Asbestos roof

**ajturbo** · 31st July 2009, 08:02

i am going to have a look at this roof today....

i will let you all know my findings...

i have worked on many of these roofs in my time, even before osh got involved!

so hold your breath for me...
i am unsure which is worst

welly wind
or
asbestos roof....

or a combination of both..

**Shadows** · 31st July 2009, 14:03

Originally Posted by Deano

I seriously doubt that the general popn are breathing in thousands of fibres every day. Can you reference any authority on this ?

Also, from DoL website regarding WES - "The Workplace Exposure Standards are intended to be used as guidelines for those involved in occupational health practice. The use of the standards by untrained persons as a marker in determining 'compliance' is not recommended. In assigning the standards, defining a level that will achieve freedom from adverse health effects is the major consideration. Compliance with the designated value does not, however, guarantee protection from discomfort or possible ill-health outcomes for all workers. The range of individual susceptibility is wide and it is possible that workers will experience discomfort or develop occupational illness from exposure to substances at levels below the exposure standards."

Although - "Possible Diseases Due to Short Term Asbestos Exposure
Low levels of short term asbestos exposure is not considered a threat to humans and can generally be overlooked."

I wouldn't risk it myself and wet the roof down thoroughly before doing any work.

Yes they are. Let me find it and get back to you.

What DOL are saying is like saying that if you have ever smoked a single cigarette you are at risk of cancer. Which, I suppose, is true. You are also at risk of cancer if you have not smoked a cigarette. DOL are simply covering their collective arses.

Regarding wetting the roof down - absofuckinglutely! Personally I wouldn't do the work myself any way and leave it to the experts. As I said, the shit is really really bad for you.

**ajturbo** · 31st July 2009, 17:28

ok you wannabies... i have been around to look at the roof in question..

yes it IS asbestos...

the guy has 3 choises

1. leave it
2. paint it
3. replace it.

Replacing it will be a major, it is part of joined unit, the other owner would have to replace their side also.

this is assuming that there are no leaks...

but i would be more concerned with the rotting wood around the house...

painting it... this will need to be moss treated, then LEFT for 12 months, re-treated then 1-2 months latter it could be painted.

painting would have to be a MINIMUM 3 coat system

cost of getting me to paint it...4-5k

Leaving it, he could just moss treat it and walk-away

**Headbanger** · 31st July 2009, 19:57

Originally Posted by ajturbo

ok you wannabies... i have been around to look at the roof in question..

Did you also look at the ceilings?, Pipe lagging?

**Headbanger** · 31st July 2009, 20:00

Originally Posted by Shadows

Regarding wetting the roof down - absofuckinglutely! .

Wet asbestos roof can be slicker then ice, Plus the sheet is what's called non-friable, meaning the fibre is contained, Wetting it doesn't do anything apart from make the job more dangerous.

By all means wet it if your going to crush it and free the fibres, otherwise wear a mask,take care not to break the sheets.

**Deano** · 31st July 2009, 20:54

Originally Posted by Headbanger

Wet asbestos roof can be slicker then ice, Plus the sheet is what's called non-friable, meaning the fibre is contained, Wetting it doesn't do anything apart from make the job more dangerous.

By all means wet it if your going to crush it and free the fibres, otherwise wear a mask,take care not to break the sheets.

As soon as you start "working" with the material (lifting sheets/pulling nails/dropping onto ground etc, there is potential to release fibres.

Personally, as dangerous as it is, it isn't rocket science and standard precautions such as wetting it down (not the sheet you are standing on of course) should mitigate any potential hazards.

**cowpoos** · 31st July 2009, 21:21

Originally Posted by ajturbo

but i would be more concerned with the rotting wood around the house...

My concern with all due respect fella...if wood is rotting...the advice should be replacing it!!

**Headbanger** · 31st July 2009, 21:43

Originally Posted by Deano

As soon as you start "working" with the material (lifting sheets/pulling nails/dropping onto ground etc, there is potential to release fibres.

Personally, as dangerous as it is, it isn't rocket science and standard precautions such as wetting it down (not the sheet you are standing on of course) should mitigate any potential hazards.

The masks is for any released fibres.And you wash down teh area afterwards.

Anyhow, Guess what I do for a living?, Yeah, remove asbestos roofing on a massive scale. Rocket science or not, anybody in my crew who wet down a roof we were working on would be getting retrained pretty damn quickly,a second time would be their job. You have to start on the top row,water runs onto the row below,where you have to be standing to lift the sheet.Cue person slipping and rolling ankle while holding asbestos sheet over abyss.

Heres a photo of one of my jobs, Many of the structures are 3 or 4 stories high, Every green roof you can see is asbestos sheeting and my crew removed the lot,Thousands upon thousands of sheets, and this is just one of our sites. and there is more including the sheep yards that aren't in the photo.

**Deano** · 1st August 2009, 08:43

My bad - removing material from a house I figured a scaffold or ladder on the roof would be the go. Then you wouldn't have to stand on the wetted bits.

**ajturbo** · 1st August 2009, 09:34

Originally Posted by Headbanger

Did you also look at the ceilings?, Pipe lagging?

ya dopey bugger..

i look at the ROOF

**Headbanger** · 1st August 2009, 09:40

Originally Posted by ajturbo

ya dopey bugger..

i look at the ROOF

Yeah, I suggested to the thread starter that he get a full asbestos report done to make sure he knew what he was getting into, just seeing what was done. The ceilings (if sprayed in asbestos) are a bigger issue then roofing materials. The crap they sprayed on ceilings can breakdown and contaminate the air in the house.

**ajturbo** · 1st August 2009, 21:01

Originally Posted by Headbanger

Yeah, I suggested to the thread starter that he get a full asbestos report done to make sure he knew what he was getting into, just seeing what was done. The ceilings (if sprayed in asbestos) are a bigger issue then roofing materials. The crap they sprayed on ceilings can breakdown and contaminate the air in the house.

don't get me started on that shit........