How to Protect Your Children from Asbestos Exposure

31 March 2017
 Categories: Construction & Contractors, Blog


As a parent, it is your responsibility to ensure the safety of your kids at all times. Creating a safe environment where they stay, eat, and play is paramount, but it can be challenging if you are living in an area where asbestos has been used in construction. Asbestos fibers, when inhaled, can have detrimental effects on the health of your children. How do you protect the little ones even when it is impossible to keep an eye on them 24-7? Here are some useful tips that will help create a safe and asbestos-free environment for your children.

Inspect your home for asbestos

If the house that you are living in was constructed during a period when asbestos was predominantly used in construction, it might be important to have it inspected. The material was widely used in roofing materials such as cement and asphalt shingles, roofing felt, and underlayment; floor tiles; and ceilings. It was also used for ductwork due to its insulating and heat-resisting properties. In an old home, asbestos is likely to be found in these areas.

Contact an asbestos inspection and remediation company so that they can inspect your home for asbestos. Don't look for the material yourself, as you can end up exposing the hazardous fibers to the air. Remediation can be carried out without posing a health risk to you and your children.

Hold off renovations and repairs

If you suspect that your home has asbestos, it may be a great idea to postpone all improvements and repairs that involve disturbing the structural materials. Any slight disturbance can release the fibers into the air and pose a health hazard. Wait for an asbestos professional to inspect the home and give you the green light to proceed with renovations. If possible, keep any area that's in dire need of repairs off limits until an asbestos inspector clears it. Educate your kids on asbestos so that they don't end up accessing such areas when you aren't around.

Check your children's school

Children spend a significant proportion of their time in school and can be at risk of asbestos exposure if the school structures aren't asbestos-free. Most school buildings are quite old, and this means that they may contain asbestos in the materials. Visit your child's school and enquire about asbestos inspection and remediation. Ask for the inspector's report on the areas with asbestos and the remediation measures taken. If the school is uncooperative, you have the duty to contact the environmental protection agency in the area and seek further advice.

Asbestos can cause long-term health complications in your children if it is not detected and managed on time. Contact an asbestos removal company and safeguard the health and future of your young ones.


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