Asbestos!

[Rocboni]

Today I witnessed (for a very short time) the cutting/removal of asbestos by a apparently specialised company!

The holes for ventilation dusts were to be cut through the double skinned shed with the internal skin being "low risk" asbestos.

Firsly they were wearing paper suites and masks however no one else in the shed was wearing any PPE or aware that they were going to be cutting it (we were aware it was asbestos).

They began with a sabre saw which didnt work as the blade hit the outside sheet, so they got the grinder out with dust going everywhere and the other lad with a bottle of water making a pathetic attamept at wetting the area!

We promptly gathered our tools and walked out, telling the site agent were weren't working in there, his reply, its ok if your up this end!!!

Surly everything is now contaminated and requires to be cleaned ? Other trades were still working without issue.

Just seems mad!

 

[Deleted member 98143]

Asbestos - Enforcement - http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/enforcement.htm

Ask for a copy of the risk assessment or report it without bothering - There should be a "designated work area" and the MEL limits etc. If those have been breached it's really serious fines/ compensation!

Personally, I'd be furious about not being told about the asbestos work. I'd want to see whoever was managing my safety on site sacked as it's a huge failure.

 

[Rocboni]

Well we were gunning for the site agent but he is doing a good job of keeping it quite, we have told our h&s manager that we are not going back in unless we see air tests and it has had a full sweep.

They say as it's low risk they don't need to go to the extent of sealing off the area ect but fair enough if it was a small hole but not vapourising huge amounts with a grinder!

 

[uksrevivor]

Sounds like a right dodgy asbestos removal. the cutting of asbestos with a grinder will create a hazardous environment with airborne particles/dust invisible to the naked eye. Asbestos is normally perfectly safe in its normally sheet form but by cutting it in any way that is where it becomes dangerous. The operation should of been carried out without any other trades or persons onsite and the Particles caught at source i.e grinder with dust extraction containing the hazardous material.
I am old school though and have fallen through quite a few asbestos roofs as a kid in the 70s and im still alive today LOL but i also knew a few pipe laggers/boiler makers who are no longer alive due to asbestoses from working in the shipyards years ago.

 

[D00DY_T00DY]

F

Sounds like a right dodgy asbestos removal. the cutting of asbestos with a grinder will create a hazardous environment with airborne particles/dust invisible to the naked eye. Asbestos is normally perfectly safe in its normally sheet form but by cutting it in any way that is where it becomes dangerous. The operation should of been carried out without any other trades or persons onsite and the Particles caught at source i.e grinder with dust extraction containing the hazardous material.
I am old school though and have fallen through quite a few asbestos roofs as a kid in the 70s and im still alive today LOL but i also knew a few pipe laggers/boiler makers who are no longer alive due to asbestoses from working in the shipyards years ago.

Fire proof lungs now though. Swings and round abouts
All sounds a bit dodgy from what OPs explained

 

[Rocboni]

We still haven't been back!