Asbestos Removal: What to Wear When Working with Asbestos

Asbestos is a highly toxic substance which is often found in older buildings. If you have significant amounts of asbestos in your home, it is advisable to hire a specialist asbestos removal firm to get rid of it for you. However, for smaller amounts, such as asbestos in a shed roof, there is the possibility of removing it yourself. The first step to asbestos removal is to buy a DIY asbestos removal kit, available at most large hardware stores. This will have guidelines on the process and safety tips. However, you will need additional safety clothing to protect yourself fully during the process. Here are some top tips for keeping yourself safe during this potentially hazardous process. 

Disposal 

Everything that you wear during the process of asbestos removal will have to be disposed of immediately after the job.Bear this in mind when considering what clothes to wear and when  purchasing gloves, respirator and eyewear.  

Eye protection 

Goggles or safety glasses are a must to protect your eyes from falling debris. If possible try to get goggles that fit closely around your face to prevent stray dust particles from getting into your eyes.  If you wear glasses, make sure that your goggles fit well around your glasses. 

Gloves 

You need to protect all areas of your skin from the asbestos including your hands.  DIY kit may contain gloves but it is useful to have a few pairs of durable, disposable gloves in case they become damaged during the process of removal. 

Masks 

A simple dust mask won't be enough to protect you from asbestos particles. Instead, it is advisable to go for a respirator with a class P1 or P2 filter cartridge. Check when purchasing the respirator that it is deemed suitable for working with asbestos. 

Clothing 

As mentioned above, clothes must be disposable. They must also cover your entire body, a good solution is disposable overalls available from most large hardware stores. 

You will need to dispose of everything that has come into contact with asbestos dust- including anything you are wearing during the removal process- appropriately. This means bagging it up in plastic bags with a thickness of at least 2mm and taking these to your nearest disposal plant. To find out about details of your local asbestos disposal services, look online. 

Following these guidelines, you should be able to safely remove low levels of asbestos. However, if you have a large-scale removal project or, if you are anxious about the process, it is best to seek professional asbestos removal advice.