Asbestos. What to do?

[RF Lighting]

This is a new one on me. I was working in a vacant 1970s built flat for a private customer. One of the jobs on her list for me was to remove the existing surface mount centrifugal fan and make the wiring safe ready for the decorator, then replace it with a smaller more modern fan.

I dropped the old fan out of the ceiling and straight away realised that the ducting to outside is asbestos. It's the first time I've ever seen or even heard of asbestos fan ducting, so had taken no precautions against it.

I now have no idea how to proceed with this job to make everything safe.

Please help! I don't know if it's best to shove the fan back in the hole, bung / tape the hole up / leave the fan hanging out. I'm worried if I leave it as it is, abestos dust might blow back into the flat with the wind. The duct is finished outside with an open louvre grille.

 

[ericmark]

Every time we found asbestos we were sent off site until cleared. So many products using asbestos changed over the years, Asbestolux we were told was not asbestos, but an asbestos replacement however on the government web site it's listed as containing all three types according to age.

I know many simply replace part and forget it, but personally I would not want to do that, I would report to owner and let them decide what to do. Costs of removal can be silly, and often it is just sprayed with a paint or lacquer, if the owner asks you to re-fit old fan then personally I would, but again personally I would not want to get involved I saw on the BT buildings what lengths were required to remove it so would just report, and wait for further instructions.

 

[Adam_151]

I can't see it in your picture properly, however I would have thought a asbestos duct would be made from asbestos cement, in which case the fibres are locked in place by the structure of the concrete unless its broken, drilled or cut etc (or jet-washed if its roofing sheets)

One could seal any rough edges with a coat of gloss paint, tidy up any dust using wet wipes (never a vacuum cleaner unless its one of the special units for this purpose!)

Its obviously up to you to make sure that whatever you do is compliant with the control of asbestos regulations, etc the above is merely what a person might do when confronted with such a situation....

 

[DaveHerns]

I'd leave it alone and call in asbestos experts. It's for your health as much as the flat owner. They say it's safe till disturbed but you might release a few particles even putting the old fan back

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I suspect RF's health is not at risk, not from this exposure (if it is) - it takes prolonged exposure to get asbestosis or cancer, and it doesn't kick in until decades later.

But he mustn't start fiddling with it.

 

[conny]

Tell the customer your findings and explain they need to call in a specialist company to deal with it.
When the experts arrive ask them to give you a written report on what they find, the risk you have been exposed to and what to do regarding your exposure.

If the customer refuses to call them in then you, as a worker on the site, have the right to do so on their behalf because of their refusal. Alternatively, if they refuse you can walk off site and should report it to the local authority anyway.

 

[endecotp]

"What to do if you uncover or damage materials that may contain asbestos"

http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/em1.pdf

 

[333rocky333]

http://www.ihasco.co.uk/free-resources


our training was via this mob.
You may find some helpfull links amongst the free stuff

 

[wagster]

One thing's for sure, the customer needs to be made aware of all facts and you both need to agree on the course of action.

 

[DaveHerns]

I think one incident of exposure to asbestos can be enough to cause health problems but it does take 20 or so years for symptoms to become apparent