Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to be worried about this - DH says yes.

86 replies

WigglyWorms5 · 08/10/2015 07:23

We had a company round to take artex samples to test for asbestos and the surveyor said that he had to keep his shoes on. I was a bit apprehensive and said is he sure they're clean and he said yes because whenever he actually deals with asbestos he is covered up in a suit and over boots etc. I wish I'd been a bit more insistent though - all our results came back clear but I feel so worried about the fact that he walked around DCs bedrooms with his boots on - what if they were contaminated even slightly? My children (as with most) play on the floor. He walked everywhere in the house Sad

OP posts:
pictish · 08/10/2015 07:26

Yes yabu.

dementedpixie · 08/10/2015 07:26

Yes you are being unreasonable and overly anxious about it

WorldsBiggestGrotbag · 08/10/2015 07:29

Yes, YABU

Mehitabel6 · 08/10/2015 07:32

Are you as over anxious about other things? It must make life difficult for you. Your children will be fine!

AMonsterInParis · 08/10/2015 07:33

Think you are being a very over anxious about it! Your dcs are not rolling about in mounds asbestos (as my df did in the 70's when working for a particular company Hmm ). Illnesses you are worrying about do not come about based on one exposure to something. Think of all the people smoking 20 cigarettes a day. They don't automatically get Ill on that first day.

Hoover up and forget about it!

TurnOffTheTv · 08/10/2015 07:34

Yes you are being overly anxious.

Shutthatdoor · 08/10/2015 07:34

YABVU Wink

Oysterbabe · 08/10/2015 07:35

Yabu.

wonkylegs · 08/10/2015 07:35

You are being overly anxious
You had clear results
The most likely contaminate he had on his boots would have been dirt from outside
Hoover the floor and move on otherwise your going to worry yourself to death over nothing.

Anastasie · 08/10/2015 07:35

Logically if he had any asbestos on his shoes it will probably have worn off walking on other surfaces by the time he came into your house.

I hope that helps a bit. I understand how you feel. But I think the risk is almost neglible.

lottiegarbanzo · 08/10/2015 07:47

Huh? He's been testing other houses, not stomping around in a pile of asbestos - which is visible, did you see clods of it falling off onto your carpets? So maybe hoover then.

You have a skewed perception of risk and little knowledge of asbestos. I bet you take much bigger risks with your DCs daily without even thinking about it.

Filiboom · 08/10/2015 08:09

I have knowledge of asbestos removal in a professional capacity and have seen it removed from my garden. Your surveyor is absolutely right - he will be totally covered up in a protective suit when dealing with actual asbestos, both for his own protection and to avoid contaminating other areas. So you really don't need to worry about asbestos on his shoes coming into in your house.

pinkyredrose · 08/10/2015 08:12

YABU. Unclench!

LillyBugg · 08/10/2015 08:13

Yabu as all others have said. How would you have reacted if there was traces of asbestos in the walls?!

marriednotdead · 08/10/2015 08:13

You are worrying needlessly.
The way it is removed involves major precautions and no one working in that industry these days would be a risk to others. A family member does it and the equipment and protective clothing is decontaminated at the location- they have a special zone and shower set up next to the site of any removal and have to be freshly shaved so that their face masks are 100% sealed. The risks associated are well known now so they have overcome them.

Anastasie · 08/10/2015 08:14

Lottie what a crap post.

*did you see clods of it falling off onto your carpets? So maybe hoover then.

You have a skewed perception of risk and little knowledge of asbestos.*

First off the OP is worried. You don't have to belittle her like she was stupid or something. Unnecessary.

Secondly who are you to criticise her knowledge of asbestos when you're advising her to hoover it up? FFS

ChameleonCircuit · 08/10/2015 08:23

Have you seen what they do if they find asbestos? Poor lad starting on a new bathroom for my parents found asbestos - I'm told it was like a scene from Silkwood! He spent the rest of the day in a paper suit because they destroyed his clothes.

Your guy wouldn't risk his own health by not taking all necessary precautions.

Spartans · 08/10/2015 08:23

Yabu OP, your DH is right

MummaGiles · 08/10/2015 08:25

There's no need to be worried. Asbestos isn't dangerous unless disturbed. If he was exposed to it in any dangerous form he would absolutely be in a full body suit covering every single part of his body so not one fibre would get through to his clothing or shoes. The body suit would then have been disposed of in a safe way. There are incredibly stringent regulations about this and for his own health he would not have exposed his shoes or any other part of his clothes or body to asbestos fibres, and none will have been brought into your house.

pictish · 08/10/2015 08:28

Who the fuck knows anything in depth about asbestos anyway? Why would someone sneer at anyone here for not being up to scratch on their asbestos expertise?
Some people find the oddest things to claim superiority over sometimes. Confused

maybebabybee · 08/10/2015 08:36

YAB over-anxious but a lot of these comments aren't very nice to read tbh. As someone who suffers daily with anxiety, you get a bit sick of being told you're being silly and have people look down on you for it. It's not a fun thing to feel, you know.

diddl · 08/10/2015 08:53

Well to me if he was taking samples to test, seems odd that he wasn't "suited & booted" tbh.

I guess taking samples disturbs nothing & is no risk?

Sparklingbrook · 08/10/2015 09:12

If that's how you feel then that's how you feel. Anxiety is horrible.

I would run the hoover around and try and forget about it.

Gottagetmoving · 08/10/2015 09:14

If you are anxious, you will worry even after being reassured. There is nothing to worry about even if the man DID have traces of asbestos on his shoes. You would need more exposure than a few traces of asbestos to be affected.
YABU if you have anxiety - That is how anxiety affects you and it cannot be called 'unreasonable'

Gottagetmoving · 08/10/2015 09:14

Sorry - YANBU if you have anxiety!!

Swipe left for the next trending thread