It is a little-known fact that a third of all homes Australian buildings contain asbestos. As dealing with asbestos is the responsibility of the homeowner, it is natural that they will want it removed whenever possible. With everyone having a duty under common and public health laws to take reasonable care not to cause harm to another person, it is even more important to have it dealt with.
Of course, that is easier said than done. Thankfully, the mining of asbestos ended in 1983, with its use being banned on the 31st of December 2003. To have it removed safely it is important to hire the services of a licensed team who will carry out full risk assessments and put plans in place. To ensure that their employees are safe, they will issue them with safety equipment, and the right equipment, such as an asbestos vacuum cleaner.
Before choosing one of the extensive ranges from a leading supplier, it is important to gauge exactly the severity of the task and to ask questions and genuine and reliable advice from those who a purchase will be made from, as to which one they recommend. It pays as ever to check out reputable client reviews as well as speaking to others in the industry. No price should be put on safety, but it is important to get full value from a cleaner, such as being provided with lifetime support for it.
Things to consider is whether all the dust particles will be safely collected and then stored to avoid any contraventions and to ensure that employees can carry out their jobs without any fear of contracting conditions, which are known to be extremely harmful. Because it contains many fine fibres, it is extremely dangerous, hence the banning of asbestos. If fragile or brittle, these fibres are released into the atmosphere. Once any sheets of it are removed the correct vacuum is required to make the area safe for public access.
It is advised to dampen the asbestos before its removal as this will restrict the particles that are released. Vacuums are well equipped to deal with this when purchased from a leading distributor. It is also recommended to add some form of detergent when dampening the asbestos as water might not be enough to do the required job. The vacuums automatically control the speed of the airflow, with the machine indicating when it falls below the required levels.
It is recommended to use safety filter sets which come with a fleece bag which will collect the fibres and ensure that there is no human contact with them. Generally, a single filter will do the job, prior to the vacuum cleaner being cleaned thoroughly after use, itself being vacuumed and then wiped down with a damp cloth. Once the whole machine has been cleaned, any cloths should be disposed as asbestos waste.
Asbestos is extremely dangerous, and should only be removed by professionals with licenses, choosing the right vacuum cleaner ensures a safe process.