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Asbestos Cement Sheeting.

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Good afternoon all,

                                  I have just visited a 1950s building to view it prior to estimating for a rewire. The owner has demolished some internal walls and the floor is covered in broken asbestos cement boarding, about 4 to 5mm approx I think. I advised him that only specialist companies can remove asbestos waste. Information websites describe this type of cement board as low risk as the asbestos fibres are trapped within the board. But the whole floor is covered in broken cement board. What is your opinion in working in that environment after the broken cement board has been removed? Would you? Or would you insist that only a licensed asbestos removal company should clear the site before any electrical work is undertaken?

 EDIT. I just found this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_1xtqwfLrU


Thanks.


Z.
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    Pat Eardley:

    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. 




    One needs to be very careful about statistics.


    Virtually all of us spent at least 11 years at school - it follows that all of us have been exposed to the same risk as teachers at a young age. Given that teachers have a reduced risk of mesothelioma, it suggests that the environment there is, in fact, safer than average.


    The fact is that asbestos fibres are in the atmosphere and that accounts for the baseline level of mesothelioma. If you leave the stuff alone, you will not add to the risk. Sadly, electricians, as well as others in the building trades, have manipulated the stuff at work, which is why their risk is increased.


    There is no justification for removing asbestos-containing materials unless they have become friable. As I type, sadly ('cos I think that it is poor aesthetically) there is an Artexed ceiling above me. There is absolutely no reason (other than the aesthetics) to remove it.

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  • 0

    Pat Eardley:

    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. 




    One needs to be very careful about statistics.


    Virtually all of us spent at least 11 years at school - it follows that all of us have been exposed to the same risk as teachers at a young age. Given that teachers have a reduced risk of mesothelioma, it suggests that the environment there is, in fact, safer than average.


    The fact is that asbestos fibres are in the atmosphere and that accounts for the baseline level of mesothelioma. If you leave the stuff alone, you will not add to the risk. Sadly, electricians, as well as others in the building trades, have manipulated the stuff at work, which is why their risk is increased.


    There is no justification for removing asbestos-containing materials unless they have become friable. As I type, sadly ('cos I think that it is poor aesthetically) there is an Artexed ceiling above me. There is absolutely no reason (other than the aesthetics) to remove it.

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