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Asbestos Removal and Disposal

ALL WORK IS CARRIED OUT IN TERMS OF THE DEPT OF LABOUR'S ASBESTOS REGULATIONS, 2001 OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY ACT, 1993 (ACT NO. 85).

As a certified Asbestos Removal Contractor by the Department of Labour, Proservices Maintenance Services (PTY) LTD offers an accountable and legally compliant asbestos removal service in Port Elizabeth. All our staff members are accredited, trained and experienced, in all aspects of asbestos materials and the handling thereof. Detailed work plans and safety procedures ensure that removal and disposal are done safely and effectively. Proservices Maintenance Services (PTY) LTD ensures that all legislative requirements are met to ensure responsible asbestos removal and asbestos disposal so that it has no adverse effect on the Client, Tenants, and Landlords, Public or Proservices Employees.

A Brief Overview

Even though the use of asbestos in new work has been banned in South Africa since 2008, there are many asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) that are still in use today.

Asbestos is the broad name for a number of naturally occurring silicate mineral fibers. Asbestos-containing materials are referred to as ACM. Asbestos is a versatile product. Due to its ability to withstand heat, erosion and decay, and for its fire and water-resistant properties, asbestos was widely used in construction materials. Notwithstanding the use of all forms of asbestos being banned nationally, construction materials containing asbestos are still prevalent in our society today. The most commonly found construction materials that contain asbestos are asbestos cement products such as roof sheets or cladding.

Where can Asbestos-containing materials be found?

Since the level of exposure to Asbestos-containing materials that may cause health problems is relatively unknown, any exposure to asbestos should be avoided. It has been estimated that at least one in every three buildings constructed between 1940 and 1990 was built with asbestos-containing materials or products.

Asbestos may be found either firmly or loosely bound in a number of products once used in the South African construction industry, including:

Roofing sheeting and roofing shingles
Fascia boards, barge boards, eaves, gutters, and window sills
Prefabricated building walls or internal partition walls and ceiling boards
Gable cladding, and insulation products in walls and roofs
Some older types of Vinyl floor tiles
Older types of textured paint and patching compounds used on walls and ceilings
Boiler cladding, hot water and steam pipes coated with asbestos material, blankets or lagging for insulation and water pipes

When is Asbestos hazardous?

The most general way for asbestos-containing fibers to enter the body is through inhalation. In fact, asbestos-containing material is not generally considered to be harmful unless it is releasing dust or fibers into the air space where they can be inhaled or ingested. Many of the fibers will become trapped in the mucous membranes of the nose and throat where they can then be removed, but some may pass deep into the lungs or, if swallowed, into the digestive tract. Once they are trapped in the body, the fibers can or will lead to health problems.
Asbestos-containing materials are most hazardous when they are friable. The term friable means that the asbestos can easily be crumbled or broken up by hand, releasing fibers into the air. Sprayed-on asbestos insulation is highly friable and very dangerous.
Asbestos-containing ceiling tiles, floor tiles, undamaged laboratory cabinet tops, shingles, fire doors, siding shingles, etc. may not release asbestos fibers unless they are disturbed or damaged in some way, however, if an asbestos ceiling tile, wall cladding, or other asbestos-containing products are drilled, cut, grinded or broken, it will release fibers into the air. (The act of breaking or drilling into Asbestos Sheeting is illegal and can only be approved by the department of labour and can only be performed by an approved asbestos contractor). If it is left alone and not disturbed, it will not release fibers into the air.
Damage, degradation or deterioration will increase the friability of asbestos-containing materials. Water damage, continual vibration, aging and physical impact such as drilling, grinding, buffing, cutting, sawing or striking, can break the materials down, increasing the likelihood of fiber release. This further emphasises the importance of safe and effective asbestos disposal.

How may I endanger myself or be at risk?

Any person that, knowingly or unknowingly, performs work on asbestos-containing materials or ACM as it is known, and any person or persons that happen to be in the vicinity of such work, is placing themselves in danger or risk of contamination. People in the building and construction industries are particularly at risk including professionals such as roofing contractors, heating and ventilation engineers, building and demolition contractors, electricians, plumbers, joiners, tradesmen, carpenters, painters, etc.

Removing asbestos is a dangerous and risky occupation, and with the experience and training that our Asbestos Certified Artisans have received, they are able to work comfortably in most environments including homes, industrial warehouses, factories, and industrial buildings. We pride ourselves as professional asbestos contractors when it comes to the removal of asbestos. Our asbestos contractors conduct a thorough asbestos survey for each client and implement the safest and most effective asbestos removal and disposal strategy.

Asbestos work in progress – Our Artisans wear all the required PPE during ACM removal and our staff members undergo rigorous medicals and are monitored to ensure that they have not been exposed to any harmful or dangerous materials. This includes exit medicals on completion of the scope of work.
Roof, gutter, or cladding asbestos removal - Countless buildings were built prior to 1990 when asbestos-containing materials were used, however nowadays, to comply with statutory regulations, the landlords of these buildings are required to remove the asbestos-containing materials from the building structures to ensure the safety of their Clients and Employees.
Asbestos contractors - All asbestos contractors have to be certified according to the legislation as promulgated by the Department of Labour and have to undergo extensive medicals due to the hazardous work involved in asbestos-contaminated materials removal. The asbestos contractor’s certification and the artisan's medicals have to be renewed annually.
Asbestos encapsulation – Asbestos encapsulation is a process whereby once the area has been deemed safe, the friable asbestos-containing materials are water-jetted to clean off algae and lichen. The water is collected for disposal or it is filtered depending on the application. After our asbestos contractors have successfully completed cleaning operations, we seal the asbestos with a sealer coat to bind the fibers to prevent future friability of the asbestos-containing materials, depending on their condition, or we replace them with an alternative safe product and ensure safe asbestos disposal as stipulated by the Asbestos Removal Act. Once the asbestos encapsulation has been completed, the area will be deemed safe after an AIA inspection has been carried out and clearance certification has been provided.
Asbestos demolition – All asbestos demolition works are undertaken as prescribed under the Asbestos Removal Act. Once the demolition works have been completed, the area will be deemed safe after an AIA inspection has been carried out and clearance certification has been provided. We ensure that a registered Asbestos Contaminated Materials disposal company disposes of all materials collected from operations and a certificate is obtained that the goods have been safely disposed of.

How can I contact Proservices?

Contact Proservices for professional asbestos removal and asbestos disposal in Port Elizabeth. Email us at enquiry@proservices.co.za or call us on 041 486 1976. Alternatively, you can contact our Roofing Manager, EARL DE KOCK on 073 734 5113 or email him directly on earl@proservices.co.za