At Charles Abatement, LLC we meet & exceed South Carolina’s Asbestos Removal Requirements. The following steps ensure that asbestos-containing material is removed safely; that the removal procedure provides a clean environment; and that asbestos removal jobs meet or exceed the Department of Environmental Protection requirements for asbestos removal. Each step ensures the health and safety of our workers during removal, and others who will enter the removal area after abatement.

Safety first

Safe Asbestos Removal begins by containing the area where we will remove asbestos-containing material. We seal off surfaces that do not have asbestos with 6 mil plastic sheets. If we are abating asbestos ceiling texture, then we would seal off the floors and walls. These plastic sheets keep asbestos dust and fibers from getting into other areas or rooms in the structure during removal.

The containment area must be setup to meet the specific requirements for the contaminated material being removed. We start off with installing critical barriers to windows, doors, air vents, counters, sinks, showers, and tubs to ensure that no asbestos dust can migrate from the containment. After setting up the containment area, we check the taped seals to ensure that no asbestos fibers can escape the containment area.

Next, we position a HEPA negative air machine in the work area and install clean air exhaust ducts to the outside. The HEPA negative air machine filters the inside air, and exhausts clean air to the outside while trapping air-borne asbestos particles in the HEPA filters. If the asbestos-containing material is Friable, we will set up a three stage decontamination unit. This is referred to as a decon, and would be constructed at the entry of the containment. The decon will have a Clean Room (to change in); Shower (to decontaminate in); and Equipment Room (to store tools). Finally, we ensure that all asbestos removal equipment and small work tools are in place ready to utilize in the containment area.

Health and safety is very important to Charles Abatement, so we make sure our workers are equipped with the proper PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) that is needed for each job. Charles Abatement ensures that they are in compliance with all the requirements that are enforced by Local and State Regulators for hazardous waste removal before we begin removal. The entry to the containment is secured and then the Negative Air Machines are turned on, and make sure that the air ducts installed on the machines are running to the outside. Once the asbestos removal has begun, no unauthorized person will be allowed to enter the work area.

The Removal of Asbestos

We start off by wetting the asbestos material that is to be removed. The water has a surfactant wetting agent mix that is required by the EPA. Our workers will continue to wet the material as we remove it to help eliminate the possibility that asbestos fibers will become airborne. As the material is being removed, other workers are picking up the loose material and placing it in 6 mil thick plastic bags. Each bag is sprayed with water and sealed with duct tape.

Work In-Progress Inspections

While removing the asbestos, our workers check to ensure that no asbestos-containing material remains in the area we are evacuating. Also, we check to ensure that bagged material is placed where the bags cannot be damaged. These work in-progress inspections ensure that the asbestos removal procedure continually remains in compliance with local and State regulations.

Clean Area where Asbestos-Containing Material has been Removed

After removing the asbestos-containing material, our workers clean the abated area with HEPA vacuum cleaners and clean wet rags. These cleaning rags are disposed of in double 6 mil poly bags in the same manner that we disposed of the asbestos-containing material.

Remove and Dispose of Protective Clothing

At end of the work day or at the end of the job, our workers remove the protective tyvek suit, place in a double poly bag, seal the bag and dispose of properly.

Clean Up the Job Site and Dispose of All Asbestos-Containing Material

After removing asbestos-containing material from a job site, we place all the bagged material and the containment plastic from the contained area into a sealable dumpster for transporting to an approved asbestos disposal site. Required WSR (Waste Shipment Record(s)) must accompany the hazardous asbestos waste landfill.