Asbestos flash pads in fuseboxes.

[Evans Electric]

In response to my e-mail , the editor of Professional Electrician has promised to ask the HSE for an assessment of the danger from these pads. They are constantly mentioned but we never hear anything positive, other than we should all attend even more courses which have to be paid for no doubt.

I don't know if everyone gets that free magazine but hopefully next months edition may have something for us.

Deke

 

[green-hornet]

There are three types normally called white, blue and brown.

I can not remember the correct names for them.

A risk assesment should be done and some types require a licence to work on and dispose of.

I have come accross loads of this stuff, and we used to cut them with saws, thats before we knew of the dangers.

I would be very interested in what reply you get from them so keep us posted.

Apparently electricians are the top trade to enquire about asbestos, so we must all be health and safety aware!

 

[Andy™]

IIRC, asbestos content is around 80%

 

[Apache]

Have you chaps seen here?

Some good info

 

[a1]

Did you sign your letter off as "Evans Electric - www.talk.electricianforum.co.uk"?

Can't get better publicity than that.

 

[green-hornet]

Have you chaps seen here?Some good info

I tried to take the myth buster test and failed:_|

 

[rjones]

There are three types normally called white, blue and brown.I can not remember the correct names for them.

A risk assesment should be done and some types require a licence to work on and dispose of.

I have come accross loads of this stuff, and we used to cut them with saws, thats before we knew of the dangers.

I would be very interested in what reply you get from them so keep us posted.

Apparently electricians are the top trade to enquire about asbestos, so we must all be health and safety aware!

ammosite ,crysalite and i cant remeber the third , we have to do a refresher course every year for asbestos certification to work on ceilling coatings (artex) ansd floor tiles for our local council. we were told on the course that if we come into contact with the flash sheilds we are to spary water on the flash sheilds( making sure its isolated firstApplaud Smiley) and then removed the sheilds and double bag them before disposal at our local depot

 

[green-hornet]

I thank you for the post because your answer makes sense and we must always err on the side of safety.

 

[Evans Electric]

Did you sign your letter off as "Evans Electric - www.talk.electricianforum.co.uk"? Can't get better publicity than that.

No, sorry Admin , never thought of that, will do next time.

Deke

 

[Evans Electric]

Can I reinforce the point made by Rjones , not everyone is aware that Artex contains asbestos.

I was asked recently, by phone, if we were interested in a rewire, eveything to be chased in down the walls, by the way the whole house is Artexed. Refused the job.

Deke

 

[Evans Electric]

There are three types normally called white, blue and brown.I can not remember the correct names for them.

A risk assesment should be done and some types require a licence to work on and dispose of.

I have come accross loads of this stuff, and we used to cut them with saws, thats before we knew of the dangers.

I would be very interested in what reply you get from them so keep us posted.

Apparently electricians are the top trade to enquire about asbestos, so we must all be health and safety aware!

Yes Greeny will keep you posted , it should be in the May issue.

Deke

 

[Andy™]

Can I reinforce the point made by Rjones , not everyone is aware that Artex contains asbestos.I was asked recently, by phone, if we were interested in a rewire, eveything to be chased in down the walls, by the way the whole house is Artexed. Refused the job.

Deke

there are too many thing that contain it. the old style brown floor tiles also contain asbestos, but the cream generally dont (just incase you decide to circular through that to get to the floorboards)

 

[Evans Electric]

Have received a reply from the editor of PE . The HSE have recommended a guidance sheet which I show below, but it does not refer to the pads on fuse carriers which was my concern. It is , I think, for asbestos specialist firms and not electricians.

The guidance sheet given is www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/a30.pdf

I have pointed this out to the editor.

Deke

 

[wozz]

used to work with the arc arrestors (or whatever they are called) loads a little while ago. One asbestos removal bloke took loads of precautions removing it, the second time a different team turned up used next to no precautions, they said it was usually near 100% crystalite (spelling) which is the mildest form, and wasnt anywhere near as bad as blue and brown asbestos which was EVERYWHERE in the schools!

 

[extension15]

For many electricians (and other tradesman) it is probably too late and only time will tell if unintentional exposure will do harm..

:|

 

[green-hornet]

What really worries me is the fact that we used to cut this stuff up with saws an everything when I was a kid.Some of the fuse holders were insulated with a type of fibre asbestos which could be cut with a knife or scissors.

I had no idea at the time of its potential danger, and now aged (almost 50)have to wait to see if I carry any symptoms.

 

[Oracle]

i work at one site, where they've auditted for asbestos and found around 3500 occurences of it. Covering all three main types.

Majority of the time it is fine, as long as it is not disturbed. But some areas are out of bonds until it is removed!