[Guest]

So in my area there is the ever present threat of entering a former meth lab (especially if you go into some very specific cities) and generally work orders are less then detailed on who or what was in the house prior to you coming in. So my question to those that do trashouts and initial securing of the home, do you use respirators all the time or only some of the time. If the answer is only sometimes, what makes the decision for use or non use of them?

On this line of work do you ever use disposable coveralls too?

 

[GTX63]

If you cannot tell from the outside, you should know within the first breath/few seconds inside the front door if you need protective gear.
Crack houses, urine, feces, mold, roaches, raw garbage all have their own greetings. For initial secures and trashouts, no, we don't always have it on, but it is always in the trucks.

 

[Guest]

If you cannot tell from the outside, you should know within the first breath/few seconds inside the front door if you need protective gear.
Crack houses, urine, feces, mold, roaches, raw garbage all have their own greetings. For initial secures and trashouts, no, we don't always have it on, but it is always in the trucks.

Let me add that companies like FAS and Cyprexx do not care if you have to siut up or not!

 

[KDavidFF369]

I figured that they wouldn't care if one needs to wear a mask and/or coveralls to do the job. All they care about is getting their pictures and proving to their client that the job was done.

Thank you both for your replies.

 

[Guest]

It seems nobody truly cares about their health......

Just wait till someone unsuspectingly starts trashout out a Meth Lab house and are brushing up against the walls with unprotected skin or breathing the "dust" that is kicked up......

It only takes once is what they tell me to become a junkie....although unintentionally......

I personally know 2 cases where this has happened and Thank Heavens the States/Law Enforcement are pushing to condemn the homes where the labs are KNOWN.

 

[KDavidFF369]

Fremont, my thought in part is that a respirator and latex gloves at the least should always be worn when doing a trashout. We never truly know what we are dealing with (disease, drug/chemical contamination, etc). I am looking to see what most other REO contractors do. Filters, coveralls, etc all get expensive and when dealing with the more nastier things a half-mask if not full face mask respirator is in order, not just a disposable one.

 

[BamaPPC]

We use dust masks when there is a lot of dust that could be harmful (like rat turds for example). But, If I feel going into a dwelling is going to be harmful, in any way, to my employees. We don't go in without bidding to cover the extra expense at having to "suit-up".

I've seen a house that was two story, the upstairs bathroom sink had been left on by the previous occupants. We get there about 8 months after they left. The entire bottom floor was covered in black, green and brown mold. Even had some mushrooms growing in the carpet.
As soon as we breached the door, I told my guys to stay out. I got a mask and went through the house taking pictures as quickly as I could and then refused to go back, since there was no way for us to abate that much mold.

Point is, don't put yourself in harms way. There are contractors that specialize in HazMat conditions. Use them. You can put a mark up on their bill, and then they (their insurance) are responsible for any claims.

 

[Guest]

The EPA technically is tasked with the requirments for meth labs - though they are still voluntary... http://www.epa.gov/oem/methlab.htm

OSHA & your state may also have requirments you need to know about

 

[thanohano44]

It seems nobody truly cares about their health......

Just wait till someone unsuspectingly starts trashout out a Meth Lab house and are brushing up against the walls with unprotected skin or breathing the "dust" that is kicked up......

It only takes once is what they tell me to become a junkie....although unintentionally......

I personally know 2 cases where this has happened and Thank Heavens the States/Law Enforcement are pushing to condemn the homes where the labs are KNOWN.

It only takes once is correct. And the rehab for someone who uses meth tends to take 2-3 years.