A Guide To Safe Household Chemical Storage

Proper storage of household chemicals is essential for preventing accidents, protecting your family, and preserving the environment. Accidents involving household chemicals can have serious consequences, including injuries, property damage, and environmental contamination. Understanding the potential risks and taking proactive steps to prevent accidents is crucial for protecting the well-being of your household. 

Identify Household Chemicals

The first step in safe chemical storage is to identify all the chemicals in your home. Common household chemicals include cleaning products, pesticides, fertilizers, paint, and automotive fluids. Understanding the types of chemicals you have will help you determine appropriate storage methods and precautions.

Choose a Safe Storage Location

Select a cool, dry, and well-ventilated area for your chemical storage area. Avoid storing chemicals in basements, garages, or attics, as these areas can experience temperature fluctuations and moisture, which can affect the chemicals. A locked storage cabinet or shed is ideal for storing hazardous chemicals.

Proper Container Storage

Store chemicals in their original containers to prevent confusion and accidental misuse. If transferring chemicals to another container is necessary, use clearly labeled, airtight containers. This ensures proper identification and reduces the risk of contamination. Additionally, storing chemicals in their original containers often provides important safety information, such as handling instructions and first aid measures.

Chemical Compatibility

Be aware of chemical compatibility. Some chemicals can react dangerously when stored together. Avoid storing incompatible chemicals near each other. Refer to the product labels for specific storage recommendations. Never assume that two chemicals are safe to store together without verifying their compatibility. If in doubt, consult the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for each chemical or contact a hazardous materials expert for guidance.

Childproofing Your Home

Children are naturally curious and may be attracted to colorful chemical containers. Keep all chemicals out of reach of children and pets. Consider using childproof locks on cabinets and drawers where chemicals are stored. Teach children from a young age about the dangers of chemicals and the importance of seeking adult assistance if they encounter any.

By following these guidelines and implementing effective chemical storage practices, you can significantly reduce the risk of accidents and protect your family's health and safety. To learn more, the resource below provides a visual representation of household chemical storage guidelines.

Asbestos in Homes - Who Can Safely Test & Remove It?

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Asbestos – once a popular building material – is now recognized for its severe health risks, including lung cancer and mesothelioma. Despite being banned in many countries, it still lurks in numerous older homes, posing a significant danger to residents. 

This makes Asbesto testing crucial, particularly if you have an allergic or sensitive individual at your place. In this article, we’ll explain who can safely test asbestos and professionally remove it from your home.

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a group of naturally occurring minerals known for their fibrous structure and resistance to heat, fire, and chemicals. These properties made asbestos a popular choice for construction materials throughout the 20th century. There are six types of asbestos, with the following ones being most common:

• Chrysotile (white asbestos)

• Amosite (brown asbestos)

• Crocidolite (blue asbestos). 

As mentioned earlier, this material can be found in various household materials, including insulation, floor tiles, roofing, and cement products. On the positive side, its got amazing durability for a building material and fibers. But on the negative side,  it can lead to airborne disease and pose serious health risks when inhaled.

Health Risks Associated with Asbestos

Asbestos exposure poses serious health risks, primarily due to its ability to release microscopic fibers into the air, which can be inhaled and become trapped in the lungs. The most notable health conditions linked to asbestos exposure include:

• Mesothelioma: A rare and aggressive cancer affecting the lining of the lungs, abdomen, or heart. Mesothelioma often develops 20 to 50 years after exposure and has a high mortality rate, making early detection and management crucial.

• Asbestosis: A chronic lung disease caused by prolonged exposure to asbestos. It results in scarring of lung tissue, leading to symptoms such as persistent coughing, shortness of breath, and chest pain. Asbestosis progressively worsens over time and can severely impact quality of life.

• Lung Cancer: Exposure to asbestos significantly increases the risk of developing lung cancer, particularly for smokers. The risk is compounded by the long latency period, meaning symptoms may not appear until decades after exposure.

Given these severe health risks, it is important for everyone to handle asbestos with extreme caution. Professional testing and removal ensure that asbestos is managed safely, minimizing the risk of fiber release and protecting occupants from potential exposure. 

Proper handling and abatement reduce the likelihood of harmful fibers becoming airborne, thereby safeguarding both current and future residents' health.

Identifying Asbestos in Your Home

The common signs of asbestos in your home include the following:

• Age of the Home: Homes built before the 1980s are more likely to contain asbestos, as its use was more common during this period.

• Visual Clues: Asbestos-containing materials may appear in insulation around pipes, boilers, and ducts, as well as in floor tiles, ceiling tiles, and roofing materials. Look for materials with a fibrous or powdery appearance.

• Condition of Materials: Damaged or deteriorating materials may release asbestos fibers into the air. Crumbling or worn-out insulation, tiles, or roofing can be a red flag.

But these signs might not be identifiable by everyone. You’ll need professional help to detect asbestos for sure and find a solid solution.

Who Can Safely Test for Asbestos?

Key indicators of asbestos presence include the age of your home—particularly if it was built before the 1980s— and visible signs such as damaged or deteriorating insulation, floor tiles, ceiling tiles, or roofing materials that may contain asbestos. If you notice these signs, it is essential to seek professional help rather than attempting DIY identification. There are certified asbestos inspectors out there who use specialized tools and techniques to accurately test and identify asbestos-containing materials. This ensures a thorough and reliable assessment. 

Disturbing suspected asbestos materials on your own can release harmful fibers into the air, increasing health risks. For expert asbestos testing and removal, consider contacting professionals like those at: https://www.patchboyz.ca/asbestosremovalottawa (i.e., Patch Boyz) who offer safe and compliant solutions. Their expertise ensures that your home is accurately assessed and safely managed, protecting both your health and property.

Choosing the Right Professional

When choosing the right professional for Asbesto testing and removal, look for professionals with relevant certifications and licenses. These credentials ensure they meet industry standards and regulations. 

Don’t be hesitant in asking potential contractors about their experience, the methods they use for testing and removal, and their safety protocols. Request references and check their reputation through reviews and past projects. 

Remember, proper vetting helps protect your health and ensures compliance with legal requirements. And a reliable professional won’t be afraid to share the details.

Final Words

Before we sign off, let’s quickly look at the cost of asbestos testing and removal. Usually, it varies depending on the extent of contamination and location. But on average, testing can range from $300 to $800, while removal costs may range from $1,500 to $3,000 or more. It’s crucial to obtain detailed quotes from certified professionals to accurately estimate the total expense and ensure a safe, thorough process.

The Dangers of Asbestos in the Home

Asbestos is a naturally-occurring mineral that resists exposure to fire, sound, water, and chemicals. It is composed of millions of fibers, which bind together to create a light yet virtually indestructible material.

Asbestos is mined from natural deposits around the world. Once removed from the ground, it can be processed and developed into a large number of products.

Since asbestos naturally resists many elements, it was used in thousands of products. Dozens of industries — and countless jobs — came to rely on asbestos.

Although the military relied heavily on asbestos products for building ships, vehicles, and bases, many houses built in the 1930s to late 1970s contained asbestos as well.

Asbestos was often used to build structures because of its resistance to heat, sound, and fire.

Yet, the benefits of asbestos could not outweigh one major problem: if asbestos fibers are inhaled or swallowed, it can lead to mesothelioma, a deadly and incurable cancer.

The manufacturers of asbestos-containing products knew the health risks of asbestos decades before the public did. Instead of keeping people safe, these companies put profits first and actively concealed evidence that asbestos was dangerous.

Eventually, the truth came out and these manufacturers faced thousands of lawsuits from victims who developed mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.

Asbestos could often be found in: 

• Cabinet linings

• Caulking

• Ceilings

• Drywall

• Fireplace bricks

• Floor tiles

• Furnaces

• Insulation

• Paint

• Piping

• Roofing

What Should I Do If I Suspect Asbestos In The Home?

If you believe your home may contain asbestos, it is imperative you do not remove it yourself.

Asbestos can be very dangerous if the fibers become disturbed. Generally, if the asbestos is left undisturbed, it does not pose an imminent health risk. When the fibers become airborne, they can easily be inhaled or ingested. This can put everyone in the home at risk of developing mesothelioma.

You should always contact an asbestos inspector and/or removal specialist if you suspect asbestos in the home.

Today, professionals accredited by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) safely remove asbestos materials from older structures.

An inspector will first examine the area in question to confirm the presence of asbestos. Then, a trained removal specialist will safely remove the asbestos and repair the area.

The EPA urges you to contact your local, state accredited asbestos removal service provider. 

You want to make sure you hire a licensed professional to ensure they can remove the asbestos safely without any issues. 
Once you are able to remove the asbestos in the home, you can rest assured your family is safe and not at risk of developing mesothelioma.

Avoiding Health Hazards When Renovating Your Home

Your home should feel like the safest place in the world. It should bring you peace, make you comfortable, and it should be the place you look forward to coming back to at the end of the day. A lot of people will choose to decorate, renovate, and even remodel their home in order to achieve that cozy feeling. Deciding to renovate your home is exciting but it can seem like an extremely daunting task. Things like dangerous building materials and substances may come up during the renovation process and could pose a serious threat to your health. You’re even more likely to run into potential hazards if you’re in an older home. Federal and local codes, as well as building technology, are constantly changing to improve the health and safety of residents. Making sure your home is up to date is not only an aesthetic choice, but it is a matter of health.

Building Materials

One of the largest health hazards that you will potentially find within your home can be found in the building materials used in the house. Depending on when certain aspects of the house were built, or the products that the builder decided on, you might come across illness-inducing materials like asbestos. Asbestos refers to a group of minerals used to fortify certain products. Be cautious of your potential exposure to asbestos while working with things like insulation, popcorn ceilings, drywall, and more. This is especially common if you’re working on a home built prior to 1979. Inhaling asbestos fibers can put you at risk for a devastating cancer known as mesothelioma. 

Lead is another common material that you might come across while working on your home. Used for its anti-corrosion and preservation properties, lead is often found in things like old paint, pipes, glass or crystal, and even soil. Though it was banned for use in paint in the U.S. in 1978, it is estimated that millions of homes still contain lead based paint. If you are living in an older home with its original paint, you’ll want to assess your risk of exposure to lead before deciding on your renovation priorities. Paint isn’t the only culprit. Older plumbing systems and windows can also put your family at risk for lead exposure. 

When it comes to identifying materials that may contain asbestos or lead, it is best to consult a professional. They’ll be able to perform the necessary tests and advise you how to best go about removing the toxic substances. While it might be an added expense, it’ll be necessary to figure into your renovation budget so you can keep you and your family safe for however long you’re in your home.

Electrical

Potential home health hazards are not only limited to toxic materials. You need to be cautious about the possibility of electrocution, and take the precautions necessary to avoid it. Being aware of what is a true electrical risk will help you stay attentive as you work around your home. Any open or frayed wires that you notice should be dealt with immediately and you should avoid touching them. Make sure your family knows of their location as well so they can steer clear. If you're working with a contractor, they should be able to acknowledge and avoid shock risks. If you’re renovating yourself you should be practicing electrical safety.

Another important area to check are the outlet connections. If they are loose or are not properly grounded, using the outlets can put you at risk of being shocked. They should also not be hot to the touch, or produce sparks. In terms of electrical appliances, they should be kept away from any major source of water. Products like hair dryers, irons, toaster ovens, and other home appliances should never be used in and around the bath, shower, or sink. This rule is less often thought of for your outdoor appliances. Keep things like string lights, radios, and electric lawn equipment away from swimming pools, ponds, or areas where water tends to collect.

Plumbing

Plumbing issues are typically thought of as a threat because of the possibility of property damage, but they can also have an impact on your health. If you’re checking out your plumbing systems, whether it be under the sinks, in the basement, or elsewhere, keep an eye out for leaks and corroded areas that could potentially turn into something serious. Plumbing issues can turn into health hazards in a few ways. One of the risks to your health comes from the extreme temperatures that your plumbing can produce, if you live in an area that gets very hot or very cold. Frozen pipes and over-heated water can both cause burns to the skin and result in serious injury. You may want to avoid working on your pipes until the weather is more mild. 

Water sources or constantly damp areas in your home become a risk to your health specifically when the water saturates and stagnates in an area. Stagnant water can easily start to develop bacteria, and can even become a breeding ground for insects. Touching this water or potentially getting it in your eyes could cause an infection or rash. Similar risks are involved if you come into contact with waste water from your sewage or septic systems. Constantly damp areas, usually in a bathroom or basement, can end up growing mold. Mold is something you should be able to identify yourself, either by sight or smell. Exposure to mold can be dangerous to you and your family, especially for those with allergies or asthma. Inhaling mold spores can trigger coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and can exacerbate asthma. 

Once you’ve decided to renovate your home, it is tempting to just get started. Renovating is a fun process where you get to be creative, spend time with your family and friends, and make your space your own. Plus, it's a great way to add value to your home. However, you need to make sure your home will be a safe place to live before you get  started on all of the aesthetic changes. Coming across any of these hazards, while frustrating, will be beneficial to change in the long run and renovating can turn into an enjoyable experience for all.