Asbestos Removal Services

• Sound absorption
• Average tensile strength
• Its resistance to fire heat
• Electrical and chemical damage and affordability

Asbestos mining began more than 4,000 years ago but did not start large-scale until the end of the 19th century when manufacturers and builders began using asbestos because of its desirable physical properties. It was used in such applications as electrical insulation for hotplate wiring and in building insulation. When asbestos is used for its resistance to fire or heat, the fibers are often mixed with cement or woven into fabric or mats. These desirable properties made asbestos a very widely used material, and its use continued to grow throughout most of the 20th century until the carcinogenic effects of asbestos dust caused its effective demise as a mainstream construction and fireproofing material in most countries. However, around 2 million tons of asbestos were still mined per year as of 2009, half in Russia.

It is now known that prolonged inhalation of asbestos fibers can cause serious and fatal illnesses including malignant lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis (a type of pneumoconiosis). Health issues related to asbestos exposure can be found in records dating back to Roman times. By the beginning of the 20th century concerns were beginning to be raised, which escalated in severity during the 1920s and 1930s. By the 1980s and 1990s asbestos trade and use started to become banned outright, phased out, or heavily restricted in an increasing number of countries.

The severity of asbestos-related diseases, the material’s extremely widespread use in many areas of life, its continuing long-term use after harmful health effects were known or suspected, and the fact that asbestos-related diseases can emerge decades after exposure ceases, have resulted in asbestos litigation becoming the longest, most expensive mass tort in U.S. history and a significant legal issue in many other countries. Asbestos-related liability also remains an ongoing concern for many manufacturers.

Potential locations for asbestos within the home/office include the following:

• Leaves, gutters, and rainwater fall pipes
• Garages and sheds
• Fire blankets
• Linings for walls, ceilings, and doors
• Insulation panels in some storage heaters
• Bath panels
• Central heating flues
• Packing between floors and in partition walls
• Floor tiles

 No asbestos contractor shall engage in or permit a person employed by the asbestos contractor to engage in or supervise work on an asbestos project unless each such person has a valid asbestos handling certificate issued by the Commissioner appropriate to the work performed by such person on an asbestos project as defined in this Part. Training for all types asbestos handling certificates shall meet all requirements established by the New York State Department of Health.

Any person employed by an asbestos contractor on an asbestos project shall have an appropriate asbestos handling certificate or a copy thereof in his or her possession at all times during his or her work on the project. No asbestos contractor shall compel the holder of any asbestos handling certificate to surrender the original certificate. The only exception to the requirement of certification is if the employee has proof that he or she has had the appropriate initial training within the past forty-five (45) days and is awaiting the asbestos handling certificate. A student copy of the Asbestos Safety Training Certificate (DOH 2832) indicating successful completion of an approved asbestos safety training program is the only acceptable proof of appropriate training. The employee must also have a photo identification card issued by an authorized government entity.

A copy of a valid asbestos handling certificate, or a current student copy of the New York State Department of Health Certificate of Asbestos Safety Training Form (DOH 2832) indicating successful completion of an approved initial asbestos safety training program within the past forty-five (45) days along with a copy of a photo identification, shall be conspicuously displayed near but outside the regulated abatement work area on an asbestos project.

The following categories of asbestos handling certification shall be issued pursuant to this Subpart:

Any person who removes, encapsulates, encloses, repairs or disturbs friable or non-friable asbestos, or who handles asbestos material in any manner which may result in the release of asbestos fiber, and whose duties are not otherwise described in paragraphs (2) through (9) of this Subdivision shall possess a valid asbestos handler (worker) certificate and shall have such certificate or a copy thereof in his or her possession at all times while working on the project, except as otherwise indicated in Subdivision (b) and (c) of this Section. A person who possesses an asbestos handler (worker) certificate shall be responsible for the proper execution of his or her trade as it relates to an asbestos project.

Any person performing any limited or special tasks in preparation for or ancillary to an asbestos project, such as a carpenter, electrician, plumber or similar occupation, or any other person who may potentially disturb friable or non-friable asbestos during the course of any employment (other than OSHA Class IV asbestos work), shall possess a valid restricted asbestos handler (allied trades) certificate and shall have such certificate or a copy thereof in his or her possession at all times while working on the project, except as otherwise indicated in Subdivision (b) and (c) of this Section. This person shall be aware of the health hazards of asbestos and take appropriate precautions to avoid any ACM, PACM, or asbestos material disturbance throughout the course of their work. Abatement of any quantity of ACM, PACM, or asbestos material is not allowed by this person under any circumstance. A person who possesses a restricted asbestos handler certificate shall be responsible for the proper execution of his or her trade as it relates to an asbestos project.

Any person who performs project air sampling shall possess a valid asbestos project air sampling technician certificate and shall have such certificate or a copy thereof in his or her possession at all times while working on the project, except as otherwise indicated in Subdivision (b) and (c) of this Section. A person who possesses an air sampling technician certificate shall be responsible for the proper execution of his or her duties as they relate to an asbestos project.

Any person who performs the limited tasks involved in the asbestos survey, identification and assessment of the condition of asbestos and asbestos material and the recording and reporting thereof, or who is involved in the collection of bulk samples of asbestos material or suspected asbestos material for laboratory analysis shall possess a valid inspector certificate and shall have such certificate or a copy thereof in his or her possession at all times while working on the project, except as otherwise indicated in Subdivision (b) and (c) of this Section. A person who possesses an inspector certificate shall be responsible for the proper execution of his duties as they relate to an asbestos project.

Any person who performs operations, maintenance, and repair activities which may disturb Minor quantities of ACM, PACM, or asbestos material shall possess a valid operation and maintenance certificate and shall have such certificate or a copy thereof in his or her possession at all times while working on the project, except as otherwise indicated in Subdivision (b) and (c) of this Section. Operation and maintenance certification permits the holder to perform OSHA Class III asbestos work only on Minor asbestos projects. These minor asbestos projects must be associated with repairs required in the performance of emergency or routine maintenance activity and are not intended solely as asbestos abatement. Such work may not exceed minor quantities of ACM to be disturbed within a single glove bag or a single negative pressure tent enclosure. A person who possesses an operation and maintenance certificate shall be responsible for the proper execution of his duties as they relate to an asbestos project.

Any person who performs supervision of persons (other than authorized visitors) permitted to enter the restricted area and regulated abatement work area, shall possess a valid supervisor certificate and shall have such certificate or a copy thereof in his or her possession at all times while working on the project, except as otherwise indicated in Subdivision (b) and (c) of this Section. A person who possesses a supervisor certificate shall be responsible for the proper execution of his duties as they relate to an asbestos project. The supervisor is also responsible for performing the duties of the OSHA competent person for the asbestos project, consistent with current OSHA regulations.

Any person who plans the scope, timing, phasing, and remediation methods to be utilized on any asbestos project shall possess a valid project designer certificate and shall have such certificate or a copy thereof in his or her possession at all times while working on the project, except as otherwise indicated in Subdivision (b) and (c) of this Section. A person who possesses a project designer certificate shall be responsible for the proper execution of his duties as they relate to an asbestos project.

Any person other than the asbestos abatement contractor’s supervisor, who oversees the scope, timing, phasing and/or remediation methods to be utilized on and the completeness of any asbestos project shall possess a valid project monitor certificate or a copy thereof in his or her possession at all times while working on the project, except as otherwise indicated in Subdivision (b) and (c) of this Section. A person who possesses a project monitor certificate shall be responsible for the proper execution of his duties as they relate to an asbestos project.

Any person who assesses the hazard posed by the presence of asbestos or asbestos-containing material and/or who recommends appropriate response actions and a schedule for such response actions shall possess a valid management planner certificate and shall have such certificate or a copy thereof in his or her possession at all times while working on the project, except as otherwise indicated in Subdivision (b) and (c) of this Section. A person who possesses a management planner certificate shall be responsible for the proper execution of his duties as they relate to an asbestos project.

• Disturbing loose-fill insulation and ripping away hot water tank insulation
• Removing roof shingles or siding
• Sanding or scraping asbestos floor or ceiling tiles
• Sanding plaster or coatings, such as roofing compounds, sealants, paint, putty caulking, and drywall products that contain asbestos

During home renovation projects, work often involves cutting, scraping, and sanding that can quickly damage asbestos-containing materials. The dust generated by these processes can travel throughout the house and remain airborne for weeks where it can be breathed in by the residents.

If you plan on repairing, renovating, or remodeling your home, and if you are in the U.S. and your house was built prior to 1980, have your house tested for asbestos. If your home does have asbestos-containing materials that are not damaged and have not been disturbed, your family should be safe from inhaling fibers. However, if the asbestos has been compromised and is damaged, you may need to hire professionals to conduct the work.

When retrieving stored items from an attic or basement, sometimes for many years, water damage and deteriorating insulation are often discovered. Attics and basements are the main areas where asbestos-containing insulation was used. The water damage and years of deterioration might cause the asbestos fibers to be exposed, so when moving boxes or items in and out of these areas in the home, it might cause the exposed asbestos fibers to become airborne and you will be at risk of inhaling or swallowing these particles. Do not disturb the materials, if possible.

The US Environmental Protection Agency recommends:

• Limiting the number of times you go in and out of the area.
• Keep children out
• Placing the boxes on a moistened towel and wiping down the items with a wet towel or sponge to prevent the fibers from becoming airborne.
• Cleaning the area with wet cloths only – do not sweep or vacuum as this will stir up the fibers.
• If there is damage in the area, check with a local asbestos abatement company to determine if work should be done to contain the area.  

Each year, approximately 2,000 to 3,000 Americans are diagnosed with mesothelioma, a rare cancer caused almost exclusively by asbestos exposure. About 2,000 to 3,200 people die from asbestos-related lung cancer annually.

An estimated 200,000 people in the U.S. currently are living with asbestosis, an inflammatory lung condition caused by inhaling asbestos. Many other cancers and serious conditions have been linked to exposure including lung cancer and mesothelioma. 

What’s the first thing to do if you were exposed to Asbestos Fibers? The most common test used to determine if you have received sustained exposure to asbestos is a chest x-ray. A chest x-ray is recommended for detecting exposure to asbestos only in persons who have sustained relatively heavy exposure. A chest x-ray is of no value for detecting evidence of asbestos exposure in a person whose exposure to asbestos has been only brief or transient. The x-ray cannot detect the asbestos fibers themselves, but it can detect early signs of lung disease caused by asbestos. While other substances besides asbestos can sometimes produce similar changes in the lungs, this test is usually reliable for detecting asbestos-related effects produced by long-term exposures at relatively high concentrations of asbestos fibers. Other tests, such as gallium-67 lung scanning and high-resolution computed tomography, are also useful in detecting changes in the lungs. However, there are currently no means of detecting exposure-related effects from commonly encountered environmental exposures.

The most reliable test to determine if you have been exposed to asbestos is the detection of microscopic asbestos fibers in pieces of lung tissue removed by surgery, but this is a very invasive test. A test can also be run to determine the presence of asbestos fibers in material rinsed out of the lung. However, this test can cause some discomfort. Asbestos fibers can also be detected in mucus (sputum), urine, or feces, but these tests are not reliable for determining how much asbestos may be in your lungs. Low levels of asbestos fibers are found in these materials for nearly all people. Higher-than-average levels can show that you have been exposed to asbestos, but it is not yet possible to use the results of this test to estimate how much asbestos you have been exposed to, or to predict whether you are likely to suffer any health effects. Please see the toxicological profile for more information about how asbestos can be measured in people and in the environment.