I would A: not mention this to your boss. B: take some samples while no one is looking and send them to the local jurisdiction in charge with a run down of the job site and conditions. I probably would not put my name on anything. They will probably come and check things if there is a problem. You could also probably take a sample and send it to a independant test agency. I would also try to take pictures of everything on the sly with your cell phone and document the site and your work conditions. If you have to sue them later it will help tremendously. Also goto your doctor, tell him you think you may be in a hazardous environment and want him to monitor your health. Essentially create a baseline then watch. Once again. Will help with possible future lawsuits.
Anxiety and scared of new job Asbestos
- Thread starter Wannabee
- Start date
- Status
cadpoint
Senior Member
- Location
- Durham, NC
Try this:
Try this:
B + mutli vitamin at dinner or for a night cap w/ milk ...
Try this:
B + mutli vitamin at dinner or for a night cap w/ milk ...
Last edited:
Why be secretive.
Why be secretive.
Asbestos has many miss conceptions. Just talk to the job supervisor with your concerns. The worst thing to be doing is sneaking around. I deal with this all the time. Rumor start getting everyone freaked out and soon you have a everyone in the building thing the are being exposed when they are not. I am dealing with a gentleman right now who doesn't believe the testing results. Do you all thing there is a great conspiracey to put workers in harms way.
You would be amazed how many times items come back not containing asbestos that individuals swear it did.
Why be secretive.
Asbestos has many miss conceptions. Just talk to the job supervisor with your concerns. The worst thing to be doing is sneaking around. I deal with this all the time. Rumor start getting everyone freaked out and soon you have a everyone in the building thing the are being exposed when they are not. I am dealing with a gentleman right now who doesn't believe the testing results. Do you all thing there is a great conspiracey to put workers in harms way.
You would be amazed how many times items come back not containing asbestos that individuals swear it did.
kkwong
Senior Member
- Location
- Sac, CA (I think)
First off, congrats on the job!
Second: on a properly run jobsite where asbestos is known to be a hazard, the techs running the samplers should be checking the PPM at least once a day, though I think most time it is around two or three. Like most people I can probably tell you that I've been around it three-four times that I know of and have addressed this with my doctor, and he mentioned unless I am in that area continually for an extended period of time chances are I will be just fine.
Do get checked out and mention you are working in an area that contains asbestos. I would also second keeping a record of your visits and your exposure to the material. Just in case the unthinkable happens, and you need to file a claim.
Second: on a properly run jobsite where asbestos is known to be a hazard, the techs running the samplers should be checking the PPM at least once a day, though I think most time it is around two or three. Like most people I can probably tell you that I've been around it three-four times that I know of and have addressed this with my doctor, and he mentioned unless I am in that area continually for an extended period of time chances are I will be just fine.
Do get checked out and mention you are working in an area that contains asbestos. I would also second keeping a record of your visits and your exposure to the material. Just in case the unthinkable happens, and you need to file a claim.
bkludecke
Senior Member
- Location
- Big Bear Lake, CA
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
I was a heavy smoker for almost 20 years (quit 23 years ago). I had a job about 30 years ago where we rebuilt oil switches and serviced old oil filled xfrmrs with the old PCB oil, I was up to my armpits in it somedays. I have worked in many old buildings over the years which were full of flying asbestos, mold you name it. I have and still do work on energized equipment without the proper PPE.
I'm happy to have lived this long and am in good health. I may have dodged the bullet so far.
I'm even happier that the new electricians are not nearly as cavelier about safety as I have been. It's just plain smart to think and work safely.
There are many dangers in working on construction sites and some risks are going to be incurred. This may not be the career for you.
By the way though; statistically, the most dangerous thing you do each day is driving to and from work, and a close second is working on ladders.
I'm happy to have lived this long and am in good health. I may have dodged the bullet so far.
I'm even happier that the new electricians are not nearly as cavelier about safety as I have been. It's just plain smart to think and work safely.
There are many dangers in working on construction sites and some risks are going to be incurred. This may not be the career for you.
By the way though; statistically, the most dangerous thing you do each day is driving to and from work, and a close second is working on ladders.
chadgaylord208
Member
- Location
- Rathdrum, Idaho
asbestos
asbestos
I used to work in the asbestos abatment field in Spokane, Wa.(lots of old buildings). Sounds to me like you are on a pretty safe job site. All the precautions for containment sound like there being followed. Your employer has alot of good incentives for making sure your safe. One being that the fines are substantial. Another thing you could do is check the abatment company to see if they have ever had any violations. can't remember the web site, but it should'nt be too hard to find. ---chad
asbestos
I used to work in the asbestos abatment field in Spokane, Wa.(lots of old buildings). Sounds to me like you are on a pretty safe job site. All the precautions for containment sound like there being followed. Your employer has alot of good incentives for making sure your safe. One being that the fines are substantial. Another thing you could do is check the abatment company to see if they have ever had any violations. can't remember the web site, but it should'nt be too hard to find. ---chad
Why not get some samples tested? If these employers care so much about us workers and are keeping things safe they should hand you the doggy bag and tell you where to get it tested. Yeh right! In every safety meeting I've been to they never tell you to trust others with your safety but to rely on yourself. And the one guy who said maybe this trade isn't for you, ignore him. There is this thing called new construction you know that keeps you from dealing with asbestos. And for those that think it's safe look up Libby MT and asbestos. You're not gonna like what you read. And Chad, we hail from the same neck of the woods. I'm betting there is a big difference between WA regulations and enforcement and CA and enforcement.
sparky_magoo
Senior Member
- Location
- Reno
In 1983 or 1984, I ran a large job at SRI International, formerly known as the Stanford Research Institute.
We ran thousands of feet of cable through underground steam tunnels. It was for access control and CCTV.
The steam tunnels were packed with loose asbestos insulation. No one told me or my crew.
A few years later, SRI hired me as their in-house TEMPEST technician & cryptologist.
Then, to work in the steam tunnels required all kinds of stuff. Spray down booths. Zoot suites that looked like something out of "Andromeda Strain".
I was told the company I previously worked for was informed of the hazzard. What will happen to me? I used to come home covered in asbestos. I even told the boss, I thought it was asbestos. He assurred me, "not so".
I confronted the past boss years later. He denied any knowledge. Such is the nature of doing "classified" work.
We ran thousands of feet of cable through underground steam tunnels. It was for access control and CCTV.
The steam tunnels were packed with loose asbestos insulation. No one told me or my crew.
A few years later, SRI hired me as their in-house TEMPEST technician & cryptologist.
Then, to work in the steam tunnels required all kinds of stuff. Spray down booths. Zoot suites that looked like something out of "Andromeda Strain".
I was told the company I previously worked for was informed of the hazzard. What will happen to me? I used to come home covered in asbestos. I even told the boss, I thought it was asbestos. He assurred me, "not so".
I confronted the past boss years later. He denied any knowledge. Such is the nature of doing "classified" work.
Wannabee
Member
- Location
- Orange County
I want to go back and read and comment to some of the posts directly but I just want to make this post first.
First of all. I do think that the company is very concerned and doing everything possible thing that they can. There is a big threat of lawsuits on this job. There are still hundreds if not 1000's of federal employees working in this building. Because there have already been threats of lawsuits and many complaints by the federal employees in this building. From what I can see I really don't think these employees have anything to worry about. I believe the air quality is probably fine especially since the work being done isn't on stories that the feds are working on. Where I am working obviously is though.
Well, I went into work that day and here is what happened. I started out working thinking I was just going to try to forget what was bothering me. But then again just around the corner down the hall from where I was working, the guys in the white outfits with filtration masks banging on the wall removing/demoing. Well, I just couldn't do it. It got to me. I went and found the foreman. I said, look I'm really sorry I just don't think I'm going to be able to work here. Somebody else came along, somebody above the foreman. He joined the conversation. Tried to explain to me that it was safe and that there has been an independent company hired by the feds to come in and monitor the air quality to avoid lawsuits. There was a safety officer of our company on our site at the time so I was brought to him. He gave me a 15 minute or so education on the safety requirement of this job as far as asbestors is concerned brought me around the builing showing things. Came up with me and asked me to show him the guys in filtration devices. He talked with them in front of me to ask them what they were doing. They explained that they always wear those filters as that is what is provided by their company. So they are actually wearing filters that are supposedly better that what is required at this site at this time. Apparantly they were removing drywall or something. So I was semi convinced that it should be safe. So I went to work stringing up the temp lighting.
Then the next day though my job was to go up there and begin removing all the wiring from the conduit. Well doing this job was actually even worse than putting up the temp lighting because I was disturbing dust up there that was laying on top of the electrical boxes and conduit and occasionally bumbing my hard hat on stuff. You see basically I believe that the asbestos levels in the air floating are in the acceptable levels when there is no disturbance but I'm not to sure when I'm actually doing work up there.
This all may seem really stupid to some of you but it really sucks to me. Especially since I really am liking the work I'm doing.
When I have time I'm going to address some of the points made by others.
Thanks everybody.
First of all. I do think that the company is very concerned and doing everything possible thing that they can. There is a big threat of lawsuits on this job. There are still hundreds if not 1000's of federal employees working in this building. Because there have already been threats of lawsuits and many complaints by the federal employees in this building. From what I can see I really don't think these employees have anything to worry about. I believe the air quality is probably fine especially since the work being done isn't on stories that the feds are working on. Where I am working obviously is though.
Well, I went into work that day and here is what happened. I started out working thinking I was just going to try to forget what was bothering me. But then again just around the corner down the hall from where I was working, the guys in the white outfits with filtration masks banging on the wall removing/demoing. Well, I just couldn't do it. It got to me. I went and found the foreman. I said, look I'm really sorry I just don't think I'm going to be able to work here. Somebody else came along, somebody above the foreman. He joined the conversation. Tried to explain to me that it was safe and that there has been an independent company hired by the feds to come in and monitor the air quality to avoid lawsuits. There was a safety officer of our company on our site at the time so I was brought to him. He gave me a 15 minute or so education on the safety requirement of this job as far as asbestors is concerned brought me around the builing showing things. Came up with me and asked me to show him the guys in filtration devices. He talked with them in front of me to ask them what they were doing. They explained that they always wear those filters as that is what is provided by their company. So they are actually wearing filters that are supposedly better that what is required at this site at this time. Apparantly they were removing drywall or something. So I was semi convinced that it should be safe. So I went to work stringing up the temp lighting.
Then the next day though my job was to go up there and begin removing all the wiring from the conduit. Well doing this job was actually even worse than putting up the temp lighting because I was disturbing dust up there that was laying on top of the electrical boxes and conduit and occasionally bumbing my hard hat on stuff. You see basically I believe that the asbestos levels in the air floating are in the acceptable levels when there is no disturbance but I'm not to sure when I'm actually doing work up there.
This all may seem really stupid to some of you but it really sucks to me. Especially since I really am liking the work I'm doing.
When I have time I'm going to address some of the points made by others.
Thanks everybody.
Wannabee
Member
- Location
- Orange County
Oh, I also wanted to mention this will be long term. This jobsite has years to go. So this isn't I one time thing. I could be at this jobsite for 6 months, a year. I don't know.
mdshunk
Senior Member
- Location
- Right here.
I think you're scared of dust. Dust is not necessarily asbestos.Wannabee said:
LawnGuyLandSparky
Senior Member
Wannabee said:
Do not let what 1000's of civil servants think influence YOUR thinking. There is a big difference between construction workers and a cubicle dwelling paper pushers. They're afraid of everything - and easily annoyed when they have to put up with construction work disrupting their otherwise serene, mundane working enviroments.
Knowledge is power, literally. Once you learn what the dangers are it becomes very easy to avoid them.
And remember, there are a lot of contractors. If the one you are working for isn't meeting your expectations then consider looking for another. I wouldn't leave a job though unless you are sure that it is unsafe. I have to admit I'd have been concerned if I saw guys in white suits tearing into a wall and it was appropriate to have that safety guy check it out. And don't feel like you are doing something wrong in being concerned for YOUR safety.
tallguy
Senior Member
wireman71 said:
I agree... and the manner in which they responded to Wannabee's concerns says A LOT. They didn't react defensively, they took some time to discuss it and show you -- there was not "shut up and get back to work" attitude. There's nothing here to raise alarm bells of a cavalier attitude towards the dangers.
Marc has a great point as well... sounds like the dust is the big concern. I've had that same feeling as well before --- "there must be some in here, right?" Most probably not.
If it still has you completely flipped out, you could go scoop up a sample of the dust, but I don't think that is your best course of action. Your last post sounds like you are concerned about the potential difference between airborne particulate testing vs. the lack of surface testing of the dusty areas where you are working. I would go back to the safety officer and just ask directly about that. I'm sure he/she would be happy to explain why it's not necessary, or that they've already tested it, etc.
weressl
Esteemed Member
Brilliant suggestion.mdshunk said:
NOT.
The bleeping guy had a DUI and you offer him drinks?!
LawnGuyLandSparky
Senior Member
He suggested drinks at home.
megloff11x
Senior Member
I had a friend working on building a big mall over an old oil storage toxic waste site. Workers were getting sick, but management said all was well. The friend took some of his own soil and water samples to a lab with the aid of muckraking journalists, and they found all kinds of nasty stuff. It made the paper. Apparently the state had done testing that showed everything was peachy. The story disappeared from the news pages in a few days and my friend was fired for his trouble. I was amazed than men in fedoras didn't make him disappear.
On the other side of the spectrum, we have Love Canal, which still hasn't been proven dangerous but cost zillions, and the decade old discredited fiasco on cancer from power line magnetic fields.
To me the larger problem is corruption. Rather than honestly assessing the situation and acting appropriately, there is either a cover up or a smear. In both cases we get hurt because of the costs that pass on to the customer.
Matt
On the other side of the spectrum, we have Love Canal, which still hasn't been proven dangerous but cost zillions, and the decade old discredited fiasco on cancer from power line magnetic fields.
To me the larger problem is corruption. Rather than honestly assessing the situation and acting appropriately, there is either a cover up or a smear. In both cases we get hurt because of the costs that pass on to the customer.
Matt
- Location
- San Francisco Bay Area, CA, USA
- Occupation
- Electrical Engineer
I didn't read the entire thread due to a lack of time, but I wanted to weigh in.
30 years ago I used to work on rebuilding sterilizers in hospitals. They were all coated with asbestos as thermal insulation. One of my jobs was to cut and remove it to allow access to the pipes and wires for the other guys. I used a circular saw and worked without a mask since I had a beard and it wouldn't have worked anyway. I inhaled a LOT of asbestos dust over the course of about 5 years.
When the big scare hit, I was fraught with anxiety. My employer had gone belly up and died, there was no recourse for me anywhere. I had a lot of discussions with any doctor who would listen. Most said "We have no idea how much exposure is / was dangerous." What they were doing was covering their asses because people were suing EVERYONE involved. Finally I attended a seminar put on by a lawyer who wanted to find clients to latch on to and go after deep pockets. I explained my situation to him, he sent me to HIS doctor, the one he used in trials. This guy was as honest as the day is long, at least to me anyway. He told me that the real danger was to people who worked IN THE ASBESTOS FACTORIES and their wives who would wash their clothes every day for 25 years or so. People who come in to casual contact for short periods of time MIGHT develop mesothelioma, but more likely they will die of something else first, such as old age!
It's been 30 years, I have no signs or symptoms (at least not yet). I am now grateful that I didn't spend those 30 years stewing and fretting about this issue.
30 years ago I used to work on rebuilding sterilizers in hospitals. They were all coated with asbestos as thermal insulation. One of my jobs was to cut and remove it to allow access to the pipes and wires for the other guys. I used a circular saw and worked without a mask since I had a beard and it wouldn't have worked anyway. I inhaled a LOT of asbestos dust over the course of about 5 years.
When the big scare hit, I was fraught with anxiety. My employer had gone belly up and died, there was no recourse for me anywhere. I had a lot of discussions with any doctor who would listen. Most said "We have no idea how much exposure is / was dangerous." What they were doing was covering their asses because people were suing EVERYONE involved. Finally I attended a seminar put on by a lawyer who wanted to find clients to latch on to and go after deep pockets. I explained my situation to him, he sent me to HIS doctor, the one he used in trials. This guy was as honest as the day is long, at least to me anyway. He told me that the real danger was to people who worked IN THE ASBESTOS FACTORIES and their wives who would wash their clothes every day for 25 years or so. People who come in to casual contact for short periods of time MIGHT develop mesothelioma, but more likely they will die of something else first, such as old age!
It's been 30 years, I have no signs or symptoms (at least not yet). I am now grateful that I didn't spend those 30 years stewing and fretting about this issue.
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