The use of asbestos was banned in the European Union in 2005. However, as this product had been widely used since the first decade of the twentieth century, it can still be found in the older buildings and needs to be removed according to the procedures specified in current standards.
Procedures for asbestos abatement
Asbestos is a very dangerous substance. If inhaled, its microscopic fibres penetrate into the lungs and can cause serious pathologies such as mesothelioma, asbestosis, pleural plaques and pulmonary carcinoma. Asbestos abatement must, therefore, be carried out following specific procedures.
There are 3 different ways of eliminating asbestos from a building:
- The first is removal, and consists in the actual elimination of asbestos material. This is the most common procedure, as it is usually carried out during the demolition of old buildings. Asbestos removal is a very delicate operation because it puts the environment at risk, takes up a lot of time and produces a lot of toxic waste. On the one hand it eliminates the source of risk, while on the other hand however, it can make matters worse if not performed properly.
- The second procedure is encapsulation, which isolates or covers the asbestos with special protective films. Compared with removal, this procedure takes less time, there is no environmental risk and no toxic waste. However, this is not an ultimate solution as it might become necessary to repeat the procedure when the applied film wears out.
- The last procedure is confinement. This takes place by building a solid barrier to separate the asbestos from other areas within the building. This procedure is to be preceded by encapsulation and is recommended for its resistance to impacts.
PPE which protect against asbestos fibres
Asbestos workers are exposed to potentially lethal asbestos contamination. For this reason, it is absolutely necessary for workers to protect their respiratory system by using quality personal protective equipment, which is to be CE marked and conform to the EU Directive 686 – category III, i.e. the class of PPE designed to protect against the risk of serious injury and/or death. The PPE commonly used for asbestos abatement operations is undoubtedly the face mask, which can be either a full face mask or a half mask. The full face mask must be equipped with particle filters or possibly be connected to a powered air system composed of a compact, lightweight blower unit fitted with high efficiency particle filters capable of purifying air containing asbestos fibres of microscopic dimensions.
Half masks, particularly the powered breath responsive types, which provide filtered air only when the wearer breathes in, may also be used to maximize battery life.
In addition to the mask, asbestos workers need to wear gloves, protective suits and slip-proof boots.
Furthermore, to minimize the risk of asbestos contamination, the level of toxicity in the work environment must be constantly monitored and, at the end of each work shift, the workers must carry out the prescribed decontamination procedures (vacuuming and showering) to eliminate hazardous asbestos fibre residues on the PPE used and on the body. Non-reusable components, such as filters and protective suits must be disposed of properly as specified by current standards.
The innovative Cleanspace line of respiratory protective devices, distributed by Kasco, are lightweight, compact units which provide filtered air on demand when breathing.
Jun 12 2017
Asbestos removal – effective protection against risks
Procedures for asbestos abatement
Asbestos is a very dangerous substance. If inhaled, its microscopic fibres penetrate into the lungs and can cause serious pathologies such as mesothelioma, asbestosis, pleural plaques and pulmonary carcinoma. Asbestos abatement must, therefore, be carried out following specific procedures.
There are 3 different ways of eliminating asbestos from a building:
PPE which protect against asbestos fibres
Asbestos workers are exposed to potentially lethal asbestos contamination. For this reason, it is absolutely necessary for workers to protect their respiratory system by using quality personal protective equipment, which is to be CE marked and conform to the EU Directive 686 – category III, i.e. the class of PPE designed to protect against the risk of serious injury and/or death. The PPE commonly used for asbestos abatement operations is undoubtedly the face mask, which can be either a full face mask or a half mask. The full face mask must be equipped with particle filters or possibly be connected to a powered air system composed of a compact, lightweight blower unit fitted with high efficiency particle filters capable of purifying air containing asbestos fibres of microscopic dimensions.
Half masks, particularly the powered breath responsive types, which provide filtered air only when the wearer breathes in, may also be used to maximize battery life.
In addition to the mask, asbestos workers need to wear gloves, protective suits and slip-proof boots.
Furthermore, to minimize the risk of asbestos contamination, the level of toxicity in the work environment must be constantly monitored and, at the end of each work shift, the workers must carry out the prescribed decontamination procedures (vacuuming and showering) to eliminate hazardous asbestos fibre residues on the PPE used and on the body. Non-reusable components, such as filters and protective suits must be disposed of properly as specified by current standards.
The innovative Cleanspace line of respiratory protective devices, distributed by Kasco, are lightweight, compact units which provide filtered air on demand when breathing.
By Kasco Srl • Blog •