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Asbestos, am I being utterly crazy or is this unreasonable?

144 replies

Uniffo · 04/11/2024 22:45

My neighbours are renovating. We are detached but still reasonably close. They have asbestos on some part of the outside of their house/along the garage frames etc. they are removing it all next week and casually told us that ‘I think you’re supposed to get it removed by specialists but we are just going to bin it.’ Meaning the wheely bins.

Could this not mean bits of asbestos come into our home? Our garden? Etc. we have a baby which is making me more worried.

OP posts:
Delphiniumandlupins · 05/11/2024 00:26

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Which council?

WafferThin · 05/11/2024 00:18

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whiteboardking · 05/11/2024 00:16

www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/a14.pdf

If it's a garage then this

whiteboardking · 05/11/2024 00:14

www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/essentials/

Everything you need to know is here

WafferThin · 05/11/2024 00:14

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Delphiniumandlupins · 05/11/2024 00:11

The risk with asbestos is breathing in the dust, so as soon as they start to break it up. Untouched, in good condition, there's very little risk.

Needanewname42 · 05/11/2024 00:10

I'd report to council environment health department and HSE.

While I don't think they'll be much risk to you there is a risk to the bin men and the future generations who have to deal with the landfill tip.
Asbestos has only been allowed in certain tips for decades, so future generations know what they are dealling with in what areas.

ThatAgileGoldMoose · 05/11/2024 00:09

Neighbour, is that you?

WafferThin · 05/11/2024 00:09

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ThatAgileGoldMoose · 05/11/2024 00:07

Asbestos should not cause any health problems if it is in good condition and is dismantled and disposed of correctly.

There are two important concepts in that statement, neither of which seem to be satisfied by the aesbestos and its removal in the OP.

WafferThin · 05/11/2024 00:05

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WafferThin · 05/11/2024 00:04

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Freeyourminds · 05/11/2024 00:03

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Ah well that’s ok then!!
Do you specialise in asbestos, no of course you don’t, because if you did, you wouldn’t be making such ridiculous claim.For clarification, it’s illegal to be disposing of asbestos.End of.

BurntBroccoli · 05/11/2024 00:00

Uniffo · 04/11/2024 22:45

My neighbours are renovating. We are detached but still reasonably close. They have asbestos on some part of the outside of their house/along the garage frames etc. they are removing it all next week and casually told us that ‘I think you’re supposed to get it removed by specialists but we are just going to bin it.’ Meaning the wheely bins.

Could this not mean bits of asbestos come into our home? Our garden? Etc. we have a baby which is making me more worried.

You need to report this to environmental health. There are really strict rules about asbestos removal. It only takes one tiny piece getting into your lungs to cause asbestosis.
They will also be endangering the council waste collection crew and could actually be prosecuted or even jailed for potential injury to a crew member.

WafferThin · 05/11/2024 00:00

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Oceangreyscale · 04/11/2024 23:58

Usernameisunavailable · 04/11/2024 23:56

A friend of mine’s husband died at the relatively young age of 60 due to breathing in asbestos when he was about 20. All he did was help a neighbour dismantle an old asbestos building and chuck the broken pieces in a skip. That was the sum total of his exposure - It wasn’t a lifetime spent in the asbestos industry - just a few hours spent knocking asbestos about without protection. The stuff lodged in his lungs and killed him 40 years later. I was really shocked and saddened when I found out how he’d died, i wouldn’t have believed it possible from so little exposure.

EXACTLY THIS.

I work in a related industry and I know I keep posting but please please take action. This is exactly what the consequences can be just from one period of exposure.

Oceangreyscale · 04/11/2024 23:56

Actually people could, actually, die.

And the neighbours could (should) end up with a fine and potential jail time.

Usernameisunavailable · 04/11/2024 23:56

A friend of mine’s husband died at the relatively young age of 60 due to breathing in asbestos when he was about 20. All he did was help a neighbour dismantle an old asbestos building and chuck the broken pieces in a skip. That was the sum total of his exposure - It wasn’t a lifetime spent in the asbestos industry - just a few hours spent knocking asbestos about without protection. The stuff lodged in his lungs and killed him 40 years later. I was really shocked and saddened when I found out how he’d died, i wouldn’t have believed it possible from so little exposure.

WafferThin · 04/11/2024 23:50

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Vaxtable · 04/11/2024 23:49

Report it to your enforcement team at your local authority and tell your council anyway so they can look at the bins

They are incredibly stupid in. my book

ThatsNotMyTeen · 04/11/2024 23:38

wtf?!

what selfish, irresponsible twats.

I’d definitely report them to the council

LastNight1Dreamt1WentToManderleyAgain · 04/11/2024 23:34

would community police be interested? surely it's antisocial behaviour to poison the air the neighbourhood breathes? it's crucial to stop them before they start

Franjipanl8r · 04/11/2024 23:21

Some asbestos doesn’t have to be removed by a licensed asbestos removal company, but it still needs to be disposed of appropriately. If it’s cement asbestos sheets then that’s fairly low grade but they shouldn’t be breaking it up and shoving it in a wheelie bin.

Franjipanl8r · 04/11/2024 23:17

Call environmental health at your local council. They should take this seriously.

PickAChew · 04/11/2024 23:05

They know it's there and don't care, despite having the Internet at their fingertips. I'd report first thing and not care if they suspect you.