Help with asbestos!!

TrickyNiki

The H+S officer only told me to make sure he double bags it securely in thick plastic bags and takes it away with him.

I really dont think he should be smashing it to bits with a hammer. But H+S never told me to look out for that, I feel like I tried to do something but nobodys bothered one bit.

poppysarah

Nice. Ring EH again.

He shouldn't be smashing it. And some people do think some isn't really bad for you. But as you die from it if it is then that's nasty.
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1064781_tragic_leigh_youngest_asbestos_victim
She was 28 and didn't work with the stuff.

ariba10

Sheet cement asbestos is usualy very low risk.

Anyone can take it to our local Tip, sorry "Recycing Center" as long as you put it the correct container.

silvercar

Just spoken to the handyman, He says that this asbestos isnt dangerous.its only the blue stuff you have to be worried about(?) Hes smashing it to pieces with a hammer and said because its windy its not a problem.

The handyman is an idiot.

Even the experts send a sample away for analysis before identifying the type of asbestos it is.

Even if it is low risk, you don't unnecessarily hammer it to pieces.

How is he planning to dispose of it? In your wheely bin? Or at the bottom of a skip, hidden from view?

TrickyNiki

On phone again to H+S officer. The Handyman is sawing it up into chunks where he cannot break it with a hammer, then hes calmly throwing it into the van.

Just got off the phone now, the sheds down and all damage that could have been done has been, All that H+S could do was tell me to make a complaint, which I did. They said it might get me in trouble with my LA as they would probably know I was the one who complained.

Now all I need to do is find out when it is safe to go out of the house.

TrickyNiki

ariba10 wrote: »

Sheet cement asbestos is usualy very low risk.

Anyone can take it to our local Tip, sorry "Recycing Center" as long as you put it the correct container.

I read that on the link jenny74 gave me, but it also said not to break up sheets and to wear apropriate clothing. He also was just throwing it onto the back of his van and not putting it in any container.

tbs624

There are 3 types: blue (crocidolite) , brown (amosite and the white (chrysotile) cement stuff that is usually used for sheds, garage roofs etc.

The white presents the lowest risk and can be removed by unlicensed contractors but should, as others have said, be sprayed to keep it damp & then double bagged & taken to appropriate waste site.

The handyman absolutely shouldn't be breaking it up on site and should wear a face mask/gloves/disposable overalls etc for his own protection and should have plastic sheets under work area. If your local council are being useless ring your local councillors and also talk to the HSE (health & safety exec). Take photos.

TrickyNiki

It was proabably the white stuff in my shed then, as H+S said anyone could remove it as they didnt need a license.

I knew this would happen the instant he said he might as well pull it down while hes here. I kept getting fobbed off by EH and H+S. It was only when there was scraps of the shed left and the damage done before I was believed.

I wish I had thought of photos. Grrr.

morg_monster

aside from regulation following etc, the risk to your health and the cats is minimal. Hopefully you will get more rain today (it's forecast!).

The handyman though, what a wally. I was reading in a geeky statistics mag that the expected deaths from asbestos are higher than the HSE make out, and that averaged out, something like 3 electricians, 3 plumbers, and 2 something else's die of asbestos related illnesses a week.

By all means get cross and complain, you totally should. But please don't worry unnecessarily about YOUR health. If you consider yourself to be doing that handyman a favour it might make you feel better about complaining. If he's been pulling down sheds like this for years, and assuming they're all "good" asbestos, well I dread to think of his long term exposure.

morg_monster

...and the exposure of his wife, kids etc, from his dusty clothes and overalls. That is the really tragic bit.