Asbestos and Lead Precautions

Combine your department’s specific safety guidelines for asbestos and lead exposure with the following general precautions:

• Wear full PPE and SCBA whenever you respond to a fire involving electrical equipment.
• Avoid touching or spreading any dislodged coating materials. Keep these materials isolated from the public, and set up barriers to prevent tracking them around.
• Inform your incident commander and utility representative if you have touched anything that you suspect may contain asbestos. Stand by for decontamination if needed.
• Do not attempt cleanup yourself. Trained asbestos specialists must come to collect and properly dispose of these materials.