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If you need to repair or replace damaged asbestos roofing or siding, you have 3 options:
- Do the work yourself
- Hire a general contractor who is not licensed to perform asbestos abatement
- Hire a licensed asbestos abatement contractor.
DHEC regulations do not apply to work done at private residences unless the homeowner selects a licensed asbestos abatement contractor, in which case the contractor must comply with asbestos regulations.
However, all contractors must comply with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) rules for worker protection.
If you decided to do the work yourself or hire a general contractor not licensed by DHEC to perform asbestos removal, we recommend the following work practices and procedures to minimize airborne asbestos fiber releases and personal exposure:
- Keep the material wet at all times. A low pressure garden sprayer adjusted to "mist" can be used. Water helps keep asbestos fibers from becoming airborne.
- Avoid tearing, ripping, chipping, cutting, or grinding asbestos-containing materials. These actions create new surfaces where there is the greatest potential for release of asbestos fibers.
- Do not throw or drop asbestos-containing roofing or siding materials to the ground. Instead lower them carefully to prevent breakage and dispersal.
- Place asbestos waste in polyethylene bags at least 6 millimeters (6-mil) in thickness, or wrap it in two layers of 6-mil polyethylene sheeting sealed with tape. Additional water may be added to ensure thorough wetting, but do not add so much that the bag bursts when lifted.
- Debris already on the ground should be wet and either collected manually or shoveled up and bagged for disposal. These residual materials can be pulverized and further dispersed by repeated mechanical action and are potential sources for generating airborne asbestos fibers.
- Containers (bag, drums, wrapped components) should be labeled with the following warning: DANGER - CONTAINS ASBESTOS FIBERS - AVOID CREATING DUST - CANCER AND LUNG DISEASE HAZARD.
- Store material in a secure area until it can be taken to a landfill. Materials should be transported in a way that keeps it from leaking, spilling or blowing off the vehicle.
- Complete application and send to address noted at the top of the page: Notification of Residential Abatement Project
Contact
Asbestos Section (803) 898-4289