By definition, Asbestos is a naturally-occurring fibrous silicate mineral. It’s danger lies in the fact that it becomes a health risk when asbestos fibers are released into the air and breathed in. For this reason, asbestos should not be cut, sanded, drilled, broken or smashed. When working around asbestos, safe practices should be observed and a professional asbestos removal service contacted if any asbestos removal is needed.
Asbestos was once considered as a wonder product for its use in building materials and was one of the most versatile products of its time. It was versatile for its ability to withstand heat, erosion, decay and it’s water resistant properties. Most houses prior to 1960’s were either build or contain some type of asbestos. It started to be phrased out in the 1980’s and was banned nationally in 2003.
The Do’s and Don’ts in Dealing With Asbestos
DO’S
Do where a mask and protective clothing if you need to move or remove asbestos
Do wet down the asbestos before moving it, as when it’s wet, it cannot release it’s dangerous fibers
Do wrap the asbestos in thick black plastic two layers thick
Do take the asbestos to an approved asbestos waste depot. Your local council will advise you of where to take it. On the Northern Beaches, Kimbriki Tip at Terrey Hills accepts asbestos for a fee but only if its properly wrapped.
Do call in an licensed asbestos expert especially if the asbestos you want to remove is over 10 sqm (you are required to do by law) or if you are not sure about handing or moving it yourself.
Do use extreme caution if you need to cut or drill the asbestos. Cutting or drilling is not recommended, as it will cause dust, which can become airborne. If for any reason you do need to cut or drill, thoroughly wet down the asbestos and use hand powered tools including a hand-drill to drill or a guillotine to cut. Spraying water around the area while cutting or drilling will further help in ensuring there is no dust generated.
DON’Ts
Don’t clean up asbestos fibers with a vacuum cleaner as this will cause harmful airborne dust.
Don’t use power tools on the asbestos such as power drills, sanding disks, or abrasive cutting tools as this will cause harmful airborne dust.
Don’t scrape two asbestos sheets together as this can cause harmful dust.
Don’t try to sand asbestos lined walls or boards with a dry sanding paper or a wire brush as this can also cause harmful dust.
Advice: the content of this website has been compiled for general information purposes only and does not include any legal, financial or other professional or non-professional advice and may not take into account your personal circumstances. You should seek independent advice from a qualified advisor before acting on the content on this website.
In the above diagram, airborne asbestos fibers that are inhaled end up in the lungs where they damage the mesothelial cells which can then become cancerous.