Asbestos Inspections are critical; despite its current limited use, asbestos-containing materials still remain in older facilities and could harm employees, workers, and the general public. Buildings constructed before the 1980s often have materials like pipe insulation, boiler insulation, exterior metal coatings (Galbestos), vermiculite insulation, acoustic ceilings, and vinyl floor tiles that can contain asbestos. More than 3,000 different materials have been identified as containing asbestos
These materials are generally safe if they are in good condition and left undisturbed, but as they age, they could become friable, they can crumble and lead to dangerous conditions for anyone nearby. Underestimating the hazards of asbestos can lead to serious health risks, litigation, and high costs related to removing the asbestos and rebuilding the affected area. That’s why regular asbestos inspections and abatement is critical on any job site.
Asbestos-containing materials that get disturbed can release asbestos fibers and particles into the air. These circumstances can lead to a variety of health conditions become possible, including:
These severe conditions are estimated to affect 10,000 people a year, 30% of whom are diagnosed with mesothelioma. In cases where asbestos is present, the worst thing to do in this situation is DIY removal. Doing the job without the proper training or expertise can lead to unintentional exposure or accidental spread of the fibers. Instead, we recommend that anyone suspecting asbestos in their workplace contacts an experienced partner with certified experts who can test and remove the materials safely and properly.
To avoid these conditions as much as possible, we recommend companies look into regular asbestos inspections from a certified partner like SITEX. These inspections will help proactively identify asbestos in any areas of the workplace, enabling us to remove them before anyone is exposed.
It’s important to note that not all asbestos services are the same. Some services only include the abatement of asbestos, and nothing beyond that point. SITEX’s offerings include detailed environmental services that include testing, abatement design, removal of asbestos, and post-abatement clearance sampling. That means SITEX can design steps to be taken to prevent further exposure and a proactive plan can be built moving forward.
Again, going with a DIY approach for asbestos testing is not recommended. Only certified professionals can safely and correctly sample materials suspected of containing asbestos and plan how to safely remove it. It’s also critical to ensure that whatever asbestos service a company goes with is OSHA and EPA licensed, as best practices should be followed whenever handling the material. When working with a company like SITEX, inspections are detailed and efficient.
Inspection steps include:
This in-depth process, along with a variety of other environmental services, are provided by certified experts who understand the industry best practices and safety measures. Inspections can take anywhere between hours and weeks depending on the size of the facility as inspectors need access to every room and space that may contain asbestos. Once testing is complete, the removal process can begin.
Once asbestos has been identified and analyzed, a plan for abatement can be put in place. SITEX has years of experience designing and overseeing asbestos abatement projects and has put together a detailed process to plan out the removal and proactively prevent further issues in the future.
To start, we put a plan in place created by one of our expert industrial hygienists. This includes details about how the area will be protected and how Federal, State, and local regulations will be followed during the abatement. Once the area is set up, safe removal will begin that will include protection for the workers and high-efficiency particulate air filtering to remove asbestos fibers. Once the area has been cleaned, our industrial hygienist will perform post abatement air testing to ensure the area is safe for reoccupancy.
With regular inspections, employers will be able to keep their employees and workspaces safe and avoid costly asbestos exposures in the future.
Contact us today to discuss any potential asbestos inspections, removal, or proactive planning your business may require.
SITEX saves lives. For over 35 years we’ve delivered safety services, environmental services, industrial hygiene expertise, rescue solutions and training, and rental equipment to ensure compliance, reduce risk, protect workers, and promote safety in every industry. We invest in highly trained personnel and technology so you don’t have to.
