I just got back from a family trip and found that my high school kids had started scraping the popcorn ceiling. They're about 80% done, but we discovered it contains asbestos after testing. We've wrapped the removed material in plastic and it's sitting in my truck. My main concern is for the safety of my wife and kid since we've been wetting it down to limit dust. I'm looking for suggestions on how to handle the situation. Should I get a HEPA vacuum, new respirators, and just paint over the ceiling to limit exposure? Am I overreacting here? Thanks!
6 Answers
Did you turn off your HVAC while doing this? That’s super important to prevent any dust from circulating in your home!
You’re not going to die from this, don’t worry. The real dangers come from prolonged exposure, so it should be okay. Just stay vigilant and maybe invest in some air purifiers!
Just make sure those kids were wearing proper PPE when they worked! It's a lot to ask of them without warning them about the asbestos.
In the end, accidental exposure to asbestos for a short time is usually not that big of a deal. It's kind of like smoking; a few cigarettes won't hurt, but repeated danger does. I learned this the hard way too. Just keep cleaning the area and wear it as a lesson learned!
Good to know! I’ll wash the clothes I wore and get a proper HEPA vacuum for cleanup.
You should definitely clean everything up thoroughly after finishing. Honestly, a lot of the fear surrounding asbestos is exaggerated. Unless you were exposed continuously for years, it's usually not a huge concern. Just make sure you clean up well and you should be fine!
Exactly, I’ll make sure to grab a HEPA vacuum and wear better masks while we finish. Safety first!
True, but we should still be careful. Most homeowner-related asbestos risks are blown out of proportion. It's the workers who deal with it day in and day out that really face the dangers. Just keep your situation clean and limit any further exposure.
As long as you keep it wet while handling it, you should be okay. Just bag it up well and take it to a hazardous waste disposal site. Don't forget to wear the right PPE when working!
Yeah, we’re still seeing some dust, so I’ll get that HEPA vacuum right away to tackle the rest of the house.
They had some PPE, but now I realize they need better masks as well.