White Asbestos

[Arron]

A few days ago I set out to pull the wall lining out of our laundry. I had just hooked a hammer under the first sheet when it occured to me it may be asbestos - so I sent some off for a test ($66, 24hr service) and the result came back that it contained white asbestos. Our house was built in 1963, so I expect most of the houses in the neighbourhood have the same thing. I understand white asbestos is nowhere near as harmful as the blue type - but I wouldnt want to be working with it very often.

This has me wondering what most of the professionals on this forum do - when you are called in to do a bit of repair work on houses of this age. Do you just ignore the risk - I cant imagine you get it tested or put the job on hold every time you need to rip off some wallboard or punch a hole in it.

Arron

[powderpost]

Arron, I started my apprenticeship as a carpenter and joiner in 1957. We used literally tons of the old asbestos cement sheets on external walls, ceilings and soffits. Of all the carpenters I have known, I have not known of one who has suffered with asbestos related deseases. I do know of two who lost their lives to asbestos related deseases. In fact I had a chest exray three weeks ago for another reason and asked was there any evidence of asbestos in my lungs, the answer was no. On was a shipwrite and the other was a bricklayer in a power station, both notorious for using asbestos for insulation purposes. I would have no problem removing AC sheeting, but I would wear good breathing gear. My biggest concern would be from dust, rat and bat droppings. Having said all that, I would recommend protection. I have heard the arguement about blue and white asbestos, and my investigations have confirmed that blue asbestos was never used in ac sheeting. The bottom line is make your own investigations, after all they are your lungs.

Jim

[johnc]

I recall from a company I worked for in the 80's an experts report on asbestos lagging. The lagging was white asbestos, but the lab reports came up with minute traces of brown and blue. From memory the report stated that there can be some contamination or traces of the more dangerous products in the white brew. I guess it just reinforces that although the risk is low we should still mask up and take appropriate care, how many of us though quite happily ran power saws through sheets of the stuff unaware of the danger in the dust.



JohnC

[wombat47]

I wouldn't bother about getting the stuff tested. Unless it's a reasonably new construction, one could assume that there is asbestos in it.

James Hardie is currently facing a damages claim from a woman in her early 30's whose contact with asbestos dates from the family home's extensions when she was a young child.

Don't discount the dangers of asbestos of ANY colour.

[ED T]

Wombat47 is right. Take care. But don't get paranoid.

Use a dust mask.
Have a vacuum cleaner handy, and clean up regularly.
Keep all surfaces damp to prevent dust from moving.
Don't let dust get inside your clothing - it can create irritations.
Launder your clothing.
Bag and seal the debris.

Ed T

[Eastie]

The only way to work with asbestos is to treat it as if it would kill you today.

Although a lot of builders and tradies have been (and some still are) complacent with it, the fact is there's a chance that unless you take sensible precautions you might be the 'unlucky' sod who cops it and slowly dies a painfull, undignified death.

Fooling yourself into thinking white asbestos is less hazardous than blue or brown is like saying slitting your wrists is safer than swallowing draino.

[Trav]

my grandad (what a great woodie he was too) dies of mesophylioma (ie asbestos disease). It was an awful way to go.

He worked as a boilermaker in the west - home of most of Australia's aesbestos related diseases.

Be careful

Trav

[journeyman Mick]

Jim,
don't know if you remember Ballantyne's Homes in Cairns? One of the first project builders in the area, late 70's onwards. It was owned by two brothers, one of whom died from working with asbestos. Don't kid yourself, it's like playing russian roulette. You have gotten away with it so far, but like Eastie says, treat it like it could kill you today.

ED T,
vacuum cleaner is not a good idea for asbestos removal. It will most probably push the really small (and most dangerous) particles into the air where your more likely to breathe it.

Mick

PS being paranoid about asbestos is probably not a bad thing ;)

[ian]

sounds like a good excuse to get one of those [not so] little Festo vacume thingies. Just tell SWMBO that it's for yours and her health.
Fitted with the right dust bag, they're rated for asbestos. At least mine is.

[julianx]

As a "professional" when I'm asked to do work that involves asbestos I use a use my own safety proceedure. I say NO and move onto the next job. I'd rather be a poor old grandfather than DEAD.

[journeyman Mick]

As a "professional" when I'm asked to do work that involves asbestos I use a use my own safety proceedure. I say NO and move onto the next job. I'd rather be a poor old grandfather than DEAD.

Hey, that's exactly the same method I use! :D

Mick

[Pulse]

Arron, If there is just a bit it may be worth doing yourself, I've read a few things about doing it and a mate did it himself recently.

You need disposable overalls (tyvek if possible) and a P2 mask. The key seems to be not to disturb the sheets. First wet the sheets or spray them with bondcrete/water mix to bind the surface. Then punch the nails through the sheet and remove the whole sheet and wrap in thick builders plastic. Then spray all the studs etc with the bondcrete and also the insides of the sheet you removed.

Never use power tools and never use a normal vacuum as Mick suggested. They don't even stop plaster dust, let alone asbestos fibres. My mate bought a Nilfisk vacuum with a HEPA filter GD1010 I think. They cost about $600. they also make a ***** hot domestic vacuum once you take out the bag with asbestos. The HEPA filters are a 3rd stage after the fan and cost about $100.
Don't trust dodgy "HEPA" filters seen in some domestic vacuums. Caterclean is a place whcih stocks the Nilfisks and HEPA filters.

Cheers
Pulse