Asbestos question...

[Leadman]

It does seem strange that this post has turned up a year later but he does have some good points, asbestos can develop from 15 to 60 years which seems along way away for all of us but i would not touch it with yours these days and you would not want to die from it as its a very long and painful death.
Maybe its a warning to us all.

 

[PBy]

not to mention that the work was carried out, outside and the dust would have blown away almost immediately.Asbestos I agree is not something to be taken lightly , but common sense should prevail. Last week I unscrewed an asbestos panel off of the back of an understairs cupboard door bagged it and threw it in the skip do you think I am likely to die anytime soon or do you think the owner of the house would be willing to pay hundreds of pounds to have the asbestos humanely removed.

I assume you didn't tell the owners? I am sure that if you explained the danger they might well have paid...and a specialist wouldn't have charged all that. Don't you know asbestos waste is hazardous waste and you don't just 'throw it in a skip'. What do you think happens to the contents of skips? Guys like you and me go through the contents looking for recyclable material. Nice surprise for them, eh?! How about letting the owners know you might have left them some contamination so they can get someone round to check and also the skip company know? This work is licensable so you should not have done it in the first place.

 

[Stp]

not to mention that the work was carried out, outside and the dust would have blown away almost immediately.Asbestos I agree is not something to be taken lightly , but common sense should prevail. Last week I unscrewed an asbestos panel off of the back of an understairs cupboard door bagged it and threw it in the skip do you think I am likely to die anytime soon or do you think the owner of the house would be willing to pay hundreds of pounds to have the asbestos humanely removed.

Found this string by chance. Just checked link quoted Pby - he has a point. HSE say small exposures to asbestos for short durations like unscrewing board on cupboard doors also can lead to illness. I suggest that you have a look at http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/hiddenkiller/index.htm

 

[^woody^]

Rubbish. Unscrewing a screw can lead to Asbestosis/Mesothelioma?

 

[Mw Roofline]

Oh dear. Some real rubbish here. Abestolux IS hazardous and a form of asbestos insulating board. Anyone who says otherwise is ignorant. Management is controlled by regulations. See http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos. Anyone who has maintained or removed it improperly (only licensed contractors can do these tasks) needs to seek advice from an occupational health specialist and their GP. Really. Also, the site (and van, etc.) will be contaminated, so they need to get this sorted by professionals too (NOT a DIY vacuum cleaner). Contamination can last for many years. Friends and family will also have been exposed and may contract an asbestos disease later in life. This is called, I think, paraexposure. They need to seek some medical advice too. This ISN'T being alarmist.

Let me guess, new job, you've just come fresh off the training course

 

[Frankiebm]

Oh dear. Some real rubbish here.

Let me guess, new job, you've just come fresh off the training course

Although his last post may have been a little over the top, there's a lot of truth in what he said in his earlier post.

I assume you didn't tell the owners? I am sure that if you explained the danger they might well have paid...and a specialist wouldn't have charged all that. Don't you know asbestos waste is hazardous waste and you don't just 'throw it in a skip'. What do you think happens to the contents of skips? Guys like you and me go through the contents looking for recyclable material. Nice surprise for them, eh?! How about letting the owners know you might have left them some contamination so they can get someone round to check and also the skip company know? This work is licensable so you should not have done it in the first place.

3 or 4 years on, we know a hell of a lot more about it and its dangers.