Before you start working:

-Clear the area where asbestos needs to be removed to reduce the risk of contamination of furniture, clothing and other objects with asbestos fibers.
-Cover anything that cannot be removed with a thick polyethylene sheet.
-Isolate the area where the work is to be done from the rest of the house by building a containment zone and an airlock made of polyethylene sheets.
-Cover walls and floors in the area where asbestos is to be removed with polyethylene sheets.
-Post signs to alert visitors, family and friends of the work in progress and the risk of possible exposure.

Where asbestos risks can be found in the home

-Some roofing and siding shingles are made of asbestos-cement.
-Houses built between 1930 and 1950 may have asbestos as insulation.
-Asbestos can be present in textured paint and in ragreage compounds used on wall and ceiling joints. Their use was banned in 1977.
-Artificial ash and embers sold for use in gas fireplaces may contain asbestos.
-Older products such as hobs may contain asbestos compounds.
-The walls and floors around wood stoves can be protected with asbestos paper, cardboard panels or cement sheets.
-Asbestos is found in some vinyl floor tiles and in the support of vinyl sheet flooring and adhesives.
-Hot water and steam pipes in older homes may be covered with asbestos material or covered with an asbestos blanket or ribbon.
-Oil and coal furnaces and door seals may have asbestos insulation.

Protect yourself while you work:

-Wear an approved respirator for asbestos removal at all times when you are in the containment zone.
-Wear disposable coveralls, disposable rubber gloves, rubber boots and goggles while you are in the containment zone.
-Remove all protective clothing and equipment inside the airlock before leaving the containment zone. This will prevent the spread of asbestos fibres outside the containment zone.

When working with asbestos:

-Keep other people away from the work area.
-When possible, saturate the material to be removed with water containing dishwashing liquid to help reduce the dust created by the work.
-Always remove materials containing asbestos in their entirety if possible. Do not break components or sheets.
-Have a sufficient quantity of waste bags approved for asbestos removal on hand.

Handling asbestos during removal

-Never handle asbestos with your bare hands. Wear disposable rubber gloves.
-Place all removed materials in asbestos waste disposal bags for later disposal.

– Keep the floor and debris on it moist while you work to reduce the amount of dust in the air.
-Remove the asbestos without breaking it.

Cleaning and decontamination

-Double bag and seal all debris containing asbestos. Use approved bags and seal each bag separately, then place them in a second bag and seal the second bag.
-Wipe all surfaces with a damp cloth. Do not sweep or use a vacuum cleaner to clean debris that may contain asbestos.
-Carefully fold and roll the polyethylene sheet on the floor and remove it in the same way as debris (double packaging and sealed).
-Wipe all tools and equipment with clean and soft cloths and water. Do not reuse rags. Discard each cloth after use and use a new cloth to continue cleaning.
-Do not remove masks and protective equipment until all cleaning is complete.
-Put disposable gloves, coveralls and boots in asbestos waste bags.
-Wash hands and face and shower thoroughly.

Asbestos removal

Waste containing asbestos may only be disposed of in approved landfills that have the capacity to treat it. Call the state EPA office for a list of approved landfills that can handle construction waste.
-All asbestos-containing materials must be packed in a double bag and sealed in approved and printed asbestos waste disposal bags with appropriate warnings.
-All waste containing asbestos must be transported in a covered truck to avoid releasing asbestos dust into the air.