After asbestos has been located in the home, there are two options: hire a professional abatement team, or remove the asbestos yourself. Although removing the asbestos without a specialized company often brings further complications and is costly, some homeowners feel as though it is the best option. In order to ensure the highest safety measures for you and your family, it is important to obtain samples and have it tested to make sure asbestos has indeed contaminated the area. You can then proceed with the abatement process after a diagnosis of the room has been performed. Once again, it cannot be stressed enough that asbestos, if left alone, is non-toxic. By removing undisturbed asbestos, you could be creating more of a problem (health wise and financially) if you choose to remove it.
Removing asbestos is not an easy task. By taking on this type of project and the responsibility associated with it, you are foregoing any legal help that you could have received by hiring a professional abatement company. When you do decide to take on the project, it is important to have a game plan. The first steps should include: getting proper breathing ventilation systems for yourself and others that may be working on the project, purchasing protective clothing that can be thrown away after abatement is complete and becoming aware of state and federal regulations when removing asbestos on your own.
Removal procedures first begin with permits that you must obtain from your state regulators. These documents are a guide on how to proceed with the abatement process and proper disposal after removal of the material has been complete. The application that follows with this permit is proof that you are taking full responsibility for safely removing the asbestos from your home without contaminating those inside the house or anyone else that could potentially come in contact with the loose material until it is properly disposed of. There are also fees that vary from state to state regarding the permit and application process.
At this time, if you are taking on a team to help you with the project, you must think of their safety and your liability to them. Proper work gear, clothing (overalls, boots, eye protection, gloves) and breathing respirators are required for the safety of the team. However, it is important to realize that hiring any form of workers other than a professional abatement team is against the law. Having more than one person help you with abatement is important because it allows one person to concentrate on removing the material while the other packages the material and keeps it wet until disposal. It is also important to note that individuals with facial hair should not participate in asbestos removal, as protective gear may not fit properly and potentially expose them to loose particles.
There are several preparatory steps necessary before the abatement process begins. Those who are participating in the project should make sure all tools are purchased and ready for the process (such as hoses, water sprayer, dish washing detergent, pry bar and a knife). There is also specific equipment that can be purchased for asbestos removal. You can find these resources by checking in your local phonebook for companies who specialize in making protective gear and apparel. When beginning to remove the asbestos from the designated area, it is imperative to keep the material wet at all times. This allows the fibers to settle and not become airborne. The goal for the abatement process is to remove the asbestos without the particles becoming airborne. The material should be carefully scraped off the surface into bags that are specially designed for asbestos removal, sealed and handed over to the other worker to be sealed again. The process for removing asbestos differs depending on what kind of asbestos you are removing and what portion of the home it is in. For example, removing siding may have different tasks for removal than if you are abating a room that had flooring filled with the toxic material.
Contained material should be kept in storage bins that are properly sealed and labeled to be taken to a landfill designed for asbestos. The landfill should be picked and notified before the abatement process takes place. You have to make sure that your local landfill accepts asbestos material and has enough room for the amount of waste that you will be bringing. Clean up should consist of wetting any area of the room that had not been finished or is still in question for containing asbestos. Even if you think you got it all, it is still important to keep everything wet and out of the air. When workers have completed the job, they must decontaminate themselves by wetting themselves down and removing the protective clothing. Always remove respirators last after all garments have been removed. If dust particles are still present, do not vacuum or sweep them up. Instead, wet them down and remove them the same way. Make sure all workers, including you, have thoroughly showered after the project is complete. When the process if finished, make sure to obtain an "after" sample to make sure that all asbestos has been safely removed from the area.
If you have any questions or doubt on your do-it-yourself abatement project, contact a professional immediately. Asking questions and educating yourself on the process before it begins is the best way to effectively eliminate the asbestos and keep everyone safe.
Friday, April 15, 2011
Friday, March 11, 2011
BCHD's Loss of Lead Abatement Funds
By now many of you have learned about the Baltimore City Health Department's recent loss of Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) lead abatement dollars.
While loss of these dollars is a troubling setback, it does not mean that lead abatement work will cease in the City. We will continue to do everything possible to protect the health of families with young children and prevent lead poisoning.
I am pleased to report that Housing Commissioner Paul Graziano and I are working closely together to ensure that these activities continue seamlessly as abatement moves to the Housing Department.
We are sharing all policies and procedures to ensure that their work benefits from the control measures put into place by the health department. We will continue our work on lead health education and inspections.
During the last four years the department’s lead abatement efforts saw several successes, including the following:
However, it was clear to me during my first weeks on the job that administrative issues impacted the abatement program’s ability to demonstrate effectively the scope of work being done and the quality control measures that had been put in place. As we work to improve health outcomes in Baltimore City, I expect greater oversight will be achieved through Division Stat, an internal process I instituted for sharing program performance data.
The best way for the health department to maintain the public’s confidence is for us to continue striving for excellence as we do the work of ensuring the health and safety of Baltimoreans on a daily basis. While recent publicity has been negative, it does not reflect the health department’s level of professionalism and commitment to serving the residents of Baltimore.
I want to thank all health department staff for their hard work, and I remain confident that the department’s sterling reputation will shine through this difficult period.
While loss of these dollars is a troubling setback, it does not mean that lead abatement work will cease in the City. We will continue to do everything possible to protect the health of families with young children and prevent lead poisoning.
I am pleased to report that Housing Commissioner Paul Graziano and I are working closely together to ensure that these activities continue seamlessly as abatement moves to the Housing Department.
We are sharing all policies and procedures to ensure that their work benefits from the control measures put into place by the health department. We will continue our work on lead health education and inspections.
During the last four years the department’s lead abatement efforts saw several successes, including the following:
- Increased the efficiency with which contractors were selected and paid through the City’s procurement system
- Remediated 697 homes of lead paint risks hazards resulting in a significant increase over the previous two-year period
- The number of lead poisoned children decreased from 315 in FY08 to 205 in FY10
- The percentage of Baltimore City children ages 0-35 months who were tested for lead increased 9% from 2007 to 2009
However, it was clear to me during my first weeks on the job that administrative issues impacted the abatement program’s ability to demonstrate effectively the scope of work being done and the quality control measures that had been put in place. As we work to improve health outcomes in Baltimore City, I expect greater oversight will be achieved through Division Stat, an internal process I instituted for sharing program performance data.
The best way for the health department to maintain the public’s confidence is for us to continue striving for excellence as we do the work of ensuring the health and safety of Baltimoreans on a daily basis. While recent publicity has been negative, it does not reflect the health department’s level of professionalism and commitment to serving the residents of Baltimore.
I want to thank all health department staff for their hard work, and I remain confident that the department’s sterling reputation will shine through this difficult period.
How to Request Abatement of Interest
You request an abatement or reduction of IRS interest using IRS form 843. File the form with the IRS service center where you filed your tax return that was affected by the error or delay.
If you already paid the interest and you would like a credit or refund of interest paid you must file Form 843 within 3 years from the date you filed the original return or 2 years from the date you paid the interest, whichever is later. IF you have not paid the interest these time limitations do not apply.
Generally you file a separate Form 843 for each tax period and each type of tax unless the error is that of the IRS. If that is the case only one Form 843 is necessary. This could happen for example when the IRS examines 2 or more tax periods in one audit.
If your request for abatement is denied you appeal the decision to the IRS Appeals Office. The Tax Court can indeed review a failure to abate interest if a petition is filed within 180 days of the mailing of the notice of final determination or the notice of dis-allowance.
Other idiosyncratic criteria apply. Contact me for more details.
If you already paid the interest and you would like a credit or refund of interest paid you must file Form 843 within 3 years from the date you filed the original return or 2 years from the date you paid the interest, whichever is later. IF you have not paid the interest these time limitations do not apply.
Generally you file a separate Form 843 for each tax period and each type of tax unless the error is that of the IRS. If that is the case only one Form 843 is necessary. This could happen for example when the IRS examines 2 or more tax periods in one audit.
If your request for abatement is denied you appeal the decision to the IRS Appeals Office. The Tax Court can indeed review a failure to abate interest if a petition is filed within 180 days of the mailing of the notice of final determination or the notice of dis-allowance.
Other idiosyncratic criteria apply. Contact me for more details.
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