Asbestos Cement Sheeting.

I wouldn't go anywhere near it in that state and now that it has been broken up how do you assess the fibres in the dust and atmosphere.  Had they removed whole panels and wrapped it in polythene then their local authority probably have a waste site that would take it.  People do say that ACM of the white sort, chrysotile, is relatively harmless, the WHO disagree.https://www.who.int/ipcs/assessment/public_health/chrysotile_asbestos_summary.pdf

I would walk away from the job. These dead teachers aren't able to.https://www.teachers.org.uk/edufacts/asbestos

You are right Chris, there is a much increased risk among the construction trades and electricians but in recent years it does appear to be declining which hopefully is a result of education and safer working practises, lets hope it continues to decline. 

Teachers benefit from publicity in the press and from their Unions, which is to be applauded, no matter how many lives are lost. I do think it unfair to call their article, 'thoroughly disingenuous' simply because their risk is not as great as ours. I was was working around ACM that had been overboarded last week (fitting a fire alarm system) and I was mindful of the publicity that is given to schools and the teaching profession. So thank you to the NUT for keeping me mindful of the risks. Schools have another perceived problem, that of the children and the fact that ACM does breakdown naturally over time.

I prepared an EICR for a tenanted house and excluded inspection of the installation in the loft.


The roof is covered with asbestos cement slates and the internal ceiling are Aldo asbestos cement sheets, that makes the loft an asbestos cement box, which I said I would not enter, despite having installed such materials when I started work.


 Andy Betteridge.

If you do not like the look of it, I think you are quite right to insist that it is removed before you are prepared to start - by smashing it up, who ever did so deliberately  or not, may well have made it far more hazardous by creating an easily disturbed coating of fibre and powder mix. If it was painted panels all carefully removed and stacked under sheeting, that is one thing, this does not sound anything like that level of care.

It may be that someone else is happy to hose it down, bag it up, wash the floors and use the right kind of vacuum cleaner, but if you are not sure, there will be other less risky jobs out there.

Or send a pic to your local asbestos removers for a quick ballpark estimate for them to clean up it before you will go in, and add it to your quoted price as unforeseen extra works.

I have worked in many lofts of domestic properties and other high level locations in buildings where dust may accumulate. In the lofts of older houses, say Victorian terraced town  houses the dust is worrying. The dust may not be asbestos but may be organic or inorganic. On many occasions I have been working in a dark loft space running cables, perhaps with just a torch or there is a narrow shaft of bright sunlight shining through a broken roof tile or slate, and when I moved the fibreglass thermal insulation, millions of tiny particles are moved into the air, and these can be clearly seen suspended in the air and illuminated in the shaft of light.  These tiny particles may be dead insect parts, glass fibre particles, dead leaves' parts, soot from old coal fire burning, particles from car brake pads/shoes, industrial pollution, or general "dust". I do not think that it is good to breath that stuff in. A dust mask is a good idea at least. When I was younger I did not use a dust mask as I found them uncomfortable and made my face sweaty, which held more dust. But now I can see the benefit.


Regarding fibreglass,there may be immediate reaction to exposure, resulting in irritation to the eyes, nose and throat, while prolonged contact with the skin can lead to dermatitis. The long-term effects of the inhalation of fibreglass dust particles include breathing difficulties, asthma and decreased lung function.


Z.

This is interesting, about work place dusts etc.

https://www.scioto.com/hidden-dangers-in-your-attic/


Z.