Ceiling artex containing Chrysotile (white) asbestos in my flat

Risteard

phoenix_w wrote: »

Should contractors be forced to wear respirators and damp down the room every time they take a sample?

Yes, they should. And they certainly should have used some PVA or something to prevent fibres being released from the point where they have significantly damaged the ceiling.

You can't say on the one hand that Asbestos is perfectly safe undisturbed, and then on the other hand condone it being disturbed without taking proper precautions.

General_query

phoenix_w wrote: »

I can't see evidence that the op's contractors took a lump hammer to the ceiling. They most likely scraped a couple of samples with a screwdriver or small chisel and carefully placed them into a sealed container.

Should contractors be forced to wear respirators and damp down the room every time they take a sample?

I'm sure people have released more fibres hitting the ceiling accidentally over the years than were released by the contractors taking samples.

It was either a screwdriver or penknife, but they were wearing no protective gear, just polo shirts and trousers and I was 1 foot away. Same as the upstairs sample.



Pretty sure the samples were put into separate bank "coin" bags too....

:eek:

General_query

....it's safe until disturbed.

As above, well it has been disturbed to take these samples, plus there is a smoke alarm downstairs which must have been drilled into the ceiling, plus another one at top of the stairs near sample point 2!

Maybe I'm just unduly worrying, as long as I, or any workmen don't disturb it in the future eh?

Dan-Dan

I think there are likely to be in the millions , the amount of people putting smoke alarms into ceilings with this type of asbestos in

I`d be worrying more about getting hit by a falling dead bird than this to be honest

C_Mababejive

I think what tends to happen is that the people doing work will have all the gear but the poor punters are left in ignorance !

Also whilst a risk assessment has taken place, who is to say that every one who subsequently does that work will be fully aware,trained and compliant?


Ask them if all their workers have been on an Asbestos B course..

i,e NNLW as detailed here

http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/training.htm

General_query

C_Mababejive wrote: »

I think what tends to happen is that the people doing work will have all the gear but the poor punters are left in ignorance !

Also whilst a risk assessment has taken place, who is to say that every one who subsequently does that work will be fully aware,trained and compliant?


Ask them if all their workers have been on an Asbestos B course..

i,e NNLW as detailed here

http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/training.htm

Thanks.

I never said we are all having new front fire doors and double glazing installed, so there should be no need "for the workers" to touch / damage / drill into the ceilings...

General_query

...whereas we, and the other tenants have to live with any dangerous stuff

thegasmon

Its law that the duty holder/ landlord needs to inform any worker of possible risk from asbestos containing materials. The person taking the sample will have been from an acreddited company and fully trained. If you want to confirm this ask the main contractor or landlord for the details and ask about any worrys you have.

If your still not satisfied speak to the hse, they can investigate the proceedures being used are correct and safe.

The biggest problem seems to be a lack of understandable communication regarding the risks.