Removing Asbestos Containing Floor Tiles and Mastic

Preparing the work area Restrict access - minimisesack and tape it closed.
the number of people present. Close doors. Use tapeDisposal Double-wrap and label asbestos waste.
and notices to warn others. Ensure adequate lighting.Standard practice is to use a red inner bag with
Equipment Warning tape and notices, Class H vacuumasbestos warnings, and a clear outer bag with the
cleaner for large areas, sharp knife, hammer; scraper,CDG sign.
shovel, garden-type sprayer containing wetting agent,If you carry waste, use a sealed skip, or a vehicle with
bucket of water and rags, asbestos waste container,the following: -segregated compartment for asbestos;
eg labelled polythene sack and clear polythene sack.-easily cleanable; and -lockable. Otherwise, arrange for
Personal protective equipment (PPE) Provide:transport by a registered waste carrier. Safe disposal
disposable overalls fitted with a hood, boots without- at a licensed disposal site. Complete a Waste
laces (laced boots are hard to decontaminate),Consignment Note. Keep copies of these documents
and-respiratory protective equipment.for three years.
Procedure Can you avoid removal, eg by overlayingPersonal decontamination Clean your boots with damp
with non-asbestos material? Warn the building ownerrags - see sheet em7. Where available, clean your
about the presence of asbestos material, so it can beoveralls with the brush attachment on a Class H
managed properly.vacuum cleaner. Vacuum off the brush Otherwise, use
Removal Place the scraper in the joint between thedamp rags by a 'patting' action. Rubbing can disturb
tiles. Lift the tile gently - try to avoid breakage. Forfibres.
firmly-fixed tiles, tap the scraper with the hammer. ForWhere there are two workers, they can help to clean
a large tiled area, lift tiles using a shovel. This speedseach other. Peel off disposable overalls. They should
up the job and avoids kneeling close to the tiles. Spraybe inside out. Put them in a suitable asbestos waste
water under the tiles as they are lifted, to suppresscontainer. Bag up re-usable overalls for a specialist
dust and wet any asbestos paper that may belaundry. Finally, remove your disposable respirator and
present. Wet any asbestos paper tile backing as theplace it in the asbestos waste container. Tape the
tiles are lifted. Gently scrape up adhering mastic. Youcontainer closed. Can you use site washing facilities? If
can soften mastic with solvent, by warming with anso, they must be for your use only. Keep other people
infra-red lamp, or embrittle it with dry ice. Place debris inout during personal decontamination, and until you have
the waste container.cleaned the facilities. Wash every time you leave the
Caution: Never sand the floor. Cleaning and disposalwork area.
Where you have removed only a few tiles, use dampClearance and checking off Visually inspect the area
rags to clean the floor. Clean larger areas with theto make sure that it has been cleaned properly.
Class H vacuum cleaner. Clean the equipment withClearance air sampling is not normally required Get the
damp rags. Put debris, used rags and other waste inpremises owner, duty-holder or client to check off the
the asbestos waste container and tape it closed. Putjob.
the asbestos waste container in a clear polythene