Short answer: A spill kit is a collection of tools and equipment needed to clean up an inadvertent spill of a particular substance. Different types of substances have different properties and pose varying types of danger, so spill kits are tailored to the need.

Asbestos is a highly durable but equally dangerous substance that was used in nearly all building construction and many materials and products before the 1980s. Removing asbestos, as well as any remodeling or demolition of a building constructed before the 1980s poses a danger that harmful asbestos fibers (known as friable asbestos) may become airborne. 

In the event that friable asbestos is exposed, an asbestos spill kit contains equipment needed to remove the asbestos contamination while protecting anyone in the area and any personnel conducting cleanup.

The Hazards of Asbestos are Ongoing

We know today that asbestos is an incredibly dangerous material that has been linked to serious health conditions, including several different cancers. However, asbestos was once widely used by home builders, automotive parts manufacturers, and assortment of other American industries. While the Environmental Protection Agency banned the manufacture, sale, and import of most asbestos-containing materials in the late 1980s, many structures remain contaminated.  

Asbestos spill kits are sometimes used on worksites and by private homeowners to contain and control potential sources of asbestos exposure. 

The History and Hidden Dangers of Asbestos

Asbestos is a term used to refer to six different types of naturally occurring mineral. Since asbestos is strong, resilient, and heat-resistant, it has long been used by humans to reinforce everything from table linens to asphalt roof shingles. 

While people have mined asbestos since the beginnings of recorded history, the production of asbestos-containing products skyrocketed during the Industrial Revolution. In the United States, asbestos was a favored building material. Despite the eventual E.P.A. ban, asbestos is still found in many homes. 

However, asbestos’s long-time use concealed serious dangers. When asbestos is broken down into microscopic fibers, they can be easily inhaled. Once asbestos enters the respiratory system, it can become trapped in and around the lungs, accumulating over time and causing health conditions including

  • Asbestos 
  • Pleural plaques
  • Pleural effusions 
  • Mesothelioma 
  • Lung cancer 
  • Esophageal cancer 
  • Laryngeal cancer 
  • Ovarian cancer 

Detecting Asbestos in Modern American Homes 

Asbestos is found in many common household products and features such as: 

  • Wall paint 
  • Vinyl floor tiles 
  • Carpet underlay
  • Floor underlay 
  • Asphalt roof shingles 
  • Plumbing insulation
  • Heating duct panels 
  • Fibrous sheeting 

While asbestos is anything but uncommon, it is not necessarily dangerous: left alone, and undisturbed, asbestos poses little danger to human health. However, asbestos is easily unsettled—any renovation work, demolition, or home reconstruction could send hidden asbestos fibers airborne. 

Asbestos spill kits are sometimes used to limit the spread of suspected or positively identified asbestos materials. 

Keep reading to understand more about what to prepare  in an asbestos spill kit, and what you need to know if you find yourself needing to use one to clean up an inadvertent asbestos spill.

Asbestos Exposure and Spill Kits 

What Do You Put in an Asbestos Spill Kit?

Asbestos spill kits are specially prepared sets of equipment that can be used to safely contain and control suspected asbestos exposures. An asbestos spill kit might contain: 

  • Goggles 
  • A tight-fitting face mask
  • Disposable rubber gloves 
  • Disposable work clothing 
  • Sealable bags or containers to dispose of any asbestos waste 

An asbestos spill kit could also contain sample-sized packets or laboratory test tubes, if a concerned person wishes to submit suspected asbestos materials to a licensed asbestos tester or licensed asbestos removal service for testing.  

Asbestos Spill Kits and Legal Liability 

The United States does not require that individual homeowners or businesses keep asbestos spill kits on their premises, even if their premises contain asbestos. 

However, employers have a legal duty to ensure that their workers are safe from harm. A business could be found liable for asbestos-related legal damages if it: 

  • Exposes employees to known or suspected asbestos materials; and 
  • Does not require or provide protective equipment, including face masks and disposable work clothes; and
  • Does not provide an easily accessible shower or other decontamination facility. 

When businesses knowingly expose workers—and workers’ families—to asbestos, they could be liable for any resulting injuries, medical expenses, and other damages.

AsbestosClaims.Law

AsbestosClaims.law is your comprehensive resource for all things asbestos. We hope this information helps you.

If you believe that your home was contaminated with asbestos, you could be entitled to significant compensation—money you could use to cover the costs of asbestos removal services, pay for medical treatment, and preemptively protect your physical well-being. 

In addition to legal claims, veterans disability, social security and employment protection like workers compensation, FELA and The Jones Act for maritime workers, there are asbestos trusts that have been set up to compensate those harmed by asbestos without having to file a lawsuit.
If you have any additional questions or concerns related to asbestos, including testing for exposure or how to file a claim, please get in touch by email at [email protected], or call or text us at(833) 4-ASBESTOS (427-2378) or (206) 455-9190.