Old Plumbers... Get Yourself Checked Out

[Rusty333]

I'm 53 years old ,have been plumbing since i was 16, I recently had a bad cold and developed a chest infection, the first batch of anti-biotics wouldn't shift it so they gave me a second dose and a chest x ray. I was mortified when they called me in to tell me i had "pleural plaques" caused by exposure to asbestos. The plueral plaques are not a problem (scaring of the walls of the lungs),its the other asbestos related cancers etc that they then start looking for, still going through tests , but thank god it seems i'm all clear.
If you worked back in the 70's & 80's in this trade get yourself checked out

 

[Dannypipe]

Scary. Astbestos is still common, and generations to come will be exposed to it.

Wishing you a speedy recovery.

 

[bruceyboy]

Interesting post mate im 38 years old and remember one of my first jobs as an apprentice was putting in caulking bushes to ci soil pipe with
PC4 ..this was asbestos rope...the dust from this stuff was unbelievable but at the time we were told this asbestos was not dangerous!!! i think i may get myself checked out.cheers

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

know a few people in the industry who have it(but manage ok with the symptoms)and a few who sadly lost there lives to it,hope you get well soon rusty

 

[Rusty333]

No recovery needed i'm fine, it just goes to show what can be spotted on a totally unrelated x ray, i've probably had it for years, it was just a shock to find out

 

[carpstu]

i lost my dad to this 4yrs ago he use to work for a company doing food flavorings and this involved hot vats and stuff so the pipes that carryed the hot water were lagged which contained Astbestos and he was always having to poke the lagging back in to the holes in the walls and sometimes he help the lagger who done it full time who also died of the same. we watched him go down hill very quick and belive me its not a nice way to go so please do get checked out dont leave it.........

 

[ratrace]

My old man was found to have pleural plaques as well.

 

[SafeGasInstall]

been stupid is just been me ,but please how can I get checked ! Did contract work two years ago for cancel and there was lots of panels behind the boilers ! plus ceilings and some old boilers we had to rip out ! never touched the asbestos flues or header tanks

 

[mredd]

Rusty good to hear your ok.
I attended a Asbestos course not so long ago and it was a bit of an eye opener.
If any one is not sure what it is or what it can be found in, then please find the time to read up on it. There is still a lot of it out there.

 

[AWheating]

So many things contain Asbestos its hard to avoid it in many older houses. Many people dont even know that some old plastic toilet cisterns and even some toilet seat contain Asbestos.
Older boilers are a big problem and i would suggest anyone removing or servicing appliances made before 1990ish would be advise to seek advise before touching them.

 

[diamondgas]

Hi all,

Reading this thread reminded me of a list I'd accessed when I wasn't sure of an old boiler I was once asked to service. Check out this pdf. http://www.stop-think-asbestos.co.uk/pdf_downloads/GAS_ELECTRICALAPPLICANCESLIST.pdf It's a list of known appliances that have asbestos in them. The website is worth a look at too. Stop Think Asbestos

Rusty333 I hope your future is not marred by this discovery and you enjoy your life to the max

 

[dontknowitall]

On the lighter side ...


Croppie? Are you taking note?

Re: Old Plumbers... Get Yourself Checked Out

Heehee!!!!

 

[Guest123]

Still remember PC4 as a kid and working with sheet lead without gloves for years. I'm 46 now and my knees and joints are always sore, even though I left the trade for a few years. Glad things have changed for the kids nowadays and safety has been tightened up.

 

[WHPES]

The risk with asbestos is when anything gets airbourne and is breathed in. Asbestos sheeting and gaskets on their own are negligible risk but if you take a power tool to them its a completely different story. Loose material such as lagging is dangerous if it is possible to disturb it and release fibres (dust).

The best way to stabilise asbestos fibres is to coat with something like strong PVA solution or paint which forms a crust on top (but don't use a powerful sprayer as this can spread fibres).

The most common form of asbestos where I live is on farm buildings and warehouses - They are clad with a kind of corrugated steel which was coated with an asbestos/bitumen layer (originally called "galbestos"). A lot of people aren't aware of its presence.