I have a serious dilema and need opinions..........

I am an electrician. I work for a company that is a sub contractor for a large firm. I have been working during this week at a house. In this house i have been doing what they call "chasing out", which involves using a cutting machine to take out chunks of the wall in which i can then put cables. Using this machine creates loads of dust.

Basically i was working in the house this week when a worker for the company that i sub contract of popped in to fill up his bucket with some water. On his way out he commented on the slits i had made in the wall by asking "is that asbestos?". I enquired as to why he asked. He said that you have to be very careful what you are "chasing out" and drilling into as quite alot of the houses that this company does work on contain asbestos in the paint and in the ceilings.

He went on to conclude that the house in which i was working did not contain asbestos but he also told me that there are houses on an estate in a certain area of the city in which the plaster in the walls contains asbestos. He said that the electricians that work for his company refuse to chase out in these properties due to the risk and that these guys only surface mount cables etc. He also said the jobs that the contractors electricians do not want to do are most probably given to us , the sub contractor to do. I took what he told me quite seriously. My colleague and boss both dismissed him and said that the risk to us from asbestos was practically nil.

I am not so sure and am very worried. Even more so now as i am told next week that i will have to work in a house in the area mentioned above that the man i spoke said contain asbestos in the plaster. I have to chase out all over this house. I don't want to do it as i am unsure if it is safe. My colleague is not worried and says i am worrying about nothing. I want reassurances that the house is safe. If i ask for them i am pretty certain that my boss will get angry as he will not want to ask the contractor as they may feel that he is becoming a bit finicky and will decide to use another sub contractor to do their work. Bottom line is i feel for reasons that i will not go into if i refuse to chase out in this house i will probably lose my job. And yes due to my situation that would not be illegal.

What would you do? Take a risk and assume that the house contains no asbestos and chase it out? or refuse to do the work even though it may cost me a contract and my job?

Posted By: The Baron on September 16th 2005 at 23:29:59

Message Thread

I have a serious dilema and need opinions.......... (General Chat) - The Baron, Sep 16, 23:29:59
- Asbestos is funny ol' stuff... (General Chat) - Worf55, Sep 17, 00:13:56
- I know fuck all about building, but there must be some sort of mask that filters it out. (n/m) (General Chat) - Lucan, Sep 16, 23:38:42
- Fuck that - any work that involves asbestos at UEA ... (General Chat) - bjt, Sep 16, 23:33:59
  - Thing is i don't know if it contains asbestos........ (General Chat) - The Baron, Sep 16, 23:35:59
    - I'd have thought your boss would have a responsibility to safe guard you ... (General Chat) - bjt, Sep 16, 23:39:24
      - Depends on his priorities. (General Chat) - Arizona Bay, Sep 16, 23:44:05
        
        My boss went into a property........ (General Chat) - The Baron, Sep 16, 23:49:36
        
        He probably doesn't give a fuck about geting cancer then. Or doesn't understand the risks (General Chat) - Arizona Bay, Sep 16, 23:53:17
        
        The thing is this is my first electrical job........ (General Chat) - The Baron, Sep 16, 23:55:57
        
        Here's what you do. (General Chat) - Lucan, Sep 17, 00:02:05
        
        But why they see me as being potencially difficult? a trouble maker? (n/m) (General Chat) - The Baron, Sep 17, 00:03:51
        
        no (General Chat) - CWC, Sep 17, 00:12:09
        
        Not the honest ones. And the might be in the minority, but there will be some out there. (General Chat) - Arizona Bay, Sep 17, 00:08:53
        
        Well to put it into perspective ... (General Chat) - bjt, Sep 16, 23:58:09
        
        And, you are a long time dead. (n/m) (General Chat) - Lucan, Sep 17, 00:03:03
        
        That, sir, is the nail hit on the head, squarely. (n/m) (General Chat) - Arizona Bay, Sep 17, 00:00:59
    - Not worth the risk (General Chat) - CWC, Sep 16, 23:38:34
      - Agreed.... n/m (n/m) (General Chat) - bjt, Sep 16, 23:40:11
      - I am on a trial probationary period........ (General Chat) - The Baron, Sep 16, 23:40:04
        
        Phone Anne Robinson now. (n/m) (General Chat) - Lucan, Sep 16, 23:41:12
        
        That would be unfair dismissal ... n/m (n/m) (General Chat) - bjt, Sep 16, 23:40:46
        
        No such thing if you're on a probation, realistically. (General Chat) - Arizona Bay, Sep 16, 23:46:31
        
        but he's on trial (General Chat) - Clare, Sep 16, 23:42:05
        
        Yep. (n/m) (General Chat) - The Baron, Sep 16, 23:42:38
        
        Simple - the law is VERY strict with regards to the stuff ... (General Chat) - bjt, Sep 16, 23:46:42
        
        Fuck. That is quite scarey. (n/m) (General Chat) - Lucan, Sep 16, 23:50:48
        
        I know. (n/m) (General Chat) - The Baron, Sep 16, 23:57:37
        
        If you are worried, you should really say so (General Chat) - pants, Sep 17, 00:34:27
        
        They don't piss about with this for a reason ... n/m (n/m) (General Chat) - bjt, Sep 16, 23:52:37
        
        Not if you're doing contract work. (n/m) (General Chat) - Lucan, Sep 16, 23:41:48
    - Would the council know? (General Chat) - Clare, Sep 16, 23:37:58
      - I've spoken to them and apparently ......... (General Chat) - The Baron, Sep 16, 23:42:03
        
        But it is a legal requirement for you boss ... (General Chat) - bjt, Sep 16, 23:48:53
        
        and also a legal requirement to provide a safe working environment (General Chat) - CWC, Sep 17, 00:15:59
        
        I think they do but......... (General Chat) - The Baron, Sep 16, 23:59:29
        
        Mate you need to get out of the company sharpish (General Chat) - Clare, Sep 16, 23:43:02
        
        I used to work for boss that would cut every corner going... (General Chat) - bjt, Sep 16, 23:50:24
  - In fact - here you go, first hit from google ... (General Chat) - bjt, Sep 16, 23:35:17
- I'd find out what asbestos looks like. (General Chat) - Arizona Bay, Sep 16, 23:33:04
  - You can't tell if a paint or artex or plaster has got in it by looking. (n/m) (General Chat) - The Baron, Sep 16, 23:34:57
    - Oh. Ok. I'm not an expert, I'm sure you can tell. (General Chat) - Arizona Bay, Sep 16, 23:37:26
      - The other thing is the guy i spoke to .......... (General Chat) - The Baron, Sep 16, 23:38:40

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