Asbestos understandably worries people, but with the right approach the risks can be kept very low. The key is to understand when asbestos is dangerous and when it poses no immediate threat. In this article we look at asbestos safety in practical terms.
When is asbestos dangerous?
Asbestos is dangerous when asbestos fibres get into the air you breathe. This usually happens when the material is demolished, drilled, sanded or worked mechanically in some other way. An intact, undisturbed material that contains asbestos is not an acute hazard – the fibres are bound in the material and do not get into the air.
This is worth knowing if you live in an older house and wonder whether the filler on the wall or the adhesive under the floor is dangerous in everyday life. The answer is usually no, as long as the materials are not damaged or worked on.
How to stop dust from spreading
When you take a sample, a few simple steps reduce the dust. Remove the sample carefully without hacking, drilling or sanding – that way no fibres are released.
Switch off the ventilation in the room while you take the sample so that any dust does not spread to other rooms. Afterwards, wipe the surface with a damp cloth and put the cloth in a waste bag. Do not use an ordinary vacuum cleaner, as it can spread asbestos fibres into the air.
Personal protection
When taking a sample, wear at least an FFP3 respirator, as it filters out small particles effectively. Protective gloves prevent skin contact with the material. This basic equipment is entirely sufficient for a single sample, because the exposure is short and low.
Actual asbestos removal requires far more extensive protection, such as enclosure, negative pressure and special protective clothing. That work must be done by a specialist asbestos removal contractor. Taking a sample is, however, something quite different from demolition, and you can do it safely yourself with simple protective equipment.
The right order
With asbestos, the right order is this: first assess whether the material could contain asbestos (age, type of material). Then take a sample safely or commission an asbestos survey. Next, send the sample to the laboratory and wait for the result. Finally, act on the result – if asbestos is found, contact a specialist asbestos removal contractor.
This order ensures that nobody is exposed unnecessarily. Rushing into demolition without knowing what the materials contain is the single biggest mistake people make with asbestos.
Living with suspected asbestos
Many people are alarmed to learn that the building materials in their home might contain asbestos. It is important to remember, though, that intact asbestos material in a wall, under the floor or behind tiles poses no health risk while you simply live there. The risk only arises when the material is worked on or demolished.
If you suspect asbestos but are not planning a renovation, you can carry on living there as normal. If a renovation is coming up, find out beforehand what the materials contain. That way you can live with peace of mind and prepare the renovation properly.
Summary
Dealing with asbestos is safe if you follow the basic rules: do not damage or work on a material without knowing what it contains, wear protective equipment and leave the actual removal to professionals. That keeps the risks low and lets you tackle the renovation or the material testing safely.