Cirrus
Distinguished Member
Been working on 2 rewires this week where the guys had overboarded the ceilings. So there we are, drilling / chiselling holes in the ceiling when the H&S independant consultant turns up out of the blue. He asks for site foreman by name who then promptly denies the fact he is foreman saying he hasn't been told he is and he is a subby chippy. H&S guy asks if he has been on Asbestos awareness course to which he replies "no". Asks for a copy of the method statement / risk assessment etc which he finds and then H&S guy points out that we have been working on 2 ceilings which have tested positive for Chrysotile asbestos in 26 samples! The report had not been made available to us and the 'foreman' didn't know he had an obligation to point it out to us! There were also bags of Chrysotile floor tiles which he had broken up BEFORE the asbestos report was even given to him and the bags were left lying around in the properties!
Of course, now the carp hits the fan, he 'closes' our site down and said if he was with HSE he would move to prosecute our company. My boss is asking if I can do anything else in the property like chase walls while it is all being sorted out! When I explained it was now a contaminated site they advised we get out.
Now, I am fuming because I have been coming home each night, taking my clothes off, dumping my trousers on the floor and shirt goes in washing pile and boots sit in the corner. The kids have jumped all over me when I got through the door and this has happened for 3 days! Now I know the risk is low, but there still is a very real risk and my company has just emailed me a method statement that they have just knocked up in case the HSE arrive tomorrow! I have been told to get paper suits, gaffer tape, full ppe (disposable) and an HVAC to carry out wiring of the remaining flat tomorrow. I am really unhappy about it as I have already been exposed with my mate and don't see how in 26 degrees we can be expected to suit up, use the HVAC and wire all circuits through the loft space / ceiling wearing this get up all day.
Am I being unreasonable? Anyone know my best course of action regarding the whole thing? I must say, I am tempted to tip off the HSE about the whole thing.
Of course, now the carp hits the fan, he 'closes' our site down and said if he was with HSE he would move to prosecute our company. My boss is asking if I can do anything else in the property like chase walls while it is all being sorted out! When I explained it was now a contaminated site they advised we get out.
Now, I am fuming because I have been coming home each night, taking my clothes off, dumping my trousers on the floor and shirt goes in washing pile and boots sit in the corner. The kids have jumped all over me when I got through the door and this has happened for 3 days! Now I know the risk is low, but there still is a very real risk and my company has just emailed me a method statement that they have just knocked up in case the HSE arrive tomorrow! I have been told to get paper suits, gaffer tape, full ppe (disposable) and an HVAC to carry out wiring of the remaining flat tomorrow. I am really unhappy about it as I have already been exposed with my mate and don't see how in 26 degrees we can be expected to suit up, use the HVAC and wire all circuits through the loft space / ceiling wearing this get up all day.
Am I being unreasonable? Anyone know my best course of action regarding the whole thing? I must say, I am tempted to tip off the HSE about the whole thing.
