Asbestos exposure or not.

alexander jackson · Sep 14, 2018

Last week I had finished fitting a mains board inside a lighthouse and had started to clip the flex for a tubular heater.
First bash of the hammer on the cable clip produced a large cloud of dusty debris that came outfrom behind the wood pannels onto which the flex was going to be held.
I was coated with the stuss and breathed in a load to the extent that my voice was hoarse for the remainder of the day.
I followed procedure and phoned my findings into head office suspecting that it may be an asbestos containing substance.
To cut out all the intervening goings on air samples were taken by an analyst and found to contain NO fibres but solid samples were taken aswell and found to be positive for Crysotile.
I have been told that as no airborne fibres were foind I have not been exposed !!! Surely the massive lung fyll of the dust cloud proves otherwise.
Thoughts please.
A.

LankyWill · Sep 14, 2018

How old are you? If your above 45 I wouldn’t worry because it takes 40 years to die . Could of been general building dust or plasterboard dust, I wouldn’t worry yourself too much as minor exposure isn’t going to kill you it’s prolonged exposure that’s the killer. You followed the correct procedure now just relax and forget about it.

alexander jackson · Sep 14, 2018

56, and sick of surveys, investigations and areas made 'safe' by companies that 'clean' an area because they were the lowest tender in a few quotes.

Dillb · Sep 14, 2018

Surely there is a asbestos register for the building? If so why wasnt that consulted before you commenced works?

MDJ · Sep 14, 2018

I have experienced this before. Legally to get possible compensation if it is Asbestos you need to go to a doctor immediately and tell them what happened and they will issue you will a certificate saying you may have been exposed, regarding Wills post about not worrying about it because it takes 40 years, well I understand his view, but it can occur in less time, I would definately seek advice and insist on the Asbestos register for the site.

Nigel · Sep 14, 2018

The company has told you no asbestos fibres were airborne. What more would you want?

Michael Sands · Sep 14, 2018

And why did you continue if you suspected asbestos and you should have been wearing proper PPE gear to stop breathing in dust from the beginning

alexander jackson · Sep 14, 2018

The building was certified clean 9 years before.And documented so. You have to rely on these results but not in every case so it seems.

Nigel · Sep 14, 2018

An asbestos register is not to be used for works. It is a register of known asbestos for the benefit of normal building users carrying out normal everyday tasks. It should not be used as the only source to work under.

When carrying out construction work a specific R&D survey is required if you think there is a possibility of ACMs in the area that you are working.

Consulting the asbestos register is pointless and not the correct procedure for the works you are carrying out.

MDJ · Sep 14, 2018

essex said:
The company has told you no asbestos fibres were airborne. What more would you want?

I have also experienced this before Neil, a company telling their staff no Asbestos was in the building, yet it was found, the register went missing and when found it proved it was in there, the person concerned was sacked and all staff exposed had to see a doctor, Never trust a manager, never, they are muppets, myself and you not included of course

Deleted member 26818 · Sep 14, 2018

Not sure what testing the air any appreciable time after an incident proves.
I would expect them to collect dust from surrounding surfaces.

Nigel · Sep 14, 2018

spinlondon said:
Not sure what testing the air any appreciable time after an incident proves.
I would expect them to collect dust from surrounding surfaces.

Standard procedure when a suspected ACM may have been damaged.

telectrix · Sep 14, 2018

myself and you not included of course.

who says????

.

Strima · Sep 14, 2018

All you can do now is have all the information recorded, gather copies of the asbestos register, incident report, asbestos survey finding etc and store them safely for future reference if you do develop an asbestos related disease.

Could take 5 - 60 years.

telectrix · Sep 14, 2018

Strima said:
All you can do now is have all the information recorded, gather copies of the asbestos register, incident report, asbestos survey finding etc and store them safely for future reference if you do develop an asbestos related disease.

Could take 5 - 60 years.

by which time he'll be dead, or won't he. I await the next episode with bated breath ( with an approved dust mask on, of course).

Strima · Sep 14, 2018

telectrix said:
by which time he'll be dead, or won't he. I await the next episode with bated breath ( with an approved dust mask on, of course).

But there will be a large claim for the family so they shouldn't be financially disadvantaged if he does die.

Just don't try and cremate him...

telectrix · Sep 14, 2018

agree if he's full of asbestos, might cost double the gas.

Spark attitude · Sep 14, 2018

spinlondon said:
Not sure what testing the air any appreciable time after an incident proves.
I would expect them to collect dust from surrounding surfaces.

Yes this is standard procedure when a possible acm exposure has occured. The analyst will use a number of pumps depending on the size of the area in which it occured and they will run for a set time (usually 45 minutes to an hour). Then they check the air sample filters under a microscope and do a count of fibres found which then gives a pass or fail. Cant remember exactly how many are allowed before it fails but it is under 20 fibres and that relates to a certain cubic volume of air. If there were NO fibers found then I wouldn’t be worried. Obviously there are variables to consider like size of open area with ventilation like doors and windows open, open roof space etc this will effect it. Plus you said it tested positive as chrysotile which is “white asbestos” and can be considered as the least dangerous type but not forgetting ALL asbestos is dangerous. Basically what I’m trying to say is don’t worry mate. We’ve all had asbestos exposure without even knowing it.

telectrix · Sep 14, 2018

50 years of Benson& Hedges, and you think i worry about a bit of asbestos???????

rapparee · Sep 14, 2018

essex said:
An asbestos register is not to be used for works. It is a register of known asbestos for the benefit of normal building users carrying out normal everyday tasks. It should not be used as the only source to work under.

When carrying out construction work a specific R&D survey is required if you think there is a possibility of ACMs in the area that you are working.

Consulting the asbestos register is pointless and not the correct procedure for the works you are carrying out.

Correct and right

Before work is carried out they should be doing a Type 3 destruction test.

Dillb · Sep 14, 2018

telectrix said:
50 years of Benson& Hedges, and you think i worry about a bit of asbestos???????

How much money you got stashed away just about everyone I know who smokes these days is on roll ups, until someone goes on holiday and brings a suitcase full back everytime.

Baddegg · Sep 14, 2018

F&@kall you can do about now is there,stop stressing and wasting the time you have left......

Edtwozeronine · Sep 16, 2018

I don't think dust-masks can prevent asbestos fibres from being breathed in, they are too small and will penetrate the mask - not that the OP was wearing one anyway! It would have to be breathing apparatus like the Fire-service use or perhaps one of those respirator masks might do the trick?

rapparee · Sep 16, 2018

Edtwozeronine said:
I don't think dust-masks can prevent asbestos fibres from being breathed in, they are too small and will penetrate the mask - not that the OP was wearing one anyway! It would have to be breathing apparatus like the Fire-service use or perhaps one of those respirator masks might do the trick?

An FFP3 mask is able to repel asbestos

Midwest · Sep 16, 2018

rapparee said:
An FFP3 mask is able to repel asbestos

Think you need a bit more than just a mask, I'm led to believe.

stevels4 · Sep 16, 2018

Midwest said:
Think you need a bit more than just a mask, I'm led to believe.

Certainly is, two trips to the van just for all the kit, then the class M vacuum cleaner and this is only a metal clad cut out replacement.

Doomed · Sep 16, 2018

Spent years based in a office that was found to have crumbling asbestoes clad tank directly above.
Still have a copy of the asbestoes report for litagation purposes later in death.

rapparee · Sep 16, 2018

Midwest said:
Think you need a bit more than just a mask, I'm led to believe.

stevels4 said:
Certainly is, two trips to the van just for all the kit, then the class M vacuum cleaner and this is only a metal clad cut out replacement.

The mask is to save you from breathing in the asbestos

The disposable boiler suits and vacuum cleaner is to stop you from further contaminating the area

Everything has to be double bagged as well.

Risteard · Sep 17, 2018

stevels4 said:
Certainly is, two trips to the van just for all the kit, then the class M vacuum cleaner and this is only a metal clad cut out replacement.

Needs to be Class H hoover.

Midwest · Sep 17, 2018

Needs to be someone trained & registered, don't it?

telectrix · Sep 17, 2018

Risteard said:
Needs to be Class H hoover.

that's discriminating. what's wrong with henrys, makitas, and nilfisks?

rhitey · Sep 17, 2018

Ah yeh I'm 45 now and I know for certain I've been exposed over the years. Back in my apprentice days even though it was mostly banned it just wasn't seen as a big deal

rapparee · Sep 17, 2018

Midwest said:
Needs to be someone trained & registered, don't it?

No.

There is different types of job.

If it is considered minor works, in theory you can do it yourself but once it is double bagged, you have to get a registered contractor to come and collect it and take it to a licensed premises to be disposed of.

Spark attitude · Sep 17, 2018

Theres all different licensing for asbestos removal. A one day course and your approved to carry out “non licensed non notifiable removal” and “non licensed notifiable removal”.
As stated above, an ffp3 paper filter is the minimum approved rating for asbestos work which can be a disposable filter for a half or full mask with pre- filters, class H vacuum and category 5/6 disposable paper overalls. Not every type of asbestos waste has to be double bagged. Just depends which category “type 1 or type 2” it is. Things like workin with chrysotile texture coating (artex) can be single bagged etc.

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