How often is asbestos missed?

[Deleted member 174758]

Plenty teachers die of asbestosis,and they did not wander around in clouds of it.

I still think that they a bloody sight less likely to die of any asbestos-related diseases than, say, a skilled tradesman who worked in the construction industry in the 1980s and earlier. I'm also of the opinion that if a teacher dies of an asbestos-related illness their partner will probably get a far greater pay out than my partner would ever see should I be incapacitated or killed by having dealt with copious quantities of the stuff in the past. Isn't that called something like the "white collar premium"?

I also believe that Oscar Wilde had it exactly right about teachers - even my missus agrees, and she's an ex-teacher

 

[durhamplumber]

I still think that they a bloody sight less likely to die of any asbestos-related diseases than, say, a skilled tradesman who worked in the construction industry in the 1980s and earlier. I'm also of the opinion that if a teacher dies of an asbestos-related illness their partner will probably get a far greater pay out than my partner would ever see should I be incapacitated or killed by having dealt with copious quantities of the stuff in the past. Isn't that called something like the "white collar premium"?

I also believe that Oscar Wilde had it exactly right about teachers - even my missus agrees, and she's an ex-teacher

What did Oscar think of teachers?..

 

[durhamplumber]

I still think that they a bloody sight less likely to die of any asbestos-related diseases than, say, a skilled tradesman who worked in the construction industry in the 1980s and earlier. I'm also of the opinion that if a teacher dies of an asbestos-related illness their partner will probably get a far greater pay out than my partner would ever see should I be incapacitated or killed by having dealt with copious quantities of the stuff in the past. Isn't that called something like the "white collar premium"?

I also believe that Oscar Wilde had it exactly right about teachers - even my missus agrees, and she's an ex-teacher

Obviously the more exposure,the more likely to die,,but it only takes 1 filament,which can lie dorment in excess of 30 years in ones lung.

 

[mointainwalker]

Statistically,,everyone on the planet has less than two legs.
Tobbacco company stats "prove" no link between lung cancer and smoking!..Again, for the hard of reading,,,hundreds of teachers die from asbestos exposure,,NUT site..

I don't understand why you frig around instead of quoting the link if it is so obvious. My search on the NUT site for asbestosis came up no results so it is clearly a world away from what you claim.

 

[JohnD]

I don't understand why you frig around instead of quoting the link if it is so obvious. My search on the NUT site for asbestosis came up no results so it is clearly a world away from what you claim.

DP's post is utter nonsense, so either he has no grasp of truth or statistics; or he is hoping to trick those more ignorant than himself.

Or both.

 

[Lower]

Obviously the more exposure,the more likely to die,,but it only takes 1 filament,which can lie dorment in excess of 30 years in ones lung.

Seeing as asbestos fibres occur naturally and are found in the air we all breathe, how come we don’t all die from asbestosis?

 

[durhamplumber]

I'm afraid that's by and large cobblers, as is most of the bogey man image of asbestos, the poor unsuspecting folk who contracted asbestosis were subjected to clouds of the unbound material regularly over a protracted period of time, you'd be much better off worrying about your diet and pension, even if you lived in a house made of the stuff.

Teachers did not wander around in clouds of the stuff before dieing of asbestosis

 

[Tigercubrider]

Seeing as asbestos fibres occur naturally and are found in the air we all breathe, how come we don’t all die from asbestosis?

Although asbestos has been known about for thousands of years, and is a natural product, it is mined. So it's hardly floating in the air generally.

 

[Brigadier]

I don't understand why you frig around instead of quoting the link if it is so obvious. My search on the NUT site for asbestosis came up no results so it is clearly a world away from what you claim.

Try this one.


https://www.teachers.org.uk/edufacts/asbestos

 

[Deleted member 174758]

What did Oscar think of teachers?..

Apologies for the incorrect quote source. It was actually from George Bernard Shaw's "Man and Superman" and I probably read that around 50 years ago in English Lit. (a subject I detested). In that book Bob says "I'm so discouraged. My writing teacher told me my novel is hopeless", and Jane replies "Don't listen to her, Bob. Remember: those who can, do; those who can't, teach."

Either way the HSE figures concerning those most likely to die of asbestos-related figures are probably the most trustworthy. As for that advice in Brigadier's link, para 1, that, "there is simply no evidence to support the Government’s case that it is safer to manage asbestos than to remove it. Removal must take place under strictly controlled conditions and is highly regulated. It is misleading and scaremongering to suggest that removal might be unsafe." I would challenge the competence and knowledge of the person who wrote that as it appears to be derived more from ignorance and fear then knowledge or research. It certainly makes me dubious about some of the other "facts" quoted in the piece.

 

[Brigadier]

Either way the HSE figures concerning those most likely to die of asbestos-related figures are probably the most trustworthy. As for that advice in Brigadier's link, para 1, that, "there is simply no evidence to support the Government’s case that it is safer to manage asbestos than to remove it. Removal must take place under strictly controlled conditions and is highly regulated. It is misleading and scaremongering to suggest that removal might be unsafe." I would challenge the competence and knowledge of the person who wrote that as it appears to be derived more from ignorance and fear then knowledge or research. It certainly makes me dubious about some of the other "facts" quoted in the piece.

In the end, what is to be done (with asbestos in schools) is a debate between two sides; those who may be potentially-exposed to the stuff, and those who may have to pay for any remedial measures (there is some overlap between the two groups, depending on the funding model of the "school").
On the "union" side (for want of a better expression), part of their argument is that asbestos management strategies for workplaces (which are already well-documented on the HSE website, and in published guidance), are not transferable to educational premises, precisely because of the fact that the majority of the buildings' occupants are children.
One cannot reasonably expect children to act as responsibly as adults, with regard to the way they treat the building.
As such, asbestos insulating board corridor wall panelling in an office may well be "safe" to leave in situ, as it is unlikely to be damaged during normal occupation. The same cannot be said for the same item in a busy school corridor.

 

[Thomasthepiperson]

Asbestos is nearly everywhere, and even in relatively modern buildings. I know a shopping centre which was built in 1999/2000 and it is presumed that there is Asbestos gaskets present in the plant rooms! There is warning stickers on, although really it surely should have been tested first.

 

[Thomasthepiperson]

Asbestos is rife in school buildings especially. I have emailed a few schools I went to about Asbestos, and seem to have refused to tell me, seems a bit fishy if you ask me

 

[Brigadier]

Asbestos is nearly everywhere, and even in relatively modern buildings. I know a shopping centre which was built in 1999/2000 and it is presumed that there is Asbestos gaskets present in the plant rooms! There is warning stickers on, although really it surely should have been tested first.

To do that though, you have to cut a chunk of it out.
Which may make the gasket less able to do its job.

Also, how likely is it that people are continually having to bolt and unbolt flanges in a 18 yr-old set-up?
If it is not that likely, precautionary stickering is probably cheaper and more prudent, than hacking chunks off however-many-knows items (that were unlikely to be worked upon anyway).

 

[Deleted member 174758]

I know a shopping centre which was built in 1999/2000 and it is presumed that there is Asbestos gaskets present in the plant rooms! There is warning stickers on, although really it surely should have been tested first.

The use of asbestos in building products in new build/refurbishment was actually banned at the end of 1999, although by that time it was mainly only for smaller products such as gaskets that it was being used, and even then it would mainly be down to the non-availability of comparable non-asbestos products. If the equipment containing the gaskets was installed during the build and signed-off/commissioned prior to the year 2000 deadline they would be legal. As a public building I would expect there to be an asbestos survey in place for use by any tradesmen or maintenance personnel (this is pretty much the norm and I've yet to work in a shopping precinct where this isn't the case)