Hazards of asbestos cement and peculiarities of its handling during dismantling works

Asbestos cement is a composite building material that has been one of the most popular in construction for decades. It is a mixture of Portland cement and asbestos fibers. Asbestos cement is most widely used in the production of roofing slates, water supply and sewage pipes, ventilation ducts, facade plates and other building elements.

Today, special attention is being paid to the safe dismantling of asbestos-cement structures, as this process poses the greatest risks to human health and the environment. Our company, Forest-Ukraine, has extensive experience in dismantling facilities containing this material.

Why is asbestos cement a health hazard?

The harmfulness of asbestos cement is due to the presence of asbestos fibers in its composition, which make up approximately 10-15% of the total weight of the material. These components have a unique structure – they are extremely thin (less than 0.5 microns in diameter) and can be broken down into even smaller particles. When the material is damaged, especially during dismantling operations, these fibers are released and form a fine dust.

The impact of asbestos on the environment is long-lasting. Asbestos fibers are extremely resistant to external influences and can persist in the environment for decades. Once released into the air, they can travel long distances and settle on various surfaces.

Medical consequences of asbestos exposure

Exposure to asbestos dust can lead to a number of serious illnesses that significantly impair the quality of life and can be fatal. The main diseases associated with exposure to this material are:

• Asbestosis is a chronic lung disease characterized by the formation of scar tissue.
• Lung cancer – the risk of developing it increases significantly when inhaling asbestos dust.
• Mesothelioma is an aggressive form of cancer that affects the lining of internal organs.
• Pleural plaques are seals on the lining of the lungs.
• Pleural thickening is a pathological change in the lung lining.

It is important to understand that these diseases can develop gradually, and even short-term exposure to asbestos dust can have serious health consequences in the future.

What is especially dangerous is that symptoms of diseases caused by asbestos exposure can appear 15-40 years after contact with the material.

Legislative regulation of asbestos use in Ukraine

International experience in dealing with asbestos has led most developed countries to completely ban the use of this material. In Ukraine, the situation is regulated by a number of regulations:

• The Law of Ukraine “On Labor Protection”.
• Sanitary and Epidemiological Norms and Regulations “On Industrial Waste Management”.
• State building regulations on the dismantling of building structures.

Legislation sets strict requirements for the dismantling of asbestos-containing materials, waste transportation and disposal at specialized landfills. Attention is paid to the protection of workers and the environment. Administrative and criminal liability is provided for violation of the established norms.

Professional approach to dismantling asbestos-cement structures

Before starting any dismantling work, it is necessary to conduct thorough preparation to ensure the safety of the entire process. Our specialists perform the following preparatory work:

• Comprehensive inspection of the facility.
• Development of a dismantling project.
• Prepare the necessary equipment and protective equipment.
• Organizing the work area and installing warning signs.
• Staff training.

Each of these steps is important for employee safety and minimizing environmental impact.

Personal protective equipment

The use of a complete set of personal protective equipment against asbestos dust is extremely important for the safety of employees during dismantling work. Each employee is provided with the following:

• Respirators with P3 class filters.
• Protective suits type 5/6.
• Special shoes.
• Safety glasses.
• Gloves.

All protective equipment complies with international safety standards and is regularly checked for serviceability.

Dismantling slate roofs requires special attention to detail. Our specialists use the wet dismantling method, which involves preliminary moistening of the material with special solutions. We carefully unscrew the fasteners without damaging the sheets, carefully remove them and pack them in a dense plastic film.

Safe disposal of asbestos-containing waste

Disposal of asbestos-containing waste requires a special approach and can only be carried out at certified landfills. Our company provides:

• Proper packaging of waste.
• Safe transportation.
• Preparation of the necessary documentation.
• Transferring waste to licensed waste disposal companies.

It is strictly forbidden to dispose of asbestos-containing waste in conventional landfills, burn materials, grind or process them mechanically, or reuse them.

Competencies and experience of Forest-Ukraine

Our company has extensive experience in the dismantling of hazardous building materials. We constantly improve our working methods and use the most modern equipment to ensure maximum safety.

Our company is constantly improving its services and approaches to work to ensure the highest level of safety and quality. The benefits of working with us are as follows:

• Certified specialists with experience.
• Modern equipment for safe dismantling.
• A full range of services from evaluation to disposal.
• Liability insurance.
• Guarantee of compliance with all environmental standards.

Our approach to dismantling ensures complete safety for all participants in the process and the environment.