Just last week a steam pipe exploded beneath the road in downtown Baltimore spraying debris and steam into the air and all over the street. The already difficult cleanup was further complicated by the fact that the pipe was insulated with asbestos (http://www.wbaltv.com/article/i-team-burst-steam-pipe-is-old-lined-with-asbestos/10208946).
First responders may have been exposed to airborne asbestos as they reported to the scene, but once it was determined asbestos was present extra precautions were taken as the cleanup progressed. Two asbestos removal firms were hired to do the cleanup, using specialized techniques to ensure that the particles that had settled didn’t become airborne again. The crews followed the correct safety procedures and went in with full hazmat suits for the cleanup. You can see some of the cleanup efforts in a video posted by WBAL tv11 (http://www.wbaltv.com/article/crews-make-progress-in-cleanup-after-steam-pipe-explosion/10214879).
Ensuring the cleanup is handled properly the first time is very important since the airborne asbestos could have easily made its way into nearby buildings and vehicles. According to an article in the Baltimore Sun back in the late 80’s a similar, but more severe, explosion happened in New York City and the surrounding buildings were contaminated by asbestos (http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-city/bs-md-ci-asbestos-clean-up-20170623-story.html). If these Baltimore buildings and vehicles were left contaminated people using the vehicles and living or working in the buildings run the risk of long term health risks. Fortunately, in this case it appears that the proper steps were taken to reduce or eliminate any further asbestos exposure.
This incident is a reminder to all of us that asbestos and other hazardous materials lurk in the infrastructure of our modern conveniences and that there are risks associated with those luxuries we don’t even think about until something like this happens. Luckily there are many great, qualified asbestos removal companies out there that take health and safety seriously and can ensure a good outcome in situations like this one.
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