Removal Of Asbestos Floor Tile -A Specialized Job

by Kirsten Hawkins

Why The Removal Of Asbestos Floor Tile Is Necessary?

Removal of asbestos floor tile is a wide term that refers to removal of not only asbestos containing floor tiles but also other materials containing asbestos like sheet vinyl, vinyl or asphalt floor tiles, linoleum and other adhesive materials.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring group of fibrous mineral and has been widely in use in: building and insulation materials, fireproofing, cement, pipe covering, refractory materials, gaskets, floor tiles and joint compounds during 1890 to 1970. Exposure to asbestos particles suspended in the air causes many asbestos related diseases including a rare but life threatening type of cancer known as mesothelioma. Removal of asbestos floor tile becomes more important with the growing awareness about harmful effects of asbestos exposure.

A Quick Guide to Asbestos and Health Issues

Gerard Simington

Unless you have been completely out of touch, you have probably heard all the hubbub about the dangers of asbestos. So, what is the big deal?

A Quick Guide to Asbestos and Health Issues

Asbestos is a fibrous material that is highly resistant to burning. It has a long history. While it was first used on a large scale commercial basis at the turn of the twentieth century, it has actually been around much longer. In fact, the ancient Egyptians were known for using it burial clothes.

Common modern applications used to include building materials, products and automobile brake pads, which all required a fire resistant element. Asbestos is still used today, but on a fairly small scope. The reason has everything to do with health. Asbestos in and of itself is not harmful to people. What is harmful, however, is asbestos dust.

Asbestos dust is a vicious thing. Due to the chemical makeup of the material, the dust is like a cloud of fine glass particles. While they will not damage your skin, they do great damage to the lungs. Making matters worse, asbestos dust is so fine that it is easily raised from asbestos material like ceiling tiles and walls. Once in the air, it is all but invisible. Prolonged exposure, such as when working on or in a building with asbestos materials, can result in massive amounts of the toxic dust entering the lungs.

Once asbestos dust is in your lungs, you cannot expel it by coughing. That doesn’t mean the body does not try. Asbestosis is scarring of the lungs from acid created by the body in an effort to get the asbestos dust out. If this process is allowed to occur for 10 to 20 years, the lungs may stop functioning because of excess scarring. If that sounds bad, it only gets worse. Asbestos dust can lead to terminal cancer in the form of mesothelioma. [What is Mesothelioma?]

Asbestos is an excellent fire resistant material that saves us from burning while killing us in a much slower manner. Since 1989, it has been banned in the United States in all but a few commercial areas.

Gerard Simington is with FindAnAttorneyForMe.com - offering asbestos and mesothelioma legal information.

When should you go for removal of asbestos floor tile?

You should opt for the removal of asbestos floor tile only when it becomes friable i.e. the asbestos crumbles in the powdery form when it is subject to pressure by hands. However, make sure that you regularly monitor even the good and intact flooring. There is no need of removal of asbestos floor tile if the tiles are intact and in good condition.

Dos And Don'ts For Removal Of Asbestos Floor Tile:

Before you start the removal of asbestos floor tile, you have to get a permit from the Air Quality department. You need to post this permit all the time on the work site. You ought to keep floor cover wet before and during the removal of asbestos floor tile. This is necessary to ensure that the removal of asbestos floor tile is safe and do not pose any health hazards for the persons involved in the removal process and for the residents of the building.

Never perform any removal of floor tiles in dry condition. To ensure minimal breakage, remove the tiles in whole pieces and linoleum in large sections. After removal, put the wet material in 6-mil poly bags or wrap in 6-mil poly sheeting, immediately. Never leave the material in loose condition. To prevent material from leakage use a duct tape to seal the poly bags or sheets. Watch that contained floor material does not poke or tear holes in 6-mil poly bags or sheets. Send the material immediately to landfill before it becomes dry, along with one copy of your permit for the disposal records.
About the Author

Kirsten Hawkins is a asbestos and mesothelioma specialist from Nashville, TN. Visit http://www.asbestosblog.org/ for information on asbestos reform, mesothelioma lawsuit news, and more.

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