User:Danmi17/Asbestos abatement

Article body
Many residential and commercial buildings contain asbestos, used in spray-applied flame retardant, thermal system insulation, and in a variety of other materials.

Rationale
Asbestos is a known carcinogen. It is the primary risk factor for mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the lungs. It may cause other lung cancers and respiratory diseases such as asbestosis.

Procedures
A licensed inspector will typically conduct a survey of the building to identify all asbestos containing materials before any removal begins. Suspicious materials are typically sent to a laboratory to confirm presence of asbestos fibers. Contractors who are licensed to remove asbestos will be in charge of abatement and disposal of the material.

In the United States, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) as well as the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) have designated a permissible exposure limit and Threshold Limit Value, respectively, of 0.1 fiber per cubic centimeter (f/cc) on the basis of pneumoconiosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancer.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) must be worn at all times during removal of asbestos. This includes respirators, coveralls, gloves, eye protection, foot covers, and head covers (hard hats).

Only a special vacuum cleaner that is designed for asbestos containment (class H) can be safely used when cleaning up during and after asbestos removal. Ordinary vacuum cleaners cannot be used, even those fitted with a HEPA filter. An ordinary vacuum cleaner will expel the asbestos fibres into the room air.

Methods of removal depend on the material. For example, vinyl floor tile containing asbestos may be removed with a hammer and chisel, which does not render the material friable. Material such as insulation may be removed by machinery, which is likely to release fibers into the air. The time it takes to remove all asbestos-containing material depends on the amount of material found. Material may be removed within a day in a small home or office, or over the span of weeks or months in a large building or complex of buildings.

If the building is closed to normal users, it may be necessary to seal it off from outside atmosphere so that no accessible air is contaminated. Examples of buildings that required asbestos removal include the Jussieu Campus and the Tour Montparnasse.

An asbestos-containing building that is to be torn down may have to be sealed, and to have its asbestos safely removed before ordinary demolition can be performed. The asbestos removal may take longer and cost more than the actual demolition. For example, the former seat of parliament of East Germany, the Palast der Republik, was stripped of most of its asbestos between 1998 and 2001, before it was finally demolished starting in 2006. The Utah State Prison underwent a full asbestos removal before its demolition.

Asbestos scrap and contaminated clothing must be placed in bags with labels that specify they contain asbestos. Asbestos-containing material can only be disposed at licensed asbestos waste disposal sites, as it is classified as hazardous waste.

Occupational Risks
Asbestos removal workers are subject to several occupational risks, most notably, accidental inhalation of airborne asbestos fibers. As the industry has made a general shift from production of asbestos to its removal, workers who remove asbestos are more prone to exposure. Physical hazards such as cuts are also present in the workplace, as heavy machinery is occasionally used for removal, and falls are a risk as ceiling tiles and materials in the ceiling can contain asbestos.