ᐅ Renovating a 1970s House as a DIY Project Without Asbestos Testing
Created on: 10 Aug 2022 20:51
D
DitUndDat
Hello everyone,
Friends of ours were lucky to purchase a house at a relatively good price. Now, of course, the whole place is going to be renovated and refurbished, and various demolition work has started as a DIY project. I have read that asbestos was a very common material in building products back then. At the moment, all the floor coverings are being removed intensively, and the removal of the underfloor heating screed is already planned.
Our friends absolutely do not want to arrange for an asbestos test.
Am I being overly cautious by feeling uneasy about helping further until this has been checked? Isn’t it also unfair to the other tradespeople and helpers to carry out potentially hazardous work without knowing?
What do you think? I would really appreciate your opinions.
Thank you.
Friends of ours were lucky to purchase a house at a relatively good price. Now, of course, the whole place is going to be renovated and refurbished, and various demolition work has started as a DIY project. I have read that asbestos was a very common material in building products back then. At the moment, all the floor coverings are being removed intensively, and the removal of the underfloor heating screed is already planned.
Our friends absolutely do not want to arrange for an asbestos test.
Am I being overly cautious by feeling uneasy about helping further until this has been checked? Isn’t it also unfair to the other tradespeople and helpers to carry out potentially hazardous work without knowing?
What do you think? I would really appreciate your opinions.
Thank you.
W
WilderSueden17 Aug 2022 23:23Asbestos is a classic example of how risk perception can go wrong. When it was commonly used, workers cut the panels without any protective gear and some later developed cancer. Today, the approach has swung to the opposite extreme, and full protective suits are standard.
It’s clear that only inhaling the fibers is dangerous; as long as you’re not cutting or disturbing the material, there’s no risk. Furthermore, the risk of harm increases with exposure, and individuals in private settings have the freedom to decide how much risk they are willing to accept, unlike in the workplace where the employer is required to ensure safety.
Long story short, I wouldn’t personally panic about it. Renovation work usually involves little exposure, and as a friend, you’re likely only involved in some tasks. Life is risky, and a construction site has far more health hazards than asbestos.
It’s clear that only inhaling the fibers is dangerous; as long as you’re not cutting or disturbing the material, there’s no risk. Furthermore, the risk of harm increases with exposure, and individuals in private settings have the freedom to decide how much risk they are willing to accept, unlike in the workplace where the employer is required to ensure safety.
Long story short, I wouldn’t personally panic about it. Renovation work usually involves little exposure, and as a friend, you’re likely only involved in some tasks. Life is risky, and a construction site has far more health hazards than asbestos.