Search the forum,

Discuss Working safely around asbestos. in the Plumbing Jobs | The Job-board area at PlumbersForums.net

Status
Not open for further replies.

villa_tom

Esteemed
Plumber
Gas Engineer
Messages
4,274
Hi all,

Not posted on here in a while so bear with me.
basically I've got to fill out an application form for a contracting job and one of the questions is

'how do you ensure sure he safety of customers, employees and yourself when working in an environment where asbestos is present?'

Obviously I know the answers, as in don't touch it, and if working on a boiler with asbestos then dont remove parts where present ie gaskets etc

But what would you say with regards to customers?

aulson is there a gassafe TB about this or a HSE document I cold read up on?
 
The obvious answer is don't go near the stuff if your a wuss.
 
They told us in college that you can paint it to make it safer, ie prevent the fibres from falling away from it.

Doesn't sound like the kind of thing you should be telling college students though. Don't think I'll be trying that one when the situation arises!!
 
I remember being told that you would need to get a sample test to find out what grade it was!!! but they never told us how to get the sample!!!

tell the main contractor that you suspect asbestos and let them worry about it!!
 
the duty holder (either landlord or main contractor) will be responsible to identify asbestos in propertys and inform the workforce in advance of work. So to ensure the safety of yourself and other workers the asbestos report should be available and read by all worker entering the property. Getting workers to sign they have had and read a copy of the report covers the duty holder, also regular tool box talks and training can be used to prove correct measures are being put into practice.
 
Last edited:
the duty holder (either landlord or main contractor) will be responsible to identify asbestos in propertys and inform the workforce in advance of work. So to ensure the safety of yourself and other workers the asbestos report should be available and read by all worker entering the property. Getting workers to sign they have had and read a copy of the report covers the duty holder, also regular tool box talks and training can be used to prove correct measures are being put into practice.

Cheers mate.

I have only ever worked with asbestos in the form of an asbestos flue. Obviously I was extra carefull and did not disturb anything and informed the customer.
i have never encountered an asbestos rope seal, if I did personally I would not touch the boiler. But say it was a breakdown and you had to gain access to the burner and disturb the rope seal, would there be some kind of way to do it without disturbing it, or would you just write the boiler off. I have heard stories of having to double bag the stuff and wet it when removing it or something like that
 
It's a paperwork exercise on their behalf to limited liability in the event of someone trying to claim. Tell them what they want to hear (ie report asbestos, ensure it isn't disturbed etc etc) but in reality you just get on with your job and use your common sense. You could go on one of the awareness courses but you'll come out being paranoid about the stuff and actually once you have attended the course, you'll be held accountable personally if an incident arises from your actions.

It's everywhere and not going to go away any time soon so as long as your not bashing to bells of sheet out of it, you'll just work around it and be sensible.

You could carry a bottle of water in a spray thingy if you want.
 
Last edited:
It's a paperwork exercise on their behalf to limited liability in the event of someone trying to claim. Tell them what they want to hear (ie report asbestos, ensure it isn't disturbed etc etc) but in reality you just get on with your job and use your common sense. You could go on one of the awareness courses but you'll come out being paranoid about the stuff and actually once you have attended the course, you'll be held accountable personally if an incident arises from your actions.

It's everywhere and not going to go away any time soon so as long as your not bashing to bells of sheet out of it, you'll just work around it and be sensible.

You could carry a bottle of water in a spray thingy if you want.

Ive done the awareness course but it was over to years ago. I know exactly what your saying with regards to them limiting their liability, it's all nonsense if you ask me but as you know you got answer with the answers they like or your out their before you start
 
Basically if you think something is made of asbestos and you need to touch it you need to say that you will not touch it and request a compentent person to do a risk assessment of the pontential risks. This normally will involve either a visual inspection or include samples and lab tests. But im guessing thay are looking for you to state that you do not touch it and will seek advise from competent person.

is it for landlords/housing bum or counsil?? if so its there responsibility as the duty holder to know and inform you about asbestos in there propertys.

If they require you take responsibilty for such things they should be requesting you to include the cost of risk assessments etc in your quote. Normally on med to large housing bum. contracts the main contractor will take this on and pay a specialist to do a full report on each property before work starts.
 
Last edited:
Basically if you think something is made of asbestos and you need to touch it you need to say that you will not touch it and request a compentent person to do a risk assessment of the pontential risks. This normally will involve either a visual inspection or include samples and lab tests. But im guessing thay are looking for you to state that you do not touch it and will seek advise from competent person.

is it for landlords/housing bum or counsil?? if so its there responsibility as the duty holder to know and inform you about asbestos in there propertys.

If they require you take responsibilty for such things they should be requesting you to include the cost of risk assessments etc in your quote. Normally on med to large housing bum. contracts the main contractor will take this on and pay a specialist to do a full report on each property before work starts.

Cheers mate, it's for private homes, so as you can imagine they prob don't know what's in each home, only what is in the boiler.
im just go to put that I will not touch anything knowing that it has asbestos in, and if I where to service a boiler with asbestos then just do the minimum being carful not to disturb it. Also say if I suspect anything to have asbestos, ie floor tiles, then I would stop work, inform managers etc who can then get a firm who deals with his sort of thing in
 
Don't forget there is no lower exposure level for asbestos. In other words you can get asbestosis from a 5 minute exposure. Go careful. The HSE have plenty of advice try them.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Reply to Working safely around asbestos. in the Plumbing Jobs | The Job-board area at PlumbersForums.net

Creating content since 2001. Untold Media.

OFFICIAL SPONSORS

OFFICIAL SPONSORS

Back
Top
AdBlock Detected

We get it, advertisements are annoying!

Sure, ad-blocking software does a great job at blocking ads, but it also blocks useful features of our website. For the best site experience please disable your AdBlocker.

I've Disabled AdBlock