If you are planning a demolition or renovation project, you should be prepared to protect your employees from potential hazards by doing an asbestos inspection San Diego.You want to be very prepared to protect your employees from potential hazards. You should also protect yourself from potential liability. A lot of property owners assume that they don’t have to worry about a new building because it doesn’t contain asbestos.Unfortunately, this kind of thinking ends badly. You should therefore reduce your risk and ensure you meet all the guidelines on when to test for asbestos.
Test for asbestos before any renovation project
A lot of property managers and owners think that if their building is new or less than 5 years old, they are clear and free to ignore asbestos testing. However, asbestos has never been removed fully from all new construction materials. It can show up in different forms, even in recent construction.
Test for asbestos before any demolition project
Before a demolition project, asbestos testing should be done, regardless of the condition, age, or other factors involved in the building to be demolished. However, there is an exception when the building is not structurally sound and it would be hazardous for the inspectors to get into the building. In such a case, a special exemption should be obtained from your local enforcement agency. Construction materials used in structures of any age may contain harmless asbestos when used as intended but the asbestos may become hazardous when disturbed and that is why you need to hire anenvironmental testing labto do the necessary tests.
During a demolition project, previously contained asbestos can enter the air as dust particles and lead to hazardous conditions for employees and anyone in the area at the time of the demolition and anyone who disturbs the dust afterwards.
Periodically test for friable asbestos in your older buildings
Demolition and renovations aren’t the only times when asbestos fibers could present a danger to the workers and occupants of a building. A lot of older asbestos-based materials such as fireproofing and insulation can become friable. Something as simple as routine repairs or maintenance work can disturb friable materials and this can cause harmful asbestos fibers to become hazardous.
It is, therefore, important to inspect older buildings periodically for the presence of asbestos. It is recommended to test prior to buying an older facility and depending on the materials that contain asbestos, re-inspections every six to twelve months should be done. Additionally, if you own an older building that has never been inspected for asbestos, it is wise to start inspections now.
Test for asbestos when there are complaints from the occupants
Occupants and workers in your building have a right to a habitable and safe environment. Any time an employee or tenant complaints that they may encounter asbestos, it is crucial to follow up immediately and do an asbestos inspection San Diego. Sometimes, occupants may see materials that remind them of asbestos and other times they may experience respiratory distress that may be due to asbestos.