MAIN TITLE Asbestos
Article Title Can I remove Asbestos from my own house
If you discover asbestos in your home it is not necessary to panic and leave the residence immediately or at all for that matter. Asbestos is perfectly safe if it is undisturbed - only when it is disturbed and fibres are released into the atmosphere does it become a health risk.
If you find asbestos in your own home you have two options you can hire a company to remove the asbestos or you can remove it yourself. Hiring a company to do the work is costly but reduces any significant health risks to your family. The company will first take samples of the asbestos to determine which type it is as there are many different types of asbestos. Once the type of asbestos has been identified the company will then decide what is the best way to deal with it. Removal seems the obvious solution but there are certain circumstances in which encapsulation is the answer. Encapsulation involves surrounding the asbestos with a resin material which prevents the fibres of the asbestos from being released into the atmosphere. If the company decides to remove the asbestos completely then they will completely seal off the area containing the asbestos and remove it in a controlled manner - notifying the relevant authorities on your behalf. The disposal of asbestos in the UK is strictly controlled and there are numerous restrictions on where it can be disposed of you could find yourself removing asbestos in Lincoln and disposing of it in Wales.
Legislation in the UK requires that any one who removes asbestos has to be trained in its removal, the reason for this is that if you are not trained in its removal you are exposing yourself to numerous potential effects namely :-
• Mesothelioma
• Pleural Plague
• Asbestosis
• Lung Cancer
The Health and Safety Executive require that people be trained to reduce their exposure to asbestos and therefore reduce their exposure to the effects listed above.
To become trained as an asbestos remover can cost you upwards of £350.00.
If you decide to go down the route of removing the asbestos yourself then you must ensure you comply with legislation and therefore the law. You must :-
• Ensure all individuals involved in the removal are trained in asbestos removal.
• Inform the HSE that you are removing asbestos.
• Ensure the asbestos is disposed of at a licensed tip.
You will need a decontamination unit to ensure the people involved in the asbestos removal are suitably clean when they leave the site and are not taking asbestos fibres with them
With the above in mind you may now decide that the cost of removing the asbestos is proving prohibitive - because you have to purchase specialist equipment and the cost of training. Specialist contractors carry this equipment as standard and although an initial quote may seem excessive you will in most cases find that it is often the cheapest route.
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