Floods can cause devastating and long-lasting damage to homes and commercial buildings. Extensive restoration work may be necessary once the water has receded. But when it comes to restoring older structures, there is a hidden danger you must know about – asbestos.
Until a few decades back asbestos was widely used in the construction industry, primarily for roofing purposes. However, it was later discovered that when asbestos is subject to damage, it releases asbestos fibers that pose serious health risks to individuals. Floods can cause structural damage to asbestos. Trying to remove or repair asbestos fixtures on your own during flood restoration can be fatal. The alternative? Call in the experts.
Experts in safe handling of asbestos
Wondering what makes asbestos fibers so dangerous? When asbestos is damaged or disturbed, it releases microscopic fibers into the air. Prolonged exposure or inhalation of these fibers may lead to respiratory illnesses such as lung cancer. For this reason, it is integral to hand over asbestos-related tasks to flood restoration professionals near me.
Established asbestos contractors are well-trained professionals with ample experience in managing the different stages of asbestos repair or removal. These stages involve identification of structures, assessment of risk factors, safe removal and repair of materials containing asbestos.
With their extensive training and experience, these professionals ensure that all their activities comply with regulatory guidelines. While handling flood restoration projects, hiring these experts aids in eliminating the risks associated with exposure to asbestos fibers.
Stages in handling asbestos-containing materials
Now let us take a closer look at how asbestos restoration experts accomplish their tasks. The different stages include:
• Initial assessment: If you are looking for reliable flood restoration experts near me, it is best to hire professionals qualified to handle asbestos. These experts commence with meticulous assessment of the flood-affected structure to identify materials that may contain asbestos. They will inspect every part of the building, including the pipes, flooring, roofing and insulation and evaluate the presence of asbestos in addition to the extent of damage sustained.
• Plans to manage asbestos: The next step involves creating practical plans to safely remove or repair asbestos-containing materials based on the assessment reports. This plan will feature detailed procedures regarding how the project will be handled. To ensure the well-being of workers, residents and the environment, these professionals implement effective containment measures, safe disposal methods and mandate the use of personal protection equipment (PPE).
• Efficient execution of the plans: Now asbestos contractors will progress to proven strategies to safely repair or remove any material containing asbestos. They are equipped with advanced tools and technologies such as isolation barriers and negative air pressure systems to contain the release of asbestos fibers. Even if fibers are released, these strategies will ensure that the fibers are contained within the work area.
• Proper disposal: This is perhaps the most important step in this entire process. In addition to safely removing asbestos-containing materials from flood-affected structures, it is also crucial to ensure the safe disposal in order to prevent those materials from posing further health risks. There are local and federal regulations in place regarding the transport and disposal of asbestos. Furthermore, there are approved facilities that are designed to handle asbestos waste. By responsibly handling and disposing asbestos, these experts play a vital role in preventing environmental contamination due to asbestos fibers.
Final word
Asbestos roofing can throw up considerable health risks is it is not carefully handled during flood restoration. With adequate training and years of experience in safely handling asbestos fixtures, asbestos contractors are experts in safely removing or restoring asbestos-containing materials. These professionals will thoroughly assess the structure, carefully plan how to go about restoration and efficiently execute their plans without compromising on the safety of workers, residents, neighbors and the environment in general.