Blastrac Remediation applications

ASBESTOS IS A SET OF SIX NATURALLY OCCURRING SILICATE MINERALS USED COMMERCIALLY FOR THEIR DESIRABLE PHYSICAL PROPERTIES. MANY BUILDINGS CONTAIN ASBESTOS, AS IT WAS USED IN SPRAY-APPLIED FLAME RETARDANT, THERMAL SYSTEM INSULATION, AND IN A VARIETY OF OTHER MATERIALS LIKE CONCRETE AND ROADS FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE 20TH CENTURY.

In the early 1900’s researchers began to notice a large number of early deaths and lung problems in asbestos mining towns. Although the dangers of asbestos have been identified clearly from the beginning of the twentieth century, it was not until the mid 1980s and 1990s that the use of asbestos was banned in many countries. Although banned for many years in many countries, asbestos was still present in 2010 in many buildings and equipment.

But what makes asbestos so dangerous to health? One of the key factors to consider is the friability of the asbestos. Friability is the tendency for asbestos containing materials to break down, chip or crumble under pressure or as a result of abrasion. Then we can differentiate 2 types of asbestos:

• Friable asbestos, is used to refer to asbestos-containing materials that can be easily reduced to powder by hand, when dry. These materials are more likely to release measurable levels of asbestos into the airborne environment when disturbed, and generally pose a greater risk to health. Examples of friable asbestos-containing materials include: thermal insulation, insulation boards, pipe lagging and sprayed coatings.
• Non-friable asbestos, or bonded asbestos is used to refer to asbestos-containing materials in which the asbestos is firmly bound in the matrix of the material. These materials are unlikely to release measurable levels of asbestos fibre into the airborne environment if they are left undisturbed. Therefore, they generally pose a lower risk to health. Examples of bonded asbestos-containing materials include: vinyl floor tiles, cement sheets, bitumen products and textured decorated coatings

That’s why asbestos has to be removed from the buildings and houses in order to prevent diseases caused by this product. We can find it on concrete, roof, ceiling, bricks, pipes, flooring. The only way to be sure that there is asbestos in our house is to remove a sample and have it tested by a competent laboratory. This way we know if intervention is necessary.

The best way to remove asbestos is to use the method of mechanical removal. All sources of asbestos are eliminated and it doesn’t need ongoing surveillance program.

LEAD PAINT IS PAINT CONTAINING LEAD, PIGMENT THAT IS ADDED TO PAINT TO SPEED UP DRYING, INCREASE DURABILITY, MAINTAIN A FRESH APPEARANCE, AND RESIST MOISTURE THAT CAUSES CORROSION.

To prevent diseases caused by this product, lead paint has to be removed. The radical method is the mechanical technique; completely removing the paint on the contaminated surface.

The introduction of lead paint for residential use in the 19th century increased childhood exposure to lead and its toxicity was discovered during the first half of the 20th century. Lead is especially damaging to children under the age of six, whose bodies are still developing. It is particularly dangerous to children because it tastes sweet, encouraging children to put lead chips and toys with lead dust in their mouths.Lead paint is also dangerous to adults and can cause reproductive problems in both men and women. That’s why lead paint is now prohibited in a lot of developed countries. However, lead paint is still present in many old houses and old buildings. You can find it on floors, ceilings, walls, roads and other surfaces such as steel (bridges, ships, tanks…).

NUCLEAR DECOMMISSIONING IS THE DISMANTLING AND DECONTAMINATION OF AN OLD NUCLEAR ACTIVITY: POWER PLANT, POND, LABORATORY, SURROUNDING BUILDINGS OR INDUSTRIAL NUCLEAR SITE THAT NO LONGER REQUIRES MEASURES FOR RADIATION PROTECTION. THE CHARACTERISTIC DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE DISMANTLING OF OTHER POWER PLANTS IS THE PRESENCE OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL THAT REQUIRES SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS.

Generally speaking, nuclear buildings were designed for a life span of about 30–40 years. Once they come to the end of their operating life, these plants must be decontaminated to remove every radioactive contaminant. The main goal is to remove as much of the contaminated materials as possible, in order to give a safe area back to the public sector.

Decommissioning involves many administrative and technical actions. It includes clean-up of radioactivity and progressive demolition of the plant. Once a facility is decommissioned, there should no longer be any danger of radioactive exposure or any dangers to those visiting it. After a facility has been completely decommissioned, it is then released from regulatory control, and the licensee of the plant will no longer be responsible for its nuclear safety.

As a minimum, the floor, walls, and external structural surfaces within work areas should be cleaned of loose contamination. It’s a slow, expensive and essential process taking place in stages due to the radioactivity in the reactor structure. A decontamination program may also require a facility capable of treating secondary waste from decontamination. The concentrated waste, representing a more significant radiation source, must be shipped for disposal in licensed disposal facilities.

ON 17/01/2018, THE NEW EUROPEAN DIRECTIVE 2017/2398, AMENDING DIRECTIVE 2004/37/EC, CAME INTO EFFECT ON THE PROTECTION OF WORKERS FROM THE RISKS RELATED TO EXPOSURE TO CARCINOGENS OR MUTAGENS AT WORK. MEMBER STATES SHALL BRING INTO FORCE THE LAWS, REGULATIONS AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS NECESSARY TO COMPLY WITH THIS DIRECTIVE BY 17 JANUARY 2020.

In Article 18a, Annex I, which defines the list of substances, the following point has been added: „6. Work involving exposure to respirable crystalline silica dust generated by a work process“.

Crystalline silica is a common mineral that is found in construction materials such as sand, stone, concrete, brick, and mortar. When workers scarify, grind, cut, drill, or crush materials that contain crystalline silica, very small dust particles are created.

Exposure to respirable crystalline silica (very small particles at least 100 times smaller than ordinary sand you might find on beaches and playgrounds) can occur during common construction tasks, such as using grinders, scarifiers, masonry saws, drills and handheld powered tools. Workers who inhale these very small crystalline silica particles are at increased risk of developing serious silica-related diseases, including silicosis, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or kidney disease.

Therefore it is important to limit worker exposures to respirable crystalline silica. To do so, machines have to be equipped with a local exhaust and connected to an appropriate dust collector in order to collect all the created dust. This dust collector must be equipped with a HEPA filter which traps over 99.995 % of dust with a grain size of under 1 micron. In addition, it is also essential to avoid exposure to dust when changing dust bags and cleaning or replacing the filters.