Asbestosis

Big Ed

Just a reminder for my fellow grunts. If your been it the heating business for long enough period of time ,25+ years. The chances are good thet you contacted asbestosis .You need to be b-scan first to make sure. If you test positive , contact a asbestosis lawyer for you and your far share of the asbestosis trust fund.. Just a reminder , I hope you test negative. God's Prayer.

Mad Dog

I have almost 19 years in

I lost several jobs as an apprentice because I refused to rip out asbestos. I will never regret that. Even so, as a contractor you come across it, but I have always taken great care around it. Good thinkin though ed Get tested. You still wouldn't believe the ignorant attitude about it till this day - especially among homeowners. We lose several boiler jobs a year because we refuse to abate the job as part of the same price. We offer a great contractor, but many do not want to pay. These foolsih people don't like it when "scare" them about asbestos. I've told a few: " Sir, do you want to have this on your head if your child develops mesothelioma or asbestosis in 20 years....." Most see the light, but a few Mad Dog are not happy campers after that......the uncomfortable and quiet walk to the door ensues. When you are over the target, you WILL take flak - it is flak I can live with. Mad Dog

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lchmb

agree

I live in an area where it is normal to see asbestos. I have alway's refused to remove and or touch it. I learned fast and early from my father what it was and what it looked like...I have come across people who think it's "no big deal"...rip it off and toss it in the trash...Scary if you ask me..I hope and pray that all of the older tech's who have worked with it come back clean...and to all the new tech's..BE CAREFUL...it look's innocent till it kill's you..
Be warm

Anonymous with good reason

Abestos abatement

I have been lurking for months now, this site is fantastic and you guys are incredible. Perhaps you can help me out.I am employed by a small company, (and no I can not quit)and the owner has no problem in telling a HO when there IS asbestos present that "we don't see any asbestos do you? and we'll make it go away". Just to get the job. I don't want to be party to this it's not healthy for anyone. Any tactful ways of dealing with this would be greatly appreciated.

Greg Swob

asbestosis

My father passed on 5 years ago from this ailment. His first job at a Nat Gas boosting station was to sand transite panels behind the Wakeshaw and other large engines using an air sander. "We had one hell of a dusty fog in the air at times", he'd tell us. Of course, this was in 1947 and they didn't know better until years later. He retired 40 years later and was able to enjoy some years of retirement. Don't take chances with this stuff- don't disturb it- let the pros take care of it. Mom refused to sue as she didn't want to relive the ordeal. I had hardly ever seen Dad sick a day in his life, but this sure kicked him. Silicosis from sawing the newer cement board products (Hardibacker subflooring, Hardiplank siding, etc. to name two) may be the 'asbestos' of the future. Tell your tile or siding friends about the risks they take not wearing protective gear. Asbestos is a miracle product for what service it does/did, just leave it to those who are trained to work with it. Greg

Gary

Whats it look like

What does it like and where on heating systems is it located

Steve Paul

ASBESTOS THE KILLER

May Father was in the Plumbing & Heating trades, starting in 1925. He worked with asbestos almost everyday, mixing the powdered fitting insulation with water and packing it on the fittings. All the while breathing that S*#t into his lungs. He worked in NYC on high rise jobs and during WW2 in the Brooklyn Navy yard and in DC on the Pentagon always exposed to asbestos in one form or another.40 years after his exposure, while in his 80s, he was diagnosed with Mesothelioma. This is a cancer of the thin, flexible membrane that seperates and protects the lungs from the inside of the chest wall. This is a slow growing, inoperable cancer that slowwly thickens the membrane until it gets to the consistency of cardboard. Imagine trying to breathe and your lungs not being able to expand because they are trapped by this thickening mass. It is a slow and sufficating way for a once vigorous and virile old man to die. The shame of the whole scenario is that the major asbestos manufacturers KNEW the dangers of the poison they were selling and never warned the poor **** that had to come in contact with it. Hell they were making big bucks,screw the working class, they are always expendable! DO NOT, I REPEATE, DO NOT WORK IMPROPERLY IN AN ASBESTOS ENVIRONMENT!!!! No job is worth the death that my Dad suffered. You not only expose yourself but your family and children. The crap comes home with you on you clothing, your hair and your shoes. You cant see it but it is there waiting and lurking. The microscopic fibers have barbs like fish hooks and can't be expelled from the lungs. Please don't make youself your family suffer the way Mom and the rest of us did.

Unknown

Having spent 9 years on

board two different Navy Destroyers with asbestoes everywhere you looked and the all these years of working on boilers and in particular conversion burners I have been exposed to it for a long time.

I recently have switched my medical care to the VA and they tested me when I first come on board with them. I am clean thank the Good Lord. I did always take a lot of precautions when working around equipment and areas that contained particulate. It has paid off.

One of the things I have been finding on jobs is that the boiler has been replaced but the old boiler is left sitting nearby. This is an excuse for not having to remove the boiler and deal with asbestos removal. I was with a home inspector recently and he walked right by the old boiler and made no comment about it needing to be removed. When I asked him about it he replied, "if it has not been damaged or disturbed it can be left in place" That does not seem right to me and I have a request in to the local authorities to give a ruling on this practice.

lchmb

if that were me knowing what this can do to you..and someone who may accidently come in contact with it I would not notice a phone call with the name and address of the house it was taken from, where it was taken to and when it was done to the proper authority..I understand you need your job, we all do, but maybe killing yourself, the homeowner or someone who had no idea would not settle well with my stomach...IMHO...
Pride and honesty will direct you in the proper way....

Unknown

Gary, it is usually on older

gravity and steam boilers. The outside of many of them are black and white. It looks like a plaster coating all over the boiler and on the piping it was wrapped around the pipes to act as insulation. When the outer surface is damaged or broken then it can become airborne and be inhaled. Under a microscope it has a hooked shape and when inhaled easily attaches itself to your bronchial tubes and eventually lungs.

It is now required to be removed by professional asbestos abatement companies.

Big Ed

Debris

You don't have to personally disturb it . Could be from anyone over last 75 years . All you have to do is walk by or sweep the floor to stir it up.... A good partical mask would be a good habit just wrking in these old basements or boiler rooms .

DIY Homeowner

Call

the state environmental regulatory authority. Identify the company and the location of the illegal removal. If they can get a person to the site while the removal is on-going, they can take measures to ensure that it doesn't happen again.

Jeff Krawic_2

asbestosis

Well Ed I owe you a thank you for kicking my can into some thought. Yup, been around it alot especially when I was a youngster. Used to mix it up with Dad in the boiler rooms. Put it on sometimes by hand too. Cant tell you how much you just got me thinking as I am already aware of the implications of my youth and even into the servicing part of my life. You just got me to make a phone call for a check-up Thanks Ed and ^5 to ya!

Christopher Humphrey

Mesothelioma & Asbestos

The words from your collegues are right on! Asbestos is no joke. After ten years as a machinist mate in the Navy working around asbestos, I am now an attorney that focuses on asbestos lawsuits. Drop me a line if you or someone you know suffers from asbestosis or mesothelioma.

Jamie

Abatement question

I'm a homeowner with approx. 30 linear feet of insulation on my steam pipes. Can anyone lend any insight into what I should be looking for in an abatement contractor. I've received one quote so far that came in at $1000 for the removal and an additional $700 to do air testing. Is it a conflict of interest to have the company doing the abatement also do the testing, or should I have an independent contractor do the testing? I live in the suburbs of Philadelphia. If anyone knows of a reputable contractor in the area, I'd love to hear about them. I don't know what's worse...livign with it in my house, hoping that it's not airborne, or bringing in an irresponsibl contractor to disturb it and spreak it around my basement. I just want to do the right thing.

Christopher Humphrey

Jamie's Abatement

Chances are, unless you have disturbed the existing insulation in your home, the asbestos is not friable (airborne). If it were my home, I would hire an independent environmental company to oversee the abatement contractor and I would also make sure that you are not residing in the home while the work is being performed. Go to PA's state environmental agency's web site and you will probably find a list of licensed contactors and environmental hygienists or a number to call that can help you locate a reputable contractor/environmental co. in your area. Lastly, make sure you reinsulate your steam piping with fiberglass or rock wool insulation after the asbestos is removed so your heating system operates properly and efficiently. Good luck.

Mad Dog

I don't blame you...I've been in your positiion before.

but why is this job more important than your life? Even your family's (I know a plumber that passed it to his wife and 2 boys when he brought it home on his clothes, granted this was 35 years ago when no one (except the companies that made it - thougfht it was that baD) . tHE WIFE WOULD wack the clothes to get "dust" off it before putting in wash. Your boss is a fool and he doesn't care about you or his customers. Be careful, if it evers becomes an issue, he could try to pin it on you. Do you live in the boonies and its the onlt shop? If you really can't quit, you need to start protecting yourself by getting certified as an abatement handler. Tell the boss, it will work out to his benefit too. Good luck. Don't be afraid to stand up...this IS 2004 and this IS America (or Canada for that matter!) If you need further advice, feel free to email me, I'll get you past this. Mad Dog

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Mad Dog

A good abatement contractor will never be the cheapest

You need several references of jobs, chech his credentials with the local lic. agency, State. or health dept. What I recommend is an independent air tester, it is ok if they work together, but should not be from the same company. What I recommend is that others do not - is an air test before And after abatement is done. Its nice to have something to compare it to. If you are on Long Island or NYC I have a very reputable co that we use. Mad Dog

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Leo

In Mass

In Mass where I am to remove this stuff you have to be licensed. The basement is sealed in plastic, there is an air lock to change clothes in before entering or exiting. A permit has to be gotten, while doing the work a license has to be posted outside for an inspector to check. When done an approved lab or whatever has to test the air. The abatement company generally schedules the lab but it is independant. The whole process isn't taken lightly. I had an Uncle get it as a Machinest in the Navy in the 40's. He was only in his 60's when he died.

Leo

ScottMP

The chill in the back of my mind

When I was a apprentice we would remove the old "snow man" boilers. I used to ask my Boss for a papermask. He thought it was funny. We would cut it off with snipes and stuff it in plastic bags. It scares the hell out of me now, and I try and have my lungs x-rayed every couple of years.

I hope nothing ever come of it. We did'nt do it alot but how many is enough ??

Scott

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Greg Swob

What is so interesting is that those who worked in mining and manufacturing of asbestos have so few health problems resulting from exposure compared to those who work with the final product instead. Apparently, precautions have been taken in manufacturing for many years. There have been many products developed which encapsulate the asbestos. If it can be dealt with by not removing, rather encapsulating, the building occupants will be far better off. One of those sleeping giants that is better off left undisturbed. As for testing by X-rays, my father's asbestosis was not discovered until way too late. The leisions caused are so minute that until they are very high in numbers, it is difficult to detect. New strides are hopefully being made in early detection. Greg

Jack_23

My first job in the mechanical business

was tearing about a foot of asbestos off big coal boilers being converted to NG. A pick and a pair of tin snips were the preferred tools. I'd come out at coffee time looking like frosty the snow man. That was only the tip of the iceberg however. The stuff was like a wonder drug. It was everywhere. My solution to the problem however was to go into the nuclear business where I worked on a number of hot shut downs. I now have a "half-life" of my own and look at this in a mathmatical sense, where two negatives equal a positive and the "zoomies" (radiation) will offset the adverse affect of the asbestos. Time will tell!

Bob Gagnon plumbing and heating

what about fiberglass insulation

an asbestos abatement contractor told me fiberglass under a microscope looks like asbestos with the little barbs like arrows. i can feel it in my lungs, eyes, and skin for a day or two sometimes. could fiberglass be the next asbestos? bob

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