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The Ghost

So especially on the covings. I ask because I am getting an en suite shower installed and the guys came through the coving and suggested I get rid of the mat at the front door as some dust came down on it. Is there any credence in this? Was asbestos invented then?
 
Asbestos was first used in construction by the Romans, so it has been around a long old time. However I don't think there was large scale use in construction until the 20th century.
 
It's possible there is asbestos in some form, it was used in the 1800s but became very popular later.

Though these are important points...

Have you had an asbestos survey done? If not as I understand the law as it stands at the moment, you're potentially in breach of health and safety legislation because it's your responsibility to tell those coming to the construction site (it becomes a construction site when you let tradies in) if there is a risk.

If the contractors suspect asbestos is present, then they've breached health and safety legislation by carrying out works and potentially releasing fibres. The last case I looked into, the contractor in question was fined in excess of £100k. All the soft furnishing, cloth etc. in the property were removed and destroyed and the place was cleaned from top to bottom by a specialist company.
 
As just suggested

It is not a question for the forum but a question of fact. Plenty of online and very rapid self-test options available. They send you a test kit and instructions, you mail the sample back and get test results by email. Cheers
 
II'm in the process of buying an older house to renovate and then rent out. My own research has revealed all sorts of likely places asbestos could be lurking in the house and decor. We are going to get an asbestos survey done - it's pretty much the only way you can know what you're dealing with.

It's also the only way to be safe, as they managed to get asbestos into things/materials you wouldn't even imagine could pose any sort of risk. Even floor tiles and textured wall coverings!

Check out the list here: Common materials that may contain asbestos - http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/common-materials.htm

You can see that even though your house was built before mass asbestos use, there is plenty of potential for asbestos being used to decorate/modify over the years.
 
Afterwards , that just leaves you with its "irritating cousin" Fibre glass .
. .Itchy pooh attic ...
(had fibre glass curtains pointed out to me = surprise )
and lead paint !
 
The most annoying bit of owning such properties is that you're supposed to prove you have risk assessed the entire property and informed anyone working in the property of the risks, asbestos, lead paint etc. It's an increasingly long list!

So from our point of view, as we have to bring the trades in, we have to get at least the asbestos survey done.
 
If not as I understand the law as it stands at the moment, you're potentially in breach of health and safety legislation because it's your responsibility to tell those coming to the construction site (it becomes a construction site when you let tradies in) if there is a risk.
Looking at HSE guidance I think that is moot. There appears to be no duty to manage asbestos in a private household.
 
Looking at HSE guidance I think that is moot. There appears to be no duty to manage asbestos in a private household.

I'm sure these days it's possible to sue a home owner if you can prove exposure and they hadn't warned you. But most home owners wouldn't even think about it.

It's a bit different for us as we're buying these houses through a ltd, it's a commercial venture and as such we're effectively managing the site.

So I'm going to have to pay due concern to asbestos etc. Also as a landlord I have a duty to tell the tennants about any asbestos - which I can't claim to have done without myself knowing the extent of its use in the property.
 
I'm sure these days it's possible to sue a home owner if you can prove exposure and they hadn't warned you.
What really sticks in my craw about that is the average householder is wide open on this one. There is no way they would even begin to think about making sure contractors are safe. Surely anyway it is the contractors duty (legal) to assess risk and methods of working to obviate risk and danger. Now I think most householders would be working more from that understanding.
 
It is not a question for the forum
I did especially bring this question up with the forum for a "public" airing as it were, on the matter of asbestos in ordinary workday tasks such as drilling and chasing in a victorian house so we the hive mind could all think about and discuss the chances of such a thing as asbestos being in workaday items such as old plasters, who thinks of that day to day? Anyway it is too late for me as I have broken all the rules before the law came out re asbestos. I am sixty four and must suppose I only have twenty years left working on the time spans, ah me! But then it could have been that shadow punch the secret society gave me fifty years ago I shall never know.
 
Looking at HSE guidance I think that is moot. There appears to be no duty to manage asbestos in a private household.

I was advised by a local company that specialises in dealing with it, that it ceases to be a private household when you are having renovations done. For the duration of the works it's classed as a construction site and as the owner of said site you have the responsibility to tell those working there what risks are present within the fabric of the building.
 
owner of said site you have the responsibility to tell those working there what risks are present within the fabric of the building.
Ok so that means I must rely on the householder to tell me of the risks? I do not think so! Most householders have absolutely no notion or idea of the dangers and risks on site and it is preposterous to devolve the contractors legal duty to the householder. I have understood when you are on site you are responsible for the site and must advise the householder of dangers such as asbestos risk etc. On the foregoing basis I am doing an EICR and should then expect advice from the householder re rewirable fuses having asbestos inserts??? I am not having a dig at you @SparkyChick just the preposterous reversal of legal duties. In fact when I saw the notification bubble and saw it was you commenting on something I said I thought oh ()(* am I going to get banned? Too frightened to now!
 
Ok so that means I must rely on the householder to tell me of the risks? I do not think so! Most householders have absolutely no notion or idea of the dangers and risks on site and it is preposterous to devolve the contractors legal duty to the householder. I have understood when you are on site you are responsible for the site and must advise the householder of dangers such as asbestos risk etc. On the foregoing basis I am doing an EICR and should then expect advice from the householder re rewirable fuses having asbestos inserts??? I am not having a dig at you @SparkyChick just the preposterous reversal of legal duties. In fact when I saw the notification bubble and saw it was you commenting on something I said I thought oh ()(* am I going to get banned? Too frightened to now!

It may be worth a call to... well, I don't know who to do a double check. I was surprised when I was told this and my reaction was somewhat similar to yours.

But if your having works done, I'm pretty certain there is a legal requirement for you to undertake a certain type of asbestos survey so you can provide the information to the contractors.
 
I should add, I'm not saying it absolves you of your responsibilities as a contractor, just that I believe there are additional responsibilities placed on the house holder with regards to providing information about known risks.

I'm doing a CU change soon, place has textured walls. I gave them the option... get a wall surveyed or I'll assume it's asbestos and factor in the non-licensed works costs and waste disposal.
 
What really sticks in my craw about that is the average householder is wide open on this one. There is no way they would even begin to think about making sure contractors are safe. Surely anyway it is the contractors duty (legal) to assess risk and methods of working to obviate risk and danger. Now I think most householders would be working more from that understanding.

In a private home, it pretty much does work that way. It's reasonable for the trades person to be considered experienced enough to identify risks in their immediate working environment. It wouldn't stop you getting sued if you knew of a significant danger and, for example, decided you might get a better price if you simply don't mention it.

However, if the property is not a private home, and there are various works going on at the same time one person has to take charge, and that person (me, in this instance) is responsible for general site safety and induction to the site.
 
Leave a "loose" wire in a plastic CSU, the house burns down and the insurance company build you a new house........ Think outside of the box ;o)))))
 
Leave a "loose" wire in a plastic CSU, the house burns down and the insurance company build you a new house........ Think outside of the box ;o)))))

Or just get a cheap plumber round and encourage them to do a bit of electrical work...

Joking. They won't need encouraging.
 
Leave a "loose" wire in a plastic CSU, the house burns down and the insurance company build you a new house........ Think outside of the box ;o)))))
What if the place doesn’t burn down because there is so much asbestos in the fabric of the building?
I guess in a way you’ll have done the survey but ‘outside the box’!
 

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