Asbestos Removal Training:
Learning the Basics

Are you interested in obtaining some asbestos removal training before undertaking a potentially dangerous job? Asbestos removal can be a very difficult and dirty job, but does not always require hiring a professional abatement company. However, asbestos removal training is always important if you decide to do asbestos removal on your own. With non-regulated asbestos-containing materials homeowners can legally do the removal themselves, whether they are performing asbestos siding removal, asbestos ceiling tile removal, or other types of asbestos removal. If you choose to do it yourself some asbestos removal training will be needed. The most difficult part of the removal process is making sure that no fibers become airborne. The main method for keeping the potentially toxic particles out of the air is with water. Spraying water on contaminated materials causes the water to stick to the fibers so they can settle harmlessly on the ground. Asbestos removal training will teach you everything you need to know to ensure your safety.

Normally, it is not recommended to remove asbestos unless it is exposed and friable. If the contaminated material is in good condition it can often be encapsulated or sealed to prevent the fibers from dispersing into the air. However, this can often be just as expensive as removal so it usually pays to have it completely removed. If it is in poor condition (friable) and in an area where any disturbance to the material will cause fibers to become airborne and possibly inhaled by individuals, it is important to have it removed. But it is just as important to get some asbestos removal training before doing the job without professional help.

Asbestos Removal Training – Verify the Existence of Asbestos

During asbestos removal training you will learn that the first step in the process is to verify that asbestos actually exists. The safest way to do this is to hire a licensed asbestos inspector. You can usually get a list of licensed inspectors from the agency in your state that regulates asbestos. The inspector will take samples, have them analyzed under a microscope, and let you know if any toxic materials exist. The inspector will also be able to tell you if any asbestos is in the air before the work is done, during the work, and then again after the job is completed.

Any work area must be completely shut off from the remainder of the home. You can learn the exact method for doing this through asbestos removal training. Wetting down the asbestos-containing materials will keep most fibers out of the air, but if any particles do escape it is important that they remain contained in the work area. This will require you to shut off all ventilation systems, close all vents and seal them, and line all windows and doors with sheets of plastic using duct tape on every edge of the plastic. Since asbestos particles can stick to protective work clothes it is important that workers do not enter other parts of the home until they have removed all clothing and placed it in the storage bins being used to contain the toxic materials. Protective garments should be used only once and then discarded. These are just a few of the important things you’ll learn in asbestos removal training.

Asbestos Removal Training – How to Increase Safety

When removing products containing asbestos they should be removed in larger pieces. The smaller the pieces the greater chance of fibers becoming airborne. In many cases the only way to remove the contaminated products is by scraping or stripping. For example, if you are removing a “popcorn” ceiling you should scrape it so that it falls directly into a bag that has been specially made to hold asbestos. Once the bag is full it should be sealed and then handed to another worker. The second worker will seal the bag again and place it into the storage bin where it will later be taken to a designated waste disposal area. Asbestos removal training is important if you expect to dispose of the waste legally and safely.

While scraping, stripping, or removing contaminated materials it is important to keep them wet. The material should be saturated as much as possible so it may be necessary to spray it several times. Some things such as sprayed-on fireproofing material will be easily saturated while other materials such as ceiling tiles and floor tiles will not be easy to wet completely. Adding dish washing detergent to the water will increase its ability to saturate various materials. Using as fine a mist as possible when wetting down materials is usually the best approach. All products should be kept wet from the time they are removed until being sealed and placed into a storage bin. Without proper asbestos removal training you may not be aware of several of these important safety issues.

In some cases it will not be possible to saturate contaminated products with water. If you have received some asbestos removal training you will know what to do in these situations. If the temperature is below freezing or there are electrical wires or outlets in the work area, it may not be safe or possible to use water. It is also best if there are at least two workers. One worker can continually wet the materials while the other can do the removing.

Regulations vary from state to state and also on some county and municipal levels as well, which makes asbestos removal training important. Make sure you receive asbestos removal training before you get started because you, the property owner, are liable for any asbestos released into the air or for anyone exposed on your property, on the drive to the waste disposal area, or at the disposal area itself. If you hire a licensed contractor to do the work you will not have this liability.

Asbestos removal is a very difficult job that requires asbestos removal training, buying or renting protective clothing, breathing respirators for all workers, hoses, pry bars, knives, and additional specialized equipment. By the time you pay for the equipment and clothing you may find yourself spending as much or more than it would cost to hire professionals. Plus, you will be liable for anything that goes wrong. It is possible to do the job yourself, but in most cases it is better to let an experienced abatement company do the job for you. If you take some asbestos removal training courses or read some asbestos removal training instructions you will know whether or not this is the type of job you can handle.