Help Please Asbestos Removal

PottersbigE

Ionkontrol wrote: »

What are you going on about Potters? Unless it is disturbed, it id not dangerous.

Are you in the construction industry?

If so then you should know the dangers, if you read my post I have said leave the asbestos alone.

Once again I suggest those who say it poses no threat in schools etc to look at the statistics, where you will find teachers are dying from mesothelioma, you can also discover the youngest person to have asbestos related cancer.

Just to remind people that it’s real and dangerous if handled incorrectly, just have a look at the videos on the HSE website then come back to me and say it’s not, or it’s ok to just take off the sheets whole without using the correct control measures; its not scaremongering just facts.

All the information regarding asbestos and the new 2012 reg’s can be found on the HSEwebsite.

Hintza

Ah the old white asbestos scam to create jobs for the boys along with the likes of wind turbines etc...


Emotive fear-mongering. Blue and brown asbestos are of course dangerous - no argument - but the science against chrysotile (white asbestos) - 95% of all asbestos - is much weaker. Birth control pills, and a nice spring sunny day, are also recognised as "Class 1 Carcinogens".

Niv

Just to add a little fuel here (like it is needed) but AC can contain Blue asbestos too, caution should be taken when handling the product, but there is also no need for all the scaremongering that is going on. The risks with asbestos cement are low, but do still exist, the a15 guidance linked is as expected a belt and braces approach to removal – the HSE are not going to recommend a short cut in a guidance document after all – however, for example, if you were removing a asbestos plastic toilet cistern it is unlikely you would be wearing a full body disposable suit (it acknowledges that a respirator is not need already). And yes I do know what I am taking about as I am a fully qualified asbestos surveyor.
When I replaced the loft insulation in my house it was evident that the previous asbestos roof slates had not been removed very well. This is AC, I still wore a disposable coverall and respirator, it is sensible to do so (confined space, deeper breathing, broken product). If I were to remove an asbestos cement garage roof I would still be wearing a disposable suit and respirator. At the end of the day it is not worth the risk for the sake of a couple of quid for ppe. The risk is low but how high does it have to be before you want to spend a few quid on ppe? However if I was removing a bitumen sink pad (yes these can contain asbestos – bet most of you didn’t know that!) then I would not be wearing a disposable suit to do it.

auntymabel

As a person who has an asbestos removal issue, (asbestos bath panel underneath non-asbestos panel) I understand that you are protected wearing the appropriate clothing and respirator, but how would you deal with any fibres that might be released into the air, especially indoors? The person doing the removal would be protected but what about the people living in the property?

Niv

auntymabel wrote: »

As a person who has an asbestos removal issue, (asbestos bath panel underneath non-asbestos panel) I understand that you are protected wearing the appropriate clothing and respirator, but how would you deal with any fibres that might be released into the air, especially indoors? The person doing the removal would be protected but what about the people living in the property?

There is a whole raft of detail to answer that question, I am not going to write out the procedure set out in the guidance and it is not free to download :

http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsg248.htm

However, basically, the area is turned into a positive pressure enclosure. Once the item(s) is removed the area would be fully decontaminated (cleaned) then the air would be tested. Once the air test has been undertaken the number of fibres captured is counted and calculated into a concentration. If it passes, enclosure comes down, if it fails, the area gets cleaned again.

This is of course assuming that the panel is AIB rather than cement and that you are getting specialist contractors in to undertake the work.

edited to add: what is the problem with this panel btw? if it is encapulated and not getting disturbed, it should be left alone.

auntymabel

Niv wrote: »

There is a whole raft of detail to answer that question, I am not going to write out the procedure set out in the guidance and it is not free to download :

http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsg248.htm

However, basically, the area is turned into a positive pressure enclosure. Once the item(s) is removed the area would be fully decontaminated (cleaned) then the air would be tested. Once the air test has been undertaken the number of fibres captured is counted and calculated into a concentration. If it passes, enclosure comes down, if it fails, the area gets cleaned again.

This is of course assuming that the panel is AIB rather than cement and that you are getting specialist contractors in to undertake the work.

edited to add: what is the problem with this panel btw? if it is encapulated and not getting disturbed, it should be left alone.

Thanks for this Niv, really helpful. Unfortunately, I need a new bath so the panel needs to be removed.

fred7777

Fed_Up_Tradesman wrote: »

If so much as one fibre enters your lungs, you could be in big trouble in around 30 years time.

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency everyone has asbestos fibres in their lungs. http://www.epa.gov/oswer/asbestos_ws/abstract.htm

If I had a survey back saying this I would view the house again and what to do next depends on the sate of the absestos. The usual practice is to identify what could or does contain asbestos (which has been done) and leave it alone if it is not falling apart and you don't have to disturb it.

My last property had an asbestos roofed garage. I didn''t worry about it but I checked it occasionally for cracks etc and I took care not to do anything to it.