Asbestos the silent killer

[nickblake]

Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous material that has been a popular building material since the 1950s. It is used as an insulator (to keep in heat and keep out cold), has good fire protection properties and protects against corrosion.

Because asbestos is often mixed with another material, it's hard to know if you're working with it or not. But, if you work in a building built before the year 2000, it's likely that some parts of the building will contain asbestos.

Asbestos is found in many products used in buildings, including ceiling tiles, pipe insulation, boilers and sprayed coatings.

1. asbestos
2. Asbestos essentials

1. Asbestos essentials

• Work with asbestos cement (AC) (non-licensed)
• Working with textured coatings (TC) containing asbestos (non-licensed)
• Strictly controlled minor work on Asbestos Insulating Board (AIB)
• Safe work with undamaged asbestos materials
• Removal and replacement of other asbestos containing materials

• Equipment and method sheets
• Work with asbestos cement (AC) (non-licensed)

• A9. Drilling holes in asbestos cement and other highly bonded materials [2]
• A11. Removing asbestos cement debris [4]
• A13. Repairing damaged asbestos cement [6]
• A15. Removing asbestos cement or reinforced plastic product e.g. tank, duct, water cistern [8
• A16. Painting asbestos cement sheets [9]
• A20. Laying cables in areas containing undamaged asbestos materials [24]

Equipment and method sheets

• EM1. What to do if you uncover or damage materials that may contain asbestos [
• EM4. Using a class-H vacuum cleaner for asbestos [43]
• EM5. Wetting asbestos materials [44]
• EM6. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) [45]

 

[Phil]

good post nickblake thank you

 

[nickblake]

Ive been having a clear out and came across an abestos essencials book i used when surveying for the dreaded stuff thought it may be helpful to the guys ,may even save their lives

 

[Phil]

if it stops just 1 it`s been well worth it.

 

[Guest123]

We'll have this as a sticky, cheers Nick.

 

[alarm man]

good post but..how many of us go to sites.sign the visitor book/check,sign the asbestos register/check,we sign things out of habit,when we sign the asbestos book,basically where signing our rights away,because we dont ask where it is,the councils are the worst for this,so before signing it,get them to show you where it is,no show no work..where well within our rights,its fine knowing theres asbestos on site.its not fine not knowing where it is,and while ive been on asbestos courses a few years ago,i cant remember whats what you forget,too busy doing my job,they say its the biggest future killer..

 

[grantr37]

the electrical trade is the most likely place where you will be exposed to asbestos, all those cable jackets, armours, back boards, fire seals, old ductwork, sprayed on steel beam fire coatings in blocks of flats and multi storey buildings, and not to mention the other nasties such as PCB's (PolyChlorinatedBithenyls) lurking out there in cable jackets and old transformers/motor run capacitors/auto oilers....do you remember the old cables with Hemp and Bitumen jackets (the ones that look like they have been wrapped like a mummy) well those have PCB's in them, and arsenic.....
on a side note, the Electricity companies and the mod are the only two that get a special licence to use asbestos nowadays, even after all those years since the main ban came into effect, they still use the stuff, so if you are ever doing any HV cable work or working on a substation that has been there since the 40's you will need to be careful...

 

[magpiemorgans]

Good thread m8 cheers

 

[nickblake]

the electrical trade is the most likely place where you will be exposed to asbestos, all those cable jackets, armours, back boards, fire seals, old ductwork, sprayed on steel beam fire coatings in blocks of flats and multi storey buildings, and not to mention the other nasties such as PCB's (PolyChlorinatedBithenyls) lurking out there in cable jackets and old transformers/motor run capacitors/auto oilers....do you remember the old cables with Hemp and Bitumen jackets (the ones that look like they have been wrapped like a mummy) well those have PCB's in them, and arsenic.....
on a side note, the Electricity companies and the mod are the only two that get a special licence to use asbestos nowadays, even after all those years since the main ban came into effect, they still use the stuff, so if you are ever doing any HV cable work or working on a substation that has been there since the 40's you will need to be careful...

also garage ceiling ,soffitts, ceiling tiles floor tiles toilet systems ,behind consumer units , also for walling in commercial premisis and door linings was used very much for making doors fire resistant , boiler room ceilings etc its every where , came across a load broken up in a ceiling in an old house ,stopped work and havent been back since as the customers wont get it removed so the works stopped

 

[Mattsparks]

A firm I worked with is a member of the Working Well Together group for Shropshire and Staffordshire. They enrolled me on an Asbestos Awareness course which was a real eye opener and has made me think before I act. The course was free (as the company were registered with the WWT) and I am grateful. If there is a demand for it, the WWT in any area will put on a course although because of all the government cuts regarding life and limb it will probably cost!

 

[kung]

Just been to look at a domestic job that needs lighting work eg down lighters and lights and switches moved, boiler controls etc etc for a family member ! any road up she has a letter to show to contractors from a surveyor stating the ceilings & coving contain asbestos ! know i know her step father bill worked with the stuff for years and died of it and from what i heard it was a slow gruesome death ending in fighting for breath ! have to admit im thinking of putting the job off and doing a course ! makes you think it hits home the dangers of this crap stuff ! i like many others have prob worked with this stuff without PPE in the past inc last job a 26 flat rewire on an old peoples council run home ! as said be carefull out there all !!!!!!! and if you havent like me already done a course get on one and protect yourself !!!!!!!!.
Regards
Kung.

 

[mogga]

PPE is a last resort and sorry to say it a "Course" wont save you although it will assist in any descisions you make
your right not to touch it Cutting in downlights ect would be one of the worst things to do due to the ammount of dust generated personaly id see how much it would cost to get it all off then future generations will be safe knowing that there is NONE present

 

[wade88]

kind of puts you off wanting to do anything but new builds really lol...might just start wiring in peoples fish tanks or something...the gold fish wont hurt me

 

[onions1066]

if it is a textured ceiling coating within a domestic property it is easy enough to remove yourself without worrying, suit up mask up, apply paste to the ceiling area which you are wanting to work on, leave for around 10 minutes to soften and simply scrap off and straight into the red bag, tie off the top then put your suit and mask in the remaining slack at the top of the bag and tie again. then double bag and all done, jobs a sausage.

 

[nickblake]

if it is a textured ceiling coating within a domestic property it is easy enough to remove yourself without worrying, suit up mask up, apply paste to the ceiling area which you are wanting to work on, leave for around 10 minutes to soften and simply scrap off and straight into the red bag, tie off the top then put your suit and mask in the remaining slack at the top of the bag and tie again. then double bag and all done, jobs a sausage.

Asbestos in Domestic Properties TexturedDecorative Coatings (TDCs) (such as Artex)​

What are Textured Decorative Coatings (TDCs) and where are they found?​

TDCs are the textured decorative plasters (Artex being one of the most common) and are mostlyfound on ceilings and walls of domestic properties decorated in the 1950s – 1980s. Untilapproximately 1984, TDCs could contain very small quantities (around 2%) of white asbestosfibres. Even before this date, however, most textured plasters were not asbestos containing.​

Are there any health risks associated with TDCs?​

Due to a misunderstanding with the authorities, TDCs have been classed as asbestos containingcoatings as they were confused with Limpet products (100% asbestos fibres sprayed ontosupport beams in buildings as fire insulation). There is, however, no measurable risk to healthfrom the asbestos content in TDCs.​

Do you need to remove TDCs from your property by law?​

There is no measurable risk to your health from the asbestos content in TDCs and any contractorwho tries to force you to remove them based on this is trying to exploit your ignorance. There isno law demanding that you remove the TDCs from your property either, if you had no plans onremoving them.​

If you are selling your house, can your property become devalued if TDCs are present?​

A common scam if you are selling your house is for a surveyor to suggest you need to removeyour TDCs; threatening you with devaluation of your property if you fail to comply.You are under NO legal obligation to remove TDCs from your ceilings or walls, and anyonethreatening to devalue your property under the pretext of the new buyer having to remove theTDCs once they move in is fraud. The prospective buyer of your property will not be under anylegal obligation to remove them either.​

Does the presence of TDCs in a house you are about to buy condemn it?​

Any surveyor condemning a house you are intending to purchase because of the presence ofTDCs is providing you with incorrect information. Neither the current homeowner nor you areunder any legal obligation to remove the TDCs.The presence of TDCs in good condition should not reduce the property’s value or pose anymeasurable risk to health; the best thing you can do is to leave them alone. If you strongly dislikethe décor, however, and wish to change it the best cause of action is to plaster over it for afraction of the cost of expensive removal.​

If you want your TDCs removed for other reasons, do you need a specially licensedcontractor?​

TDCs have recently been taken out of the licensing regulations and are now no longer licensablematerials. Whereas previously TDCs required licensed asbestos contractors to remove them,now the work can be carried out by any trained and competent contractor using the propercontrols. We suggest ringing round a few local contractors for quotes. This will be cheaper thanunnecessarily hiring a specially licensed asbestos contractor, but be thorough when deciding ifyou really want this work done and wary when employing contractors; make sure you get a rangeof quotes to compare rates.​

If you have been told you have ‘trace’ levels of asbestos in your TDCs, what does it mean?​

Due to the difficulty in finding asbestos content when TDC samples are studied, manylaboratories cover their results by declaring ‘may contain trace levels of asbestos’. This normallymeans 0% asbestos content. If your report comes back with only ‘trace’ levels of asbestos found,it normally indicates there wasn’t any there in the first place; you can then make decisions onyour next steps accordingly.​

If you have TDC ceilings or walls, can you use power tools on them?​

The asbestos content (if any) in TDCs is minimal and poses no measurable risk to health. Addinglight fittings, picture hooks, or similar, by drilling or making holes, poses no measurable risk tohealth.If you do this work yourself it is advisable to damp down surfaces before drilling or making holes,and wearing a mask to prevent inhalation of any dust in general.The use of power tools such as sanders, or abrasive scrapers, on TDCs, however, is not advised.Power sanders create large volumes of dust (irrespective of any potential asbestos content) andshould not be used on asbestos containing materials. Don’t forget ALL forms of respirable dust​

can be harmful.