more information about your home, please get in touch.
Contact us straight away if you suspect there is asbestos in your home, this material may have been damaged and may be causing you harm. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly.
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