Asbestos Abatement

September 7th, 2008 by admin

If you’ve just purchased an older building to start your business, or if you’ve been in the same building for years and need to test it for asbestos, you’ll need to know more about asbestos abatement so that you can keep yourself and your employees safe in the workplace.

The reason why many buildings that were built years ago contain this dangerous substance is because asbestos was in spray-applied flame retardant and thermal system insulation. Other materials contained the substance as well, such as panels or parts of the ceiling. In recent years, doctors have found that this has caused cancer in a number of industrial workers, and many of these former employees have found lawyers to help represent them and gain compensation for their illness.

Professionals that engage in the process of asbestos abatement say that the necessity of removal depends on how the asbestos was applied. If the fibers can not come apart, individuals can not inhale them, which mean they are not a hazard to the human body. However, flocking, a method of asbestos application, is one of the more dangerous risks–the fibers can slowly drop off into the air, which is why those who work in maintenance field are usually the most affected.

If you are having asbestos abatement services done while you are still occupying the building, you may have to relocate some of your employees to another part of the building. The part of the building that is being treated should be blocked off, and it’s best not to use this portion of the building until you are told it is safe to do so. If the building is going to be torn down so that you can move to a different location, asbestos abatement may take a little longer, and all the possible hazardous materials have to be removed before the building can be demolished.

Be sure to take pictures of any places in your building that have been affected by the fibers, since you may have to present these for evidence in the future.

If you know that you or some of your coworkers or employees have been negatively exposed to these fibers and have experienced health problems as a result, you will need to contact a lawyer as soon as possible to find out what your options are. Of course, there are considerable fees and costs associated with this procedure, and you’ll need to do some research to make sure that the lawyer and law firm are experienced in asbestos abatement cases. You’ll also need to keep up with any medical records that are associated with your case, so that you will be able to build a stronger case.