How an Asbestos Removal Work Area Gets Decontaminated

Many people commencing renovation work on a pre-2000 home opt to receive an asbestos test for peace of mind. Sometimes, that test will come back positive, leaving you with a lot of questions about what to do next.

Undoubtedly, there is a lot to learn, such as the differences between friable and non-friable asbestos, where that asbestos is likely to be hiding, and what asbestos removalists do to remove it carefully.

But perhaps one of the other thoughts to enter your mind is how asbestos removal companies decontaminate an asbestos removal work area once they are finished with it. You’ll be living in that space, so is it safe?

Read on to learn what your chosen asbestos removal company will do to keep themselves and you protected. If you’ve got any further questions, you can contact them to find out more.

Why is Decontamination Necessary?   

Asbestos is a harmful natural mineral that consists of small, hazardous fibres. When breathed in, these fibres can cause a variety of potentially fatal health conditions, like mesothelioma and asbestosis.

Decontaminating a workspace, the workers, their PPE, and the tools they use can eliminate or minimise exposure to those airborne particles.

Decontamination Processes

Qualified asbestos removal workers will opt for one of two decontamination processes, depending on what proves to be the most suitable for the environment.

Wet Decontamination

Wet decontamination involves using damp rags to wipe down contaminated areas. The rags are only used once and are folded flat to make use of each side. If a bucket of water is used to make the rags wet, they are not put into the water, as this can cause contamination.

If rags are thrown into the water, that water must be treated as asbestos waste and disposed of accordingly. The only time that wet decontamination, or wet wiping, is not used as a preferred decontamination method is when electrical or slipping hazards are present.

Dry Decontamination

With an electrical or slipping hazard present, an asbestos removal company worker may use a dry decontamination method. This involves rolling or folding up plastic sheeting containing the asbestos and using an asbestos vacuum cleaner to remove asbestos from the area. The plastic sheeting must be double bagged, labelled, and sealed after use.

What About Friable Asbestos Decontamination Processes?

If your home contains friable asbestos, which is what you hired an expert to remove, then extra precautions may be taken to keep you and the workers safe. If it is deemed that decontamination procedures are not satisfactory for the asbestos materials involved, decontamination units may be used.

Decontaminating Clothing and Tools

Decontaminating clothing and tools from an asbestos worksite is crucial to ensure safety for the workers and homeowners. In all situations, contaminated clothing, equipment, tools, and other items, can’t leave a work area until they have been contained or decontaminated.

The decontamination process of clothing and tools follows along the same lines as the previously mentioned wet and dry processes. If it’s not practical to decontaminate them on-site, or they are to be used at another asbestos site, they can be safely sealed.

This sealing process involves tagging the item(s) to indicate asbestos contamination and double bagging them with that tag before taking them away from the asbestos work area. They must stay sealed until they enter another asbestos work area or where they can be decontaminated in a controlled environment.

Sometimes, if it’s too hard to decontaminate tools and equipment, they can be disposed of appropriately and replaced.

How Do Asbestos Workers Decontaminate Themselves?

The decontamination process for an asbestos worker can depend on the environment in which asbestos removal occurs. In an ideal world, every asbestos work site would have a shower system incorporated within it. However, that’s not always possible.

In that case, operators will vacuum themselves down to remove fibres that have clung to their overalls. They will then remove the overalls and their boots before wiping them down with clean water.  

The worker will then put on clean coveralls and transit shoes to leave the work area before visiting the ‘dirty’ side of a nearby decontamination unit.  

After removing overalls and shoes, they enter a shower to be wet down entirely before removing their masks for proper decontamination. Finally, they will get dressed before leaving through the clean end of the decontamination unit.

Safe Decontamination for a Safe Environment

Asbestos fibres are so small that you can’t see the ones that you could be breathing in. By carrying out extensive decontamination after removing asbestos, you can rest assured that your home and the workers carrying out the asbestos removal are safe.  

If you suspect that your home contains asbestos, or you want to confirm its presence with a test, contact an asbestos removal company in NZ today.