Asestos

[foxyferret]

My mum and dad have lived in their bungalow for about 30 years. They were aware that there was asbestos in the walls. My dad is bedridden and has carers come in. When Social services removed the double bed and put in a hospital bed, they must have bashed the wall and made a small hole in it which my mother only found this morning. Now they are saying the carers won't come in because the asbestos has been damaged. They even said mum and dad should move out, (they are 86 and 91 respectively so this idea is crazy. MY dad has cancer so to suggest they upsticks is obviously not feasible. Where are they supposed to go? It is just a small hole in the wall, can it be repaired and if so how? Thanks for your help

[foxyferret]

Sorry shoud say asbestos

[tenrec]

Get on to Social Services if they did the damage, surely they should arrange the repair.

[jomifl]

As long as the asbestos is contained (as in asbestos/cement board ) it poses little threat. It just needs plastering over. You parents are in no danger as asbestosis takes decades to develop. I think your carers are probably inorant 'jobsworths'. The cheapest option for the social services is to get it repaired.

[The Builder]

Most likely asbestos/cement wallboard, Foxy.

Fill the hole with Polyfilla, and refer the jobsworths to the HSE Guidance (Health & Safety Executive.)
HSE state that non-licensed workers can deal with something like this ........ also, without the need to notify.

http://www.hse.gov.uk...essentials/cement.htm

(bottom of the page)

[Old_Geezer]

Whilst there is little doubt asbestos is dangerous, IMO the reaction of many is way over the top. Folk worked in the industry for years, coming home covered in dust, they didn't all keel over. Thy increased their risk. If you get the stuff removed you'd only need to be out while the job is done, but my suspicion is that you could get it blocked until a more convenient time.

[chas2008]

elf & safety clowns again! my daughter has an Artex ceiling, when she had an insurance claim where the room needed decorating they refused to paint the ceiling as early Artex apparently has a small amount of asbestos in...Quite how painting it would cause a problem is beyond me especially when its allready got 2-3 coats of paint on it.

[carlton23]

A few months ago we had a water leak in the kitchen which got under the floor tiles and lifted them, and when we got the insurance agent to inspect the leak he informed us that the tiles were made from asbestos (a very well known make) and we had to have chaps with special clothing on come and get the whole kitchen floor up.

[chas2008]

funny you say that carlton, my other daughter was recently flooded out and they have been hit with the same problem...

[foxyferret]

Thank you all for your helpful information. I think they take pleasure in frightenint old, vulnerable people. Will get on to social services and show them what people have said particularly The Builder who has always got a common sense answer. I am standing in the corner old geezer looking suitably chagrined writing i must spell asbestos correctly!

[foxyferret]

and frightening as well!

[beso]

Old_Geezer //Whilst there is little doubt asbestos is dangerous, IMO the reaction of many is way over the top.//

Not so easy to say when you know people who have died from it.

This particular reaction is OTT but in general it isn't.

[chas2008]

there is no doubt people have died from it and i am well aware of the dangers but only in certain circumstances which so many jobsworths seem to overlook.
if you want to take it to the extreme my father in law had an asbestos roofed shed, when his next door neighbour had suspected prostrate cancer the wife blamed it on the shed!! my father in law who was in his 80s was terified he was going to get in trouble over it. It turned out it wasnt cancer, but no apology was forthcoming..