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United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
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Oklahoma State Department of Hesltti
Cresting a State of Health
Bring the right supplies - check them off
• Lots of bottled drinking water and sports drinks
• First aid kit
• Battery-operated radio
Trash bags and cleaning supplies
Cellphone
Drive carefully
• Do not drive through closed roads or over downed
power lines.
• Traffic lights may be out, and street signs may be
turned or gone.
• Stop at all intersections and have a full tank of gas.
Cleanup precautions
• Be sure to wear a face mask if you are causing dust
to become airborne.
• Be sure to wash your hands and face after handling
dusty items.
• Do not eat, drink or smoke while working in dusty
areas.
• Dust in your area may contain high levels of lead.
While working in debris
• Wear a dust mask.
• Wear gloves.
STEPS TO STAY SAFE
Clean-up after working in debris
Wear heavy boots; steel-
toed or steel shank boots are
always a good idea when
working in any debris.
Wash thoroughly, particularly your
hands and face.
Remove boots
before entering
your car or
house, place in
plastic bag -
you may put them on again when you return to
work.
Remove gloves and
place them in a plastic
bag - you may put
them on again when
you return to work.
• Change clothes, wash your
clothing separately from other clothing.
• Wash your hands after touching or handling
anything with dust or dirt.
ASBESTOS IN YOUR HOME
What Is asbestos?
Asbestos is a mineral fiber. It can be positively
identified only with a special type of microscope.
There are several types of asbestos fibers. In the past,
asbestos was added to a variety of products to
strengthen them and to provide heat insulation and fire
resistance.
Asbestos do's and don'ts for the
homeowner
Do keep activities to a minimum in any areas
having damaged material that may contain asbestos.
Do take every precaution to avoid damaging
asbestos material.
May 2008
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Do have removal and major repair done by people
trained and qualified in handling asbestos. It is highly
recommended that sampling and minor repair also be
done by asbestos professionals.
Don't dust, sweep, or
vacuum debris that may
contain asbestos.
Don't saw, sand,
scrape, or drill holes in
asbestos materials.
Don't use abrasive
pads or brushes on power
strippers to strip wax from
asbestos flooring. Never use a
power stripper on a dry floor.
Don't sand or try to level asbestos flooring or its
backing. When asbestos flooring needs replacing,
install new floor covering over it, if possible.
Don't track material that could contain asbestos
through the house. If you cannot avoid walking
through the area, have it cleaned with a wet mop. If
the material is from a damaged area, or if a large area
must be cleaned, call an asbestos professional.
Examples of where asbestos hazards may
be found in the home
• Some roofing and siding shingles are made of
asbestos cement.
Older homes may have asbestos as insulation.
• Asbestos may be present in textured paint and in
patching compounds used on wall and ceiling
joints. Their use was banned in 1977.
• Artificial ashes and embers sold for use in gas-
fired fireplaces may contain asbestos.
• Older products such as stove-top pads may have
some asbestos compounds.
• Walls and floors around woodburning stoves may
be protected with asbestos paper, millboard, or
cement sheets.
• Asbestos is found in some vinyl floor tiles and the
backing on vinyl sheet flooring and adhesives.
• Hot water and steam pipes in older houses may be
coated with an asbestos material or covered with
an asbestos blanket or tape.
• Oil and coal furnaces and door gaskets may have
asbestos insulation.
LEAD
Protect Yourself with Safe Work Practices
Tips for protecting yourself & your family
from lead exposure:
• Wash hands and face before you eat, drink or smoke.
• Launder clothes at work. If you must take clothes
home, wash and dry separately.
• Wear a clean, properly fitted respirator in all areas
exposed to lead dust or fumes.
• Avoid stirring up (dry sweeping or blowing) dust
that contains lead. Wet cleaning and mopping are
generally safer.
• Eat a well-balanced diet. Proper nutrition can help
reduce lead levels. A diet high in iron and calcium
will help to reduce lead absorption.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Region 6
1-800-533-3508 (toll-free)
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease
Registry (ATSDR)
214-665-8362
Oklahoma State Department of Health
918-540-2481
May 2008
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