what kind of mask to wear when removing asbestos pipe insulation?

Practise-it-yourself (DIY) renovations are idea to exist causing an increasing proportion of asbestos-related cancer deaths according to a 2013 survey and study in the Medical Journal of Commonwealth of australia (MJA).

Each year, around eight million Australians acquit out renovations or extensions to their dwelling worth $5,000 or more, according to Roy Morgan research.

While most asbestos is bonded (non-friable) – and therefore is less probable to be inhaled – some of it is over 50 years old and starting to break downwards (friable).

Furthermore renovation activities such every bit drilling, cutting or breaking up asbestos walls causes asbestos to be released into the air.

Exposure to asbestos fibres can crusade a range of debilitating medical conditions. For instance, asbestos fibres ingested into the lungs can remain there and, xx to 50 years later, lead to an aggressive type of cancer called mesothelioma. Diagnosis is a capital punishment, ordinarily within 1 year.

Scary DIY asbestos exposure statistics:

With over 45 per cent of construction tradespeople unable to identify asbestos, DIY renovators are likely to have even less chance of identifying and fugitive the deadly material during renovations.

An assessment of the abilities of DIY renovators to place asbestos has non been carried out even so the MJA survey found that non-DIY renovators were far less likely to report existence exposed to asbestos than DIY renovators.

Of the 858 DIY renovators surveyed for the MJA report, a staggering 527 (61.4 per cent) reported having had asbestos exposure during their renovation, compared with only 20 (two.7 per cent) respondents in the not-DIY group.

Equally concerning is the 337 DIY respondents (39.3 per cent) who reported that their partner had been exposed to asbestos during renovations, and 196 participants (22.viii per cent) who reported that their children had been exposed too every bit their partner.

Adding to the problem is the statistic that only 12.0 per cent of DIY renovators reported using respiratory protection regularly, while 28.iv per cent reported using it occasionally.

The report's authors stated that "Ideally, our report would accept measured actual rather than reported exposure, merely this was non possible in this epidemiological survey.".

Regardless, there is a problem with asbestos and DIY renovations.

A 2016 report by the Public Health Inquiry and Practice journal titled Mesothelioma in Commonwealth of australia: cresting the third wave institute that of the 449 people newly diagnosed with mesothelioma between 1 July 2010 and ane April 2015 who gave information, 57 per cent had performed major home renovations involving asbestos products. Forty three per cent had lived in a house during major renovations.

Renovation shows add to the problem:

With home renovations and associated reality idiot box shows booming, asbestos campaigners have called for those shows to better promote the dangers of asbestos.

Lead campaigner at the Bernie Banton Foundation, Rod Smith, whose wife Julie died of mesothelioma in 2011, told the Sydney Morning Herald that the evidence should ameliorate warn their viewers about asbestos dangers.

"We had one person sentry the bear witness on a Friday night and then she smashed up her ensuite over the weekend – they accept now totally contaminated their whole family," he said.

"This is the problem with these shows and they have a part to play," Smith added.

"The number 1 gene they should exist highlighting is that they have had an asbestos cess done and information technology has been removed or condensed downwardly."

DIY Asbestos Handling:

If you lot exercise programme on renovating, firstly, brand sure y'all have identified if there is asbestos in your dwelling house. You can have your home inspected by a licensed removalist or asbestos assessor to confirm if it has whatsoever asbestos.

Note that asbestos was normally used in construction until 1987 and was not restricted to fibro housing. This means that asbestos can be found anywhere from cement floors, walls, ceilings, fences, sheds, building insulation, pipes. It can also be cached in the basis past previous builders.

A trained asbestos removal specialist must be engaged for the removal of more ten square metres of non-friable asbestos or when spending more than one hour in any seven twenty-four hours period removing it. The removal of any amount of friable asbestos requires a specialist.

If you have non-friable asbestos which is no bigger than 10m², and yous decide that you take the correct skills, feel and equipment to ensure the take chances of asbestos exposure is low, you lot can work on it yourself. If you do so, yous should follow the steps laid out in this safe guide for removing less than 10m² of non-friable asbestos. In addition, you must use appropriate equipment and wear personal protective equipment (PPE). This PPE is essential to protecting your health.

In particular, you should wear an advisable mask or respirator, disposable coveralls, and boot covers.

Masks:

Ordinary dust masks are not effective in preventing the inhalation of asbestos fibres and dust. ProChoice's One-half Mask Respirator with P2 Filters complies with Australian Standard AS/NZS 1716-2003 and thus will offer the required protection in most cases of not-friable asbestos handling, every bit volition disposable P1 or P2 rated masks. The respirator's fit on your face is critical.

Ensure y'all follow instructions to bank check the fit of the respirator, and that you comply with the mask'south directions for use.

Coveralls, gloves and boot covers:

You lot should too wear a disposable coverall with Type 5 particle protection, a dispensable, chemical fashion of glove that has a full seal against particle transfer and shoe covers over laceless shoes.

Disposing of asbestos waste and PPE

Asbestos waste can only be tending of using an Asbestos Command Plan that eliminates the release of airborne asbestos fibres. Asbestos material must be kept wet to reduce fibre release and stored in new, heavy-duty, double-layered 0.2mm polythene sheeting or bags labelled "CAUTION ASBESTOS" and disposed of at designated locations.

PPE should as well be disposed of after use. It should never be re-used and must be disposed of as asbestos waste material after completion of the asbestos-related action.

Further reading:

• All most November's Asbestos Awareness Month
• The Asbestos Safety and Eradication Bureau's page – e.chiliad. this guide for DIY asbestos removal or this safety guide for removing less than 10m² of not-friable asbestos
• The Lawmaking of Practise for the safe removal of asbestos
• Your local council, the work wellness and safety regulator in your state, and the Environmental Protection Authority in your state

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Source: https://prochoicesafetygear.com/ppe/blog/respiratory-protective-equipment/diy-renovations-asbestos-time-bomb/

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