You must use several precautions to handle asbestos safely.
Asbestos is a group of minerals used in building materials to resist heat and corrosion. Asbestos is dangerous because inhaling this material can result in diseases of the lungs and other organs that might not become apparent until years after the exposure. Asbestos may be present if you are renovating or demolishing buildings, homes or even ships built with asbestos-bearing materials. Homes built before 1980 have a high chance of containing asbestos. In many states, homeowners are allowed to remove asbestos from their home's interior.
Instructions
1. Move clothes, furniture or other items from the area where you will be working to remove asbestos. If there are items you cannot move, drape them with polyethylene sheeting and attach the plastic sheets with duct tape, as polyethylene is resistant to many chemicals. Cover the floor and walls in your asbestos-removal area with polyethylene sheeting if you are removing asbestos from the ceiling, or cover the ceiling if you are removing asbestos from a wall.
2. Place polyethylene sheets on each side of your room's door frame and a sheet over the door frame with a slit down the middle to create a containment area for the asbestos. Then, hang a second polyethylene sheet behind this sheet to cover the slit, and minimize the amount of asbestos leaving the work area when equipment or people are going in or out. Post signs to let visitors know you are removing asbestos.
3. Put on a disposable coverall, rubber gloves, rubber boots, goggles and a disposable respirator mask approved for asbestos removal. Place your asbestos disposal bags, clean wet rags, bucket and a water sprayer outside the polyethylene-lined work area, and have a helper ready to hand you any of these needed materials from outside the room.
When you remove any asbestos-containing material, saturate this material with water that contains dish detergent to decrease the amount of dust produced during the project. Use dish detergent mixed at 1 cup per 5 gallons of water in a bucket to wet large pieces of material, and use a sprayer for spray-on ceiling materials. Try to avoid breaking apart any of the material that contains the asbestos.
4. After removing the asbestos-containing materials, place all of the materials into disposal bags. Double-bag all of this debris, and seal these bags with duct tape. After you finish removing and bagging all of these materials, wipe down all surfaces in the work a damp rag. Do not vacuum or sweep the area to avoid scattering asbestos dust around.
5. Fold and roll the polyethylene sheeting on the floor and then double-bag and seal these sheets. Finally, wipe down all equipment and tools with damp rags and throw these rags away. Double-bag your gloves, boots and coveralls in the asbestos bags. Finally, remove and bag your disposable protective mask. Wash your hands.
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