Asbestos garage removal gone wrong!

[PuffinPippin]

After a long time planning our builder started work on our extension today, he actually came round today as he had a spare day before he’s due to start properly next week. Step one was to take down our garage which contains asbestos in the roof and asbestos cement panels in the walls. We’d looked into this a lot because the OH’s father had problems because of asbestos in the past so didn’t want to do it ourselves.
Our builder assured us he could do this and had even attended an update just a few weeks ago!
We got back home from work today to find only half the garage has been taken down as he had a doctors appointment to go to....that I can understand BUT he’s left the place in a complete mess outside with lots of broken up bits of asbestos cement panels hanging off the walls and on the floor!? This is EXACTLY what we were worried about.
OH has been out and sprayed it all with pva wearing all the correct clothing. The builder doesn’t seem that fussed and says it’s low risk anyway!? He’s going to pop round tomorrow to tidy up and then will do the rest next Monday.
I don’t know what to do know about removing the rest of the asbestos and the rest of the build! If he’s that slapdash about this on day one surely his doesn’t bode well or am I just overreacting!?

No you’re not overreacting. Is he certified to remove asbestos? And where is he getting rid of it to? Contact your council - building control or environmental health for advice.

A. Sigh our did this and just left the broken panels in the garden, well away from his house but next to mine. I rang the council and they made him back it up in special bags and seal it within about 24 hours.

He left the sealed bags there for about a year but the council deemed them safe when sealed.

Call the HSE. A Google search will bring up info on asbestos removal. You need a license to remove asbestos. If this is his attitude now towards the work I'd have serious concerns about the build

Is he a lisenced asbestos removal specialist?! Was he wearing coveralls and did he shower in a chem-shower afterwards? As a PP said it should all be bagged and removed to special locations for disposal, or just left lying about your front lawn! What a clown. (Him, not you, obvs.)

You don't need a license for all asbestos work , the low risk stuff it's fine for anyone to do as long as you follow the guidelines. He shouldn't have left broken bits about , how is he going to get rid of the garage ?

Make sure you see a certificate of disposal. Once the asbestos pieces start being moved and broken up the risk increases greatly. He sounds rather a bodger builder :-(

I would be inclined to find another builder...

As Chickencellar stated you do not need a license for asbestos work that has been categorised as low risk. Agree with SlowDown76mph is he licensed to dispose of the asbestos? To put your mind at rest I would arrange for a clean air certificate. A company like All Task would be able to do this for you.

There are different levels of work that can be both notifiable and or require licensing

www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/licensing/licensed-contractor.htm

Do they have a have a hat and wear spurs on their boots?

Thanks everyone for your messages.

He came back the following day and “tidied up”. He was wearing the right clothes and boots, although didn’t bring the PVA even though he’d said to us that spraying it with water wouldn’t be sufficient. Luckily we’d already bought some for him to use.

It does look a lot tidier although I can still see some small bits around the place. Perhaps I’m being overly paranoid- but if it was just normal dust etc I wouldn’t really care!

There’s still about half of the garage to remove and he’s due to come back to do this on Monday and then start demolition of our sun room in prep for our extension.

I don’t think we can work with him anymore though- The trust has gone and I would worry what other corners he is cutting that are less obvious.

Back to square one now trying to find a decent builder!!

I'm sure it's fine, OP. Asbestos cement is a pretty stable substance, as the asbestos is encapsulated within the cement, and is a much lower risk than asbestos insulation boards or asbestos lagging. You're very unlikely to have been exposed to any fibres.

As the producer of the waste, though, you are responsible for ensuring that it's properly disposed of. If your builder fly tipped it, for example, it is you who would be prosecuted so make sure that you receive a copy of the disposal certificate or written confirmation of how it was disposed of.

It’s been disposed of properly. I’m more worried about the risk to us with any remaining fibres to be honest- particularly as we probably won’t know if it’s an issue for another 20-30 years!

I realise the asbestos cement is low risk but it’s when it’s broken up that’s the problem isn’t it? He clearly didn’t cover the ground with polythene sheets to collect any debris.

May be we are overreacting in terms of getting a new builder sigh

@RobTander talk with environmental health in the council they are very good & will tell you exactly what to do -they may come out (this is what happened to us) if not they may advise who to go to. Wait until after coronavirus of course

@RobTander you've linked to an Australian company, do you live in Australia? If so, I think it would be difficult for most mumsnet users to help you with your query.