Asbestos at Peterborough Station (2015)

[MaggiesTrains]

Hi folks,

I came across this forum while trying to find info on asbestos warnings I saw on the ramped bridge at Peterbourough in 2015. (Thread was 'Asbestos At Alfreton' from 5 Jan 2018). I wondered if anyone here could help me put my mind at ease (or otherwise...)?

This goes back a bit, but it's always stayed at the back of my mind. I changed trains at Peterbourough in summer 2015, and due to being in a huge rush thought the only way to get across the platforms was via the ramped bridge. As far as I remember, the bridge had a safety-barrer in front of the entrance (not fully blocking it, more like a warning than a barrier and it definitely wasn't stopping anyone using the bridge) and there were some paper-printed signs inside the bridge saying 'asbestos'. As a couple of other people seemed to be using the bridge and I couldn't see an alternative I just followed on and didn't worry about it too much. But since then it's borred an occassional hole in my mind whenever asbestos comes up.

Does anyone know if this meant that people shouldn't have been crossing the bridge because work was being done on it that would expose asbestos? It wasn't very well blocked, which it surely should have been if there was actual work that could expose asbestos on it (I've been in an old office where asbestos was being removed and the safety equipment containing it was extensive, there was no way you could get exposed). The other forum suggested that paper signs at Alfreton were to warn contractors about the area if they were working in it; but I suppose that doesn't mean asbestos wasn't being damaged too, it just warned the contractors to take more precautions!

Anyway, sorry for this pretty random post, thanks to anyone who can help or knows a bit about what the signs in general migth have meant.

(PS, I know that a minor amount of exposure shouldn't be too much to worry about, and I must only have been on the bridge for about a minute, but it's more to find out if there was likely to have been any exposing work going on at all! Thanks.)

 

[Aictos]

That bridge you refer to is the old Royal Mail ramp bridge as the original sorting office for Royal Mail was sited where Waitrose is now as such it was only intended back there to be used by Royal Mail staff as Peterborough was served by the Travelling Post Offices until EWS lost the contract or station staff driving the accessible buggy between platforms as until a few years ago there was no lifts at Peterborough until the rebuild in the last decade.

I wouldn't worry too much as those signs have always been there even in BR days and plenty of people use it both staff and passengers so I don't think you have reason to panic.

I hope that reassures you?

 

[O L Leigh]

It’s probably asbestos sheeting which is safe provided it isn’t broken or degrading. Basically the asbestos fibres would be contained within the sheeting and therefore safe. If there was work going on in the bridge, the paper notices were probably there to warn the contractors so that they could apply the relevant safeguards.

From memory, the Health & Safety Executive website has quite a lot of information about asbestos.

 

[thejuggler]

If it was at a time when work was being carried out it was more likely a warning to contractors who may have needed to work on the structure.

Rest assured if it was a danger you wouldn't have been near it. Remember most buildings built before 1990 (including schools, colleges, hospitals, shops, offices) will probably contain asbestos. It was used in thousands of building products, including floor tiles and sanitary wear.

 

[AM9]

If it was at a time when work was being carried out it was more likely a warning to contractors who may have needed to work on the structure.

Rest assured if it was a danger you wouldn't have been near it. Remember most buildings built before 1990 (including schools, colleges, hospitals, shops, offices) will probably contain asbestos. It was used in thousands of building products, including floor tiles and sanitary wear.

That 'most buildings' also includes houses. Any ceilings finished in Artex textured player or similar up to 1999, have a source of white asbestos (chrysotile) as do asbestos cement products, (e.g. corrugated roof panels and panels used for lining internal walls around high temperature equipment such as boilers and their flues).
So, in reality, anyone living in a house built on the second half of the 20th century is likely to be very near to the stuff.

 

[DarloRich]

It’s probably asbestos sheeting which is safe provided it isn’t broken or degrading. Basically the asbestos fibres would be contained within the sheeting and therefore safe. If there was work going on in the bridge, the paper notices were probably there to warn the contractors so that they could apply the relevant safeguards.

From memory, the Health & Safety Executive website has quite a lot of information about asbestos.

Cant say better than this.

Get on the HSE website. loads of information there.

Any ceilings finished in Artex textured player or similar up to 1999, have a source of white asbestos (chrysotile) as do asbestos cement products,

My house was full of the stuff in the Artex and in the old boiler flue and surprisingly not in the tiles themselves but in the adhesive used to stick down some tiles! It was all removed by specialist contractors. it must be a nightmare for people who work in others houses. Perhaps @Cowley can add more!

 

[Cowley]

Cant say better than this.

Get on the HSE website. loads of information there.


My house was full of the stuff in the Artex and in the old boiler flue and surprisingly not in the tiles themselves but in the adhesive used to stick down some tiles! It was all removed by specialist contractors. it must be a nightmare for people who work in others houses. Perhaps @Cowley can add more!

It can cause issues that’s for sure. Sometimes you don’t know where the stuff is and being that I’m more on the decorating side of things I tend to leave it well alone rather than disturb it in any way!
I have covered the odd Artex coated kitchen ceiling with plasterboard and then plastered that rather than try to scrape it off and I think that’s what most people do where possible.
Agree with the above posts by the way.

 

[DarloRich]

I have covered the odd Artex coated kitchen ceiling with plasterboard and then plastered that rather than try to scrape it off and I think that’s what most people do where possible.

The guys who did my work said that is perfectly acceptable but it just means you move the problem down the road to the next person who doesn't know it is there and drills into it to change the light fitting!

The whole house needed re plastering so it came out. It cost me a bit more than planned but not a vast amount more

 

[Cowley]

The guys who did my work said that is perfectly acceptable but it just means you move the problem down the road to the next person who doesn't know it is there and drills into it to change the light fitting!

The whole house needed re plastering so it came out. It cost me a bit more than planned but not a vast amount more

Yes that’s probably a fair comment.

 

[AndrewP]

Sounds like a good contractor and or site manager putting the warnings in place to the staff on site don't do anything which poses an inadvertent risk.

Wish they were all like that!

 

[LowLevel]

It's fitted with asbestos sheeting as wall panelling. If I remember rightly it's painted and sealed and poses no risk to your health whatsoever, provided that it isn't damaged. It is registered and inspected for damage and the warning signage is there so that if damage does occur (mostly unlikely now that vehicles don't use it) it can be correctly reported and assessed.

Nothing at all to worry about.

 

[MaggiesTrains]

Thank you so much everyone for your responses - everyone has been so kind and helpful.

I've always felt a bit silly for having gone over it, especially since there were the not-quite-barriers, but it sounds like even less to worry about than I'd thought.

I really appreciate all your replies - hope you all have a lovely day!

 

[Parham Wood]

The signs will be there both as a warning if damage is done and to warn maintenance staff if work is required to be done on the bridge. There should be an asbestos register for the bridge which any person working on the bridge should consult before carrying out any work.

 

[railfan100]

With the huge amount of money the railways takes these days from government funds, the asbestos simply needs to be dealt with, seems an unnecessary risk for the public in the event of the smallest amount of damage

 

[skyhigh]

With the huge amount of money the railways takes these days from government funds, the asbestos simply needs to be dealt with, seems an unnecessary risk for the public in the event of the smallest amount of damage

Do you think it's worth taking a further huge amount of money to remove asbestos (seeing as all the money the railway currently takes is in use) when it's still found in buildings all over the country? As long as it's managed properly, it's not really a risk.

 

[railfan100]

Do you think it's worth taking a further huge amount of money to remove asbestos (seeing as all the money the railway currently takes is in use) when it's still found in buildings all over the country? As long as it's managed properly, it's not really a risk.

In a so called developed country personally I do not feel the risk is advisable and of sound judgement, it will need to be dealt with eventually so why delay this? Inside trains it was removed long ago, so why do stations differ?

 

[simonw]

In a so called developed country personally I do not feel the risk is advisable and of sound judgement, it will need to be dealt with eventually so why delay this? Inside trains it was removed long ago, so why do stations differ?

The cost of removal is very large against the extremely small risk that currently exists. There are better things to spend money on. We are not talking loose asbestos fibres in a confined area.

 

[AM9]

In a so called developed country personally I do not feel the risk is advisable and of sound judgement, it will need to be dealt with eventually so why delay this? Inside trains it was removed long ago, so why do stations differ?

There is a great deal of difference between asbestos products in rolling stock and asbestos in buildings:

The asbestos found in trains was usually sprayed in insualtion fibres between inner and outer panels. Corrosion, maintenance activities and the (low) risk of collision all contribute to the total risk that rolling stock carried. Asbestos in buildings (whether railway or elsewhere) was generallyin the form of asbestos cement products that are in a stable form. They are less likely to become friable as long as the building stands, they are in locations that aren't subject to dismantling during maintenance and far less likely to be involved in collisions.​

Buildings containing asbestos products exist in the industrial and domestic environment, so would you propose that every homeowner in this "so-called developed country" should have their house surveyed and if any is found be required straight away?

 

[XAM2175]

so would you propose that every homeowner in this "so-called developed country" should have their house surveyed and if any is found be required straight away?

Especially given how much bother we've had with a much smaller amount of flammable cladding on a much smaller number of buildings!

 

[skyhigh]

In a so called developed country personally I do not feel the risk is advisable and of sound judgement, it will need to be dealt with eventually so why delay this? Inside trains it was removed long ago, so why do stations differ?

You might think it's not an advisable risk, but experts have actually studied this and have concluded it's a minimal risk as long as there is management in place. Asbestos exists in some form in many many buildings. Given the huge cost (for minimal risk), why would you prioritise stations over schools or hospitals?

You'd be much better off reducing risks by spending that money on improving platform heights to reduce gaps, or replacing level crossings if you insisted that money had to be spent on the railway.