Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 11, 2014 10:40:28 GMT
Came across this rather over the top article recently. Knowing the media and the RMT, I'm inclined to think the headline is a bit excessive (I also like the way a picture of what is surely a Northern line train is captioned with 'Central line tunnels east of Mile End covered in asbestos, Tube worker says (Reuters)' - I don't know where that train is, but it isn't in a Central line tunnel east of Mile End  ). But it did get me wondering if anyone on here has something more sophisticated to contribute on the topic of asbestos on the Underground. Is there a lot of it, is it a problem, what's been/being done, that kind of thing? |
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Post by Indefatigable on Oct 11, 2014 12:21:24 GMT
That picture has been used for stories such as the Olympic Games - in this instance, they've cropped it on the right to remove some scratches and graffiti (which you can just see a bit of). Not sure on the station, but the train appears to be a Jubilee Line train based on a google search of the image
If there is asbestos, LU have to remove it - I have heard there is still quite a bit of it in tunnels, but you can either remove it in the hours you have available when the service is shut down or do it in stages which would involve closing sections of the line off.
I'm sure somebody will describe it in a more technical manner
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castlebar
Planners use hindsight, not foresight
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Post by castlebar on Oct 11, 2014 12:40:05 GMT
My only comment is that it was once alleged that the tunnels were once full of asbestos dust, some from tunnel cladding/insulation, but more from the brake shoes of stock, every time it stopped in the tunnels. Asbestos was in regular use everywhere until about 1970 I think, but could easily be corrected about the date.
Three years ago, a good friend of mine died of asbestos related cancer, and he had just two weeks exposure to this stuff as it was sprayed on pipes in his working environment 35 years earlier.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 11, 2014 12:45:47 GMT
Basically its full of it and its better to leave it alone its safe along as you don't disturb it i.e drill in to it, cut it, break it. It was a great fire retardant but it had the un desirable effect of killing people when fibres got into the lungs. LU have a specialist company to do sampling of asbestos and we have had in some cases where we have had one of our rooms tested that the air in the normal environment was more toxic then the room itself which had minimal safe levels. When asbestos has to be removed there is a lot of rules and guidelines which have to be catered for but along its removed by a authorised contractor. Remember most train brakes had asbestos brake linings and a lot of signalling has got asbestos in one way shape or form. Some of the equipment rooms have asbestos tiles lining the rooms you just have to respect it.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 11, 2014 13:13:34 GMT
If there is asbestos, LU have to remove it - I have heard there is still quite a bit of it in tunnels, but you can either remove it in the hours you have available when the service is shut down or do it in stages which would involve closing sections of the line off. I'm not altogether sure that they do, you know, as it says, most of it is behind encapsulating paint. There are many problems with removing it, firstly removing all of it would cost all the money in the world. Secondly, it's so much more difficult to work down in the pipe, where it's dark and cramped, every tiny little job takes so much longer because there's so little room to move and then you've got to get all the equipment there and the material and everything else out. This would be a massive job, really massive. And then there's the worry that in removing it you could make a mess, in the open air it's not so bad, but down in the tunnel you kinda think - well do we really wanna disturb this when it's fine where it is? Don't tickle a sleeping dragon  |
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Post by Indefatigable on Oct 11, 2014 13:30:35 GMT
Ah, Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus indeed, tut *Indefatigable grins at showing off his Latin skills*
You may well have a point
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Post by crusty54 on Oct 11, 2014 14:16:40 GMT
All stations have had asbestos surveys and there are details of locations kept on site if any was found that has not been removed.
This has to be consulted before drilling etc.
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). But it did get me wondering if anyone on here has something more sophisticated to contribute on the topic of asbestos on the Underground. Is there a lot of it, is it a problem, what's been/being done, that kind of thing?
