[Help] Silicosis in construction

[joydivisionovengloves]

I'm a sound engineer and for years have worked on sound installs for major musicals.
Most of the venues we go to are over 100 years old and really not built for the kind of shows that go into them. Consequently we have to come up with ways to rig speakers in places that were never designed for this.
We've spent years drilling into old plaster and bricks, plaster that contains horsehair and who knows what else, crawling around in void spaces probably full of asbestos. Still when we're on site not having a decent mask is seen as no excuse not to do the job but masks are never supplied by our bosses.
In the past couple of years three of my colleagues have gone down with silicosis and or sarcoidosis.
We're sure that this is a result of our work.
Always use a decent dust mask, not one of those flimsy B and Q ones a proper sealed one and as soon as you can after finishing work have a shower.
Like you say we we're just told to get on with it.

 

[BN9 BHA]

Perfectly good question. What language? - American English? Australian English? Somewhere else? - never heard the expression in the UK.

Edit: just googled it. It's Australian.

The OP did politely answer my question after smart arse [MENTION=323]Normal Rob[/MENTION] had a stab at making me look silly.

 

[smeariestbat]

I'm a sound engineer and for years have worked on sound installs for major musicals.
Most of the venues we go to are over 100 years old and really not built for the kind of shows that go into them. Consequently we have to come up with ways to rig speakers in places that were never designed for this.
We've spent years drilling into old plaster and bricks, plaster that contains horsehair and who knows what else, crawling around in void spaces probably full of asbestos. Still when we're on site not having a decent mask is seen as no excuse not to do the job but masks are never supplied by our bosses.
In the past couple of years three of my colleagues have gone down with silicosis and or sarcoidosis.
We're sure that this is a result of our work.
Always use a decent dust mask, not one of those flimsy B and Q ones a proper sealed one and as soon as you can after finishing work have a shower.
Like you say we we're just told to get on with it.

Thats shit i’m really hoping that not doing it for that long (relatively), being outside and not doing it often has saved my arse. Keep reading things to reassure myself like ‘minimum 10 years exposure’ but i guess the only way to know for sure is an xray. Literally nothing i can do about it to be honest so i should try and stop getting worked up about it. Been out for ten years and not been near the stuff so hopefully that helps too.

 

[maresfield seagull]

I'm a sound engineer and for years have worked on sound installs for major musicals.
Most of the venues we go to are over 100 years old and really not built for the kind of shows that go into them. Consequently we have to come up with ways to rig speakers in places that were never designed for this.
We've spent years drilling into old plaster and bricks, plaster that contains horsehair and who knows what else, crawling around in void spaces probably full of asbestos. Still when we're on site not having a decent mask is seen as no excuse not to do the job but masks are never supplied by our bosses.
In the past couple of years three of my colleagues have gone down with silicosis and or sarcoidosis.
We're sure that this is a result of our work.
Always use a decent dust mask, not one of those flimsy B and Q ones a proper sealed one and as soon as you can after finishing work have a shower.
Like you say we we're just told to get on with it.

FFP 3 as a bare minimum
In this day and age there should be some level of asbestos survey done on those old properties
I know schools and other buildings where it’s still installed have to have management plans
As long as it’s not disturbed it’s ok as the fibres should stay put
When you start drilling through it or disturbing it That’s when it’ becomes a problem

Just get the job done !!!
NOPE they have a duty of care to you as an employer don’t let em forget it RISK assessments are there for a reason
You have a duty of care to yourself and your family IF they don’t care Do you really want to work for them ?

 

[smeariestbat]

You have a duty of care to yourself and your family IF they don’t care Do you really want to work for them ?

This would be why i left

 

[Petunia]

Thank you for the reply, not heard the term before and I’ve worked in the building trade for over 30 years.

New one on me

Perfectly good question. What language? - American English? Australian English? Somewhere else? - never heard the expression in the UK.

Edit: just googled it. It's Australian.

They even have their own underwear brand..............

 

[Justice]

Tradies?

We must be on NSC Australia

 

[Deleted member 2719]

I don't know about silicosis, however I spent a few years a youngster breathing asbestos, dust and dirt with no protection. So far I am fine apart from a touch of asthma, but I think that is hereditory.
If I had my time again I would wear a decent filtered mask all the time for cutting any material.
Sorry I can't be more specific to silicosis.

 

[BN9 BHA]

Just get the job done !!!
NOPE they have a duty of care to you as an employer don’t let em forget it RISK assessments are there for a reason
You have a duty of care to yourself and your family IF they don’t care Do you really want to work for them ?

Reading this as someone that’s been around for a bit, I agree, but I’m not actually sure if I or some of the employers I’ve worked for actually knew what risk assessment meant 30 years ago.

Just get the job done or you don’t have a job.

 

[maresfield seagull]

Reading this as someone that’s been around for a bit, I agree, but I’m not actually sure if I or some of the employers I’ve worked for actually knew what risk assessment meant 30 years ago.

Just get the job done or you don’t have a job.

I think that’s still a valid comment now tbf sadly
As WRONG as it might be
But I think the times they are a changing
It’s the Americanisation sue the arse off em ! Attitude
some bosses are getting scared Some do care
It’s still filtering through to the smaller companies albeit slowly

Do you have to fill in either a start work form or a risk assessment? Bn9 ?

 

[maresfield seagull]

I don't know about silicosis, however I spent a few years a youngster breathing asbestos, dust and dirt with no protection. So far I am fine apart from a touch of asthma, but I think that is hereditory.
If I had my time again I would wear a decent filtered mask all the time for cutting any material.
Sorry I can't be more specific to silicosis.

Care to expand on the type of situation that exposed you to asbestos dust n dirt ?

 

[BN9 BHA]

I think that’s still a valid comment now tbf sadly
As WRONG as it might be
But I think the times they are a changing
It’s the Americanisation sue the arse off em ! Attitude
some bosses are getting scared Some do care
It’s still filtering through to the smaller companies albeit slowly

Do you have to fill in either a start work form or a risk assessment? Bn9 ?

I have had my own small business for 19 years, I don’t employ anyone and I mostly do small jobs in occupied homes, so the answer is no to filling in forms.
I do my own risk assessment, for instance i wouldn’t leave an extension lead across a hallway or stairs if I thought the customer may trip over it.
I’m lucky I can pick and choose what I do now, I wouldn’t risk anything I wasn’t happy with.

In the past when working for an employer it wasn’t so easy to just find another job if I wasn’t happy with something.

 

[Deleted member 2719]

Care to expand on the type of situation that exposed you to asbestos dust n dirt ?

They used to blow car brakes out with air lines in confined areas, pre- brake cleaner and when that came out the acetone would take your head off. I also used to do up most properties I have owned, cement dust, artex dust, plasterboard and mdf to name a few.

I wouldn't recommend it.

 

[Dick Head]

I think that’s still a valid comment now tbf sadly
As WRONG as it might be
But I think the times they are a changing
It’s the Americanisation sue the arse off em ! Attitude
some bosses are getting scared Some do care
It’s still filtering through to the smaller companies albeit slowly

Do you have to fill in either a start work form or a risk assessment? Bn9 ?

Don't worry, Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng will look after us.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-55656593

 

[maresfield seagull]

I have had my own small business for 19 years, I don’t employ anyone and I mostly do small jobs in occupied homes, so the answer is no to filling in forms.
I do my own risk assessment, for instance i wouldn’t leave an extension lead across a hallway or stairs if I thought the customer may trip over it.
I’m lucky I can pick and choose what I do now, I wouldn’t risk anything I wasn’t happy with.

In the past when working for an employer it wasn’t so easy to just find another job if I wasn’t happy with something.

Understand completely and I know many who have to operate exactly the same condition s
Now this is just a random example and I’m not sure if plumbers pick up the external drainage from roofs
In domestic installations Or if the chippies pick it up with the fascia s and barge boards
But those gutters and down pipes of a certain vintage are asbestos
Hypothetically do you replace that cracked down pipe ? Or advise the customer it’s asbestos?
And walk away ? Or Chuck a bit of poly in to get the job done ?
I’d hope you d would walk away

 

[maresfield seagull]

They used to blow car brakes out with air lines in confined areas, pre- brake cleaner and when that came out the acetone would take your head off. I also used to do up most properties I have owned, cement dust, artex dust, plasterboard and mdf to name a few.

I wouldn't recommend it.

Nope thank you for explaining
Be careful that’s some nasty shite As for the stuff in a domestic situation it can be just as bad

 

[maresfield seagull]

Don't worry, Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng will look after us.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-55656593

View attachment 132848

I’m a REAL BOY

 

[BN9 BHA]

Understand completely and I know many who have to operate exactly the same condition s
Now this is just a random example and I’m not sure if plumbers pick up the external drainage from roofs
In domestic installations Or if the chippies pick it up with the fascia s and barge boards
But those gutters and down pipes of a certain vintage are asbestos
Hypothetically do you replace that cracked down pipe ? Or advise the customer it’s asbestos?
And walk away ? Or Chuck a bit of poly in to get the job done ?
I’d hope you d would walk away

I have only really fitted gutters and rainwater pipes on new build housing, occasional replace broken plastic rainwater pipes now.
I have removed asbestos soil and vent pipes, mostly low level on bungalows, I tell the customer it’s asbestos and I don’t do rubbish clearance.
I wear gloves and a mask, any broken pipes i put in rubble sacks ( double bags ) and tape up.
Thankfully most soil pipes have been replaced with plastic and the older hoses have cast iron.

 

[maresfield seagull]

I have only really fitted gutters and rainwater pipes on new build housing, occasional replace broken plastic rainwater pipes now.
I have removed asbestos soil and vent pipes, mostly low level on bungalows, I tell the customer it’s asbestos and I don’t do rubbish clearance.
I wear gloves and a mask, any broken pipes i put in rubble sacks ( double bags ) and tape up.
Thankfully most soil pipes have been replaced with plastic and the older hoses have cast iron.

Please don’t think I’m having a pop
Just trying to help Just in case You were not aware
Each time I have had to do an asbestos awareness Is Just after someone has come across it

 

[BN9 BHA]

Please don’t think I’m having a pop
Just trying to help Just in case You were not aware
Each time I have had to do an asbestos awareness Is Just after someone has come across it

Definitely don’t think you were having a pop, no I’m just trying to answer your questions.
All advice is good, I just wish I had known more in the past, especially working for small companies.

I worked in a bungalow this morning and had to go into the loft, I could see the ceiling was asbestos when in the loft, couldn’t tell when in the rooms looking up at the ceiling. Not that I had to drill or even touch the ceiling, but I’m sure some wouldn’t know when drilling.