What to Expect During the Asbestos Abatement Process in St. Louis
St. Louis and the surrounding areas were a prime spot for asbestos use in the past, and the safest course of action is to utilize our professional asbestos testing. St. Louis environmental testing consultants like us have the right skills and equipment to help you safeguard the health of your family or employees from the many hazards of asbestos-containing materials. The quicker we detect the presence of asbestos, the sooner a qualified team can start the abatement process to remove the deadly hazard from your building.
What is Asbestos Abatement?
Asbestos used to be an affordable addition to improve the durability, strength, and fire resistance of the material. It became incredibly common, at least until health professionals discovered the dangers of asbestos to the humans who unknowingly inhaled it. In many cases, it would be safe enough to leave asbestos-containing materials alone and enjoy their benefits, but renovations, demolition, or deterioration will necessitate thorough asbestos testing in St. Louis.
Asbestos abatement is the process of removing asbestos-containing materials in a safe and controlled manner. The state specifies extensive regulations for abatement and asbestos testing. St. Louis professionals like St. John Environmental Consulting follow these guidelines to the letter, from inspections to disposal.
Here is more about how that asbestos abatement process works locally:
Asbestos Abatement Process in St. Louis
The asbestos abatement process could be anything from a one-day removal project to a massive undertaking that takes a few weeks. What makes asbestos-containing materials so dangerous is that they release asbestos fibers into the air when disturbed. These fibers can linger for days and cause serious health problems for anyone who breathes them in, even in small quantities.
St. John Environmental Consulting first conducts extensive asbestos testing in St. Louis homes or business premises. Then, the contractors start the thorough abatement process with professional expertise that minimizes the risk of further contamination.
Inspections and Tests
The first step is discovering the source of the asbestos contamination and testing all possible asbestos-containing materials. Our team offers thorough asbestos testing in St. Louis to help any abatement contractors identify potential hazards and plan a safe, comprehensive removal job. A written plan outlines the containment and decontamination areas, cleanup process, and how the contractor will transport and dispose of the asbestos after the abatement.
Protective Clothing
Workers rely on the right protective clothing for safety throughout the abatement process, including disposable coveralls, foot covers, and a headcover that reduces contact with asbestos fibers. OSHA-approved respirators prevent inhalation of asbestos well, and we often use these tools while conducting asbestos testing in St. Louis.
Sealing Contaminated Areas
Sealing off the containment area is an essential step of asbestos abatement. The dust poses a significant health hazard when disturbed, so the process includes:
- Setting up a decontamination area
- Closing air ducts and disabling the HVAC system
- Hanging thick plastic sheeting or liners
- Using a pressure filter and pump to keep dangerous air particles in the containment area
- Ensuring that all workers follow decontamination protocols
The contractor also notifies the building’s occupants of the abatement so that they can vacate the premises until the process is complete.
Removal of Asbestos-Containing Materials
Once the containment area is ready, the team begins the removal process. Hand tools and wet methods remove asbestos-containing materials effectively and reduce the amount of dust. It also protects the workers and reduces the cleanup time.
The contractors then place any asbestos-containing materials in specially marked asbestos disposal bags, sealed and ready to remove. Everyone on the site follows the strict decontamination protocols when exiting, preventing dangerous asbestos fibers from escaping into the atmosphere.
Cleaning of the Site
While the asbestos removal process should minimize the amount of asbestos in the air, a final cleaning session is still essential. It guarantees that asbestos levels in the work area fall within permissible levels and won’t affect the health of those resuming work or residence in the building. The final clean involves special vacuums with HEPA filters to remove any trace asbestos fibers from surfaces and the air.
Third-party asbestos testing in St. Louis finishes off the process to ensure that no asbestos particles remain after the final vacuum. These machines are carefully designed to prevent blowing more asbestos fibers into the air because they will take a very long time to settle. St. John Environmental Consulting will only allow people back into the building when it is completely safe.
Book Your Asbestos Testing in St. Louis
Many older St. Louis buildings still contain asbestos in one form or another, and serious health problems arise when these building materials start to crumble or undergo renovations or demolitions. If you want to avoid disastrous consequences, asbestos abatement is essential.
The first step is to contact our professionals about asbestos testing. In St. Louis, the team at St. John Environmental Consulting is happy to answer all your questions about the process and recommend reputable abatement services. Call us at 314-853-4668 today for world-class abatement services and asbestos testing in St. Louis.
