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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To make my children wear masks when entering and leaving our home?

46 replies

AsbestosFlatly · 22/04/2014 14:45

I live in a 2nd floor flat and its well known that all the halls have asbestos.

Theres a guy drilling all round the edges of the ceiling to install emergency lighting.

I told him about the asbestos, he said he didnt know about it but will hoover up the mess and get himself a mask. Hmm

Ive called my agency and they are getting back to me.

But even with him vaccuming, the floor is still totally covered in dust. Im tempted to get the kids masks for now and going out there myself tonight and washing the floor.

WWYD?

OP posts:
softlysoftly · 22/04/2014 14:47

Erm that's awful, probably yes to masks and maybe call environmental health?

ouryve · 22/04/2014 14:49

Who owns or manages the building? I'd be giving them a call, as well as environmental health.

Custardo · 22/04/2014 14:50

why wouldnt you get on the phone to environmental health and the health and dsafety executive immediatley?

noblegiraffe · 22/04/2014 14:51

Crikey, don't deal with it yourself, that's not a good idea.

I'd be leaving and not going back until it's been sorted.

Pobblewhohasnotoes · 22/04/2014 14:52

I didn't think you could disturb asbestos! I would be calling environmental health.

Cocolepew · 22/04/2014 14:53

Definitely call environmental health!

SanityClause · 22/04/2014 15:03

Call environmental health.

We were once doing up a house, and one of the contractors managed to throw asbestos rubble into the NDN garden. He called environmental health, and the whole site had to be shut down, and a we had to engage someone to safely remove and dispose of the asbestos.

We were mortified at what had happened to the NDN - no one should have asbestos raining down into their garden!

intheenddotcom · 22/04/2014 16:14

Call Environmental Health - there are special precautions that need to be taken when disturbing asbestos.

If it is in the air then it can get into your flat, so I'd personally be out of there.

thereisnoeleventeen · 22/04/2014 17:04

Environmental health, council, DC's school (to see if they have contacts like a home school link worker that can help), MP...I'd be on the phone to all of them tbh. Asbestos removal is a specialist business and cost a fortune for a reason. In it's dust form it is particularly lethal.

I would be making a HUGE fuss.

LindaMcCartneySausage · 22/04/2014 17:07

Call environmental health right now. Asbestos containing materials should be labeled as such with notices saying it is not to be touched.

Masks won't help much unless you were them 24/7 for months. Asbestos fibres are tiny and longer in the air. If the material has been disturbed it will continue shedding fibres. It needs to be professionally removed or contained.

TooExtraImmatureCheddar · 22/04/2014 17:08

Gosh, surely the guy doing the drilling is putting himself at huge risk? Is he a neighbour or a contractor? Not a chance would I mess about with asbestos under any circumstances. Can you go stay somewhere else with the kids, OP? And yy to phoning anyone you can get hold of today.

DocDaneeka · 22/04/2014 17:11

Get the fuck out and call the council.

Don't even consider going back, and really really don't try to clean yourself.

Only takes one single invisibly tiny fibre to cause the cancers.

ToomuchIsBackOnBootcamp · 22/04/2014 17:14

As someone who lost a relative to asbestos caused lung cancer last year, please please do not try to deal with this yourself. Call the appropriate agencies and try to be elsewhere when they deal with it. Horrible stuff, very dangerous.

Original poster
AsbestosFlatly · 22/04/2014 17:28

Right, Ive been given mixed information where I am.

The managing agent have said that its 'low grade' asbestos. That its in the paint on the ceiling, rather than part of the actual ceiling.

However, he has still drilled into it, and all the halls are still covered in it, as are all the mats out the front of each home and is being walked into each and every home. Hmm

I google it and funnily enough I find absolutely nothing saying that its ok to drill into this paint.

Quite the opposite.

We have just bought the asbestos report upstairs and we are reading through it.

Either way, will be calling environmental heal tomorrow.

OP posts:
WestieMamma · 22/04/2014 17:40

I'll show DH this thread when he gets home in an hour or so. He's a chemistry prof specialising in industrial materials and may be able to give you some advise.

WestieMamma · 22/04/2014 17:41
  • advice
Original poster
AsbestosFlatly · 22/04/2014 18:02

WestieMama that would be really appreciated.

If it helps towards the info he needs, its score 2 Amphiboles excluding crociodilte.

We reas how the guy was supposed to be working, since its asbestos and he has done non of it.

Which is no suprise since he had no idea it was asbestos in the fist place.
Theres dust all outside my door, inside my door, on our shoes.....

OP posts:
FabULouse · 22/04/2014 18:41

This reply has been deleted

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TheCraicDealer · 22/04/2014 18:51

If it's low grade asbestos then it probably doesn't need to be a licensed contractor doing the work, however, they do need to carry out the maintainence within the framework outlined by the HSE. Here is the most relevant link to the HSE guidelines. Although it's not high risk (comparatively) it would be of massive concern to me that this guy is just going drilling willy nilly with no apparent knowledge of the material he's dealing with! Complain, complain, complain.

Original poster
AsbestosFlatly · 22/04/2014 19:09

I will be doing all of that. I will be calling them first thing in the morning, presumably they wont be open now?

And the paper work says he does need to be licensed contractor, but presumably he is? As in, hes an official electrian?

OP posts:
TheCraicDealer · 22/04/2014 19:26

A licensed contractor is someone who has a licence to remove and dispose of asbestos and associated materials, they're often also demolition specialists but not always. The industry is highly regulated which is why you need a licence to do the medium to high-grade stuff. This FAQ page might clear up some of your questions and help give you some amo!

WestieMamma · 22/04/2014 19:28

DH says to contact the local authority and the HSE asap to cover both bases and make sure you tell them it is an occupied building. The work should have been licensed as it is most likely sprayed on asbestos which is high risk if disturbed.

In the meantime:

  1. DO NOT use a vacuum on the dust as this will make the asbestos dust worse.
  1. Don't sweep or dust it. If you need to get it off something use a damp cloth so it doesn't get airborne.
  1. Change shoes at the door so you don't walk it into you house.
  1. If you can, dampen the dusty surfaces with a plant water sprayer as the danger is when it's dry and airborne
  1. Do not let him carry on if he comes back tomorrow. If necessary call the police until the slower moving authorities get jnto gear.
Original poster
AsbestosFlatly · 22/04/2014 19:37

Fucking hell.

Right thats scary and useful, thank you. I mean, I can spray thats fine but every stair and floor is totally covered in dust.

This is terrible of the managing agents.

OP posts:
Original poster
AsbestosFlatly · 22/04/2014 19:41

Ive just left a message with the out of hours environmental health. Apparently the listen to the messages and help the same night if they think it needs it. If not it goes to those working in the office the following day.

So I guess they can do with that, what they will.

OP posts:
Original poster
AsbestosFlatly · 22/04/2014 19:47

Apparently its 'asbestos textured coating' so I dont think its spray on asbestos.....

Apparently its low risk?

OP posts:
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