Airgap

Thanks, I do use a 3m half-mask and you can hardly tell it's there. I started out using a PAPR, but realized quickly that was'nt going to work.

I work for Va Tech in the plumbing maintenance shop, and do residential work on the side as much as I can. I haven't been able to use my AB training as of yet on my business side, but I hope to in the future.

All of our supplies are provided through university budget, so I'm not much help there, but we use a local safety supplier for our Tyveks, and glove bags. I'll see what other info I can dig up tomorrow.

ILPlumber

I use the low Voc stuff. Don't in particularly want to get sick from that either.

Wethead

But seriously and back on topic

@ILplumber

It's good to hear that you are taking a class, its better then not knowing how it can hurt you.

I do agree it is dangerous if messed with

Airgap

Hey, Ilplumber, just wondering what made you decide to do the ab training? What types of situations do you see it.

ILPlumber

Asbestos Contractor had one wing of a College under containment. They broke a water main (I have no idea how) No valves to the wing to isolate it. I could not go in to make the repair. Ended up shutting water down to that entire building. They had to haul water to finish their work. A week later after they had clean air samples I went in and spent an hour doing the repair. I decided right then to get certified.

I also figure on doing my own stuff if I just have to change a valve or cut in a tee. All minor fibre release stuff though. I don't plan on entering the field as a full fledged contractor. You never know though

Airgap

I think you've made a good decision. If you get your name out there with the supervisor training you can really profit from it. I only do glove bags, no containment work. There are a lot of small jobs out there that most people don't want to fool with. remember, keep it wet, it won't be friable, easy.

Marlin

Most of the guys at the shop I work for don't pay any mind to it. I am of the opinon though I'm not sure if it's correct that it is fairly harmless when in good shape and not disturbed. So I don't run out of a house when I see it. I certainly am not going to start playing with it though.
My first experiance with it was replacing a boiler. It is a big old oil fired steam (converted to hot water) boiler in a large building. The asbestos has long since been removed from the pipes and three guys and myself cut the headers out. We start taking the jacket off to break up the sections and soon discover it was insulated in asbestos.
No one there pays it any mind and just continues on taking it apart. So I open my mouth and comment on the asbestos. They kind of look at me funny and tell me it's nothing to worry about, we're going to scrape it off and vacuum it up.
I have a good mask but that alone is not enough to go ripping out asbestos. No one else is even equipped with a dust mask and a pair of gloves. I basically say "you're nuts I'm not doing this", walk out, call my boss and tell him I'm not doing it. I can tell he isn't happy about it but he obliges and tells me someone is else is going to come and I can go do something else. I did offer to let someone use my mask so they had at least some protection and nobody wanted it.
I've seen it plenty of times since then and have only been asked to remove it once. We were supposed to rip out a bunch of old insulated steam lines to replace them with new pex water lines. I did the same thing, walked outside, called the boss and said I'm not going this. He doesn't like it but he isn't going to fire me over it and if he does I really don't care. My health is worth more then a few dollars.


OSHA would have had a field day at that job sight.

ILPlumber

Good for you Marlin!

Gotta protect yourself.

Airgap

It's harmless if not disturbed. The best insulation we've ever come up with. Unfortunately, there are potentially some long term risks. Marlin, you made the right call, we have to look out for ourselves cause sometimes that's the only person who will. I will say the chances of getting sick from an AB related disease are very slim, even under long term acute exposure. But, why take the chance. Someone who smokes increases the chance greatly though. Something like 50% more likely, but I'm not sure about that number.

ILPlumber

50 - 90 times more likely. Called the synergestic effect.