what would yall do?

[homersipes]

Ok I work in lowincome weatherzation, so we find all kinds of stuff.  Well on some of the jobs we find vermiulte insulation, for those that dont know 80% may have asbestos in it.  Would you work around it and take a chance at bringing it home to you family or would you refuse to work around it?  I mind you that we dont have the training or PPE to deal with asbestos. 

[PFactorDave]

I mind you that we dont have the training or PPE to deal with asbestos. 

There's your answer right there.

[eagl]

Asbestos is mostly hazardous if you breathe it in.  As in fine particles.  Tearing/cutting/removing old insulation will spread this stuff in the air, no question about it, and you'll end up breathing it if you don't have the right kind of protective gear.  As for bringing it home, if you brush off your clothes before going home and immediately put them in the wash and shower so you're not spreading the stuff around the house, I'd bet you'd be ok at home.

But without the right equipment, you're breathing that stuff any time the original form of the stuff is disturbed.  As originally installed, the asbestos is fixed in place by other material.  When it gets old, it often separates and comes apart.  If you cut it, it comes apart.  Any time it comes apart, you're probably sending the fibers into the air and breathing them in.  Bad stuff.

That said, my Dad worked with asbestos as a roofer and working for dupont making freeway bumps, and he didn't get cancer.  Some people are much more naturally resistant to cancer than others and he got lucky.

[Nypsy]

No training? No PPE?

A big no way!

[Devil 505]

If you don't have the training or equipment to handle the material, fedreal law states you have the right to decline exposure to said material on those grounds. I would excersise that right and contact your local labor board or OSHA and ask them what else should be done in your situation.  

[PFactorDave]

That said, my Dad worked with asbestos as a roofer and working for dupont making freeway bumps, and he didn't get cancer.  Some people are much more naturally resistant to cancer than others and he got lucky.

Asbestos roofing material and I expect freeway bumps are a lot less likely to let the asbestos particles loose.  Insulation is probably one of the worst.  Mesothelioma is pretty nasty.  I wouldn't take the chance.

[eagl]

Asbestos roofing material and I expect freeway bumps are a lot less likely to let the asbestos particles loose.  Insulation is probably one of the worst.  Mesothelioma is pretty nasty.  I wouldn't take the chance.

Agreed.  It's like russian roulette without any of the fun.

[Tac]

I wouldnt do it. The training and gear is to protect you while you work. As you said: you are likely to be bringing that home with you.

I don't know what kind of training or gear or procedures but I do have some training in forensics and I can tell you that just your hair will carry any and all crap you have come into contact up to 2 weeks. Doesn't matter if you wash your hair daily or not. One time won't be bad or two...but if you do it continously it will eventually build up in your home somehow.

Avoid it would be my opinion.

[Wolfala]

Homer,


I'm working in a 4th generation construction company. OSHA isn't messing around - if you find Asbestos that is 'fryable' - then you shut the job down - its black and white.

[Maverick]

What Wolf said. If you are working around asbestos and not complying with the haz mat regs your company will find itself off the job and in serious money trouble with mega fines. They are not playing games when it comes to dealing with it or those who do not know what they are doing with it.

[pembquist]

It takes only one god d.... fiber to give you cancer 20 years after your exposure.  There is no safe level of exposure.  You can easily bring it back to your home and expose your family.  If you have kids they have longer to develop cancer after being exposed.  Not all vermiculite is contaminated.  Zonolite was a brand of asbestos containing expanded vermiculite drawn from Libby Montana.  Asbestos from different sources has different rates of carcinogenesis.  The asbestos from libby is potent. 

If you are working in suspect materials it should be tested.  I don't think zonolite has to be abated by law, however the asbestos exposure from changing out a ceiling light fixture from below a zonolite attic is way above what is allowed.  There really is no allowable exposure level for asbestos.  If your working in a boiler room and somebody discs off an asbestos gasket everybody gets new clothes.

If you are working for a company and they know whats going on and are exposing you to asbestos don't stand for it, at a minimum make a journal describing what you are working on and your interactions with your employers, this might help if you get fired for objecting to being sent into a zonolite containing attic without testing.

If you are working for yourself contact your state government and find out more information about asbestos safety. 

I have done dumb things in my career, I have probably been exposed to asbestos on more than one occasion, if I could go back and visit the younger me I would slap myself silly for risking my ability to breathe for a few bucks.

[icepac]

Asbestos of different fiber lengths has different rates of carcinogenesis.