LYCOS RETRIEVER
Asbestos: Asbestos Contractors
built 287 days ago
Asbestos abatement (removal of asbestos) has become a thriving industry in the United States. Strict removal and disposal laws have been enacted to protect the public from airborne asbestos. The Clean Air Act requires that asbestos be wetted during removal and strictly contained, and that workers wear safety gear and masks. Over the last ten years, the federal government has prosecuted dozens of violations of the Act and violations of Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) related to the operations. Often these involve contractors who hire undocumented workers without proper training or protection to illegally remove asbestos. Contractors who ignore safety regulations in removing asbestos commit an environmental crime that exposes countless people to potentially fatal and excruciatingly painful lung diseases.[21]
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Asbestos, a substance that can cause cancer or lung disease if inhaled, was, according to the industry, last in use in most construction materials in 1978, the year that the Sheffield was completed. Regular construction at the Sheffield stopped early last week, as the developers began a cleanup of the entire site by a licensed asbestos contractor under a plan approved by the city.
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Asbestos professionals can conduct home inspections, take samples of suspected material, assess its condition, and advise about what corrections are needed and who is qualified to make these corrections. Once again, material in good condition need not be sampled unless it is likely to be disturbed. Professional correction or abatement contractors repair or remove asbestos materials.
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The process of removing asbestos can be hazardous. Special techniques and equipment are needed to minimize the risks. Without precautions, you can expose yourself as well as other household members to air-borne asbestos. Asbestos fibers are lightweight, so they can stay suspended in the air for many hours. You should consider removal only if encapsulation is not practical. Hire qualified contractors that have been state licensed or EPA certified if removal is necessary.
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Though private homes are usually not covered by the asbestos regulations that apply to schools and public buildings, professionals should still use procedures described during federal or state-approved training. Homeowners should be alert to the chance of misleading claims by asbestos consultants and contractors. There have been reports of firms incorrectly claiming that asbestos materials in homes must be replaced. In other cases, firms have encouraged unnecessary removals or performed them improperly. Unnecessary removals are a waste of money. Improper removals may actually increase the health risks to you and your family.
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Non-friable asbestos is asbestos where the fibers can not easily be made air-borne. An asbestos release will not result simply from touching non-friable asbestos such as floor tile. Non-friable asbestos must be beaten or broken (such as floor tile), cut or sawed (as in sheet linoleum), or sanded (as in the mastic (glue) under flooring). Non-friable asbestos can become friable and a hazard if handled improperly, but normally an asbestos contractor is not required to remove this material unless it is already in a deteriorated condition or will become friable during removal.
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