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Posted By Peter MacDonald
We have a requirement to remove a bitumen adhesive left on a concrete sub-base. We normally clean and encapsulate but the client wants all of it removed so he doesn't have to keep an asbestos register. Looking at the job it will be almost impossible to scrape this stuff off with hand tools and obviously I can't scabble the stuff off. The client is talking about removing the bitumen with solvent but I'm not too keen on this due to the inherent risks.
Anyone out there dealt with this before? I personally would clean it and leave in-situ as there's a new vinyl floor going to get laid over it anyway. But it's not my floor.
Peter
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Posted By ken mosley
Peter,
I assume you a refering to adhesive used to fix vinyl/asbestos tiles. Providing the tiles have been completely removed there should not be any problem with the adhesive. Having done this on numerous local authority housing refurbishment projects and discussed the same with the local HSE construction inspector, both the client and HSE have not objected.
I would suggest you ring your nearest HSE office and discuss it with an inspector.
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Posted By Ron Hunter
Working on the basis that you have a positive analysis of the bitumastic, it seems to me that your client is going to a hugely disproportionate expense only to avoid keeping and managing a very simple record system.
Unfortunately, you may well be in the 'customer is always right' side of the business, and on that basis I can only offer you my sympathy!
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Posted By Peter MacDonald
Thanks Ron, You've hit the nail on the head. TCIAR!
I've a large bump on my head/desk interface so i appreciate your sympathy!!
Have you heard of any method for removal though?
Peter
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Posted By Alison Entwistle
Task Guidance Sheet A21 in HSG210 - Asbestos Essentials Task Manual refers.
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Posted By Ron Hunter
I don't think A21 quite covers the task Peter describes -this job will be indoors,and involves bonded fibres within a material well and truly stuck to the floor!
I'm not expert enough to provide you with a method, I would suggest though that the amount of disturbance involved in removing this material by (presumably) mechanical means (e.g. electric powered floor chisel) will liberate fibres from the bonding material to an extent that it will be necessary to build an enclosure?
Therefore a job for a licensed contractor?
I stress again that the client desire to remove goes against basic HSE guidance on heirarchy of controls - encapsulation is the sensible (and most cost effective) option.
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