This is probably not the right place for this but the mods can shift it

I have just read an artical in the marine engineers magazine concerning asbestos that is still being used in gaskets, brake material, packing etc that is being imported to Aust.

Aust has a total ban on any asbestos used in componets that are both made here and imported. It appears that products that are made in china,indonesea,tiawan and even canada still contain asbestos.
These products state on the packaging that "no asbestos used" or "asbestos free" but testing has revealed that they DO contain asbestos.

A example of this occurred in Sept last year when I was chief engineer on a brand new oil rig supply vessel built in Batam [singapore] This vessel had a Asbestos free certificate from the builders, checked by Aust customs, inspected by AMSA before coming to Aust.

I joined the vessel in Darwin and found that the port side muffler had a large hole burnt in it. I checked all the certificates and assumed that it was "asbestos free" . I spent 3 days covered head to foot in white dust removing the lagging around the muffler to carry out repairs. The insulation material "looked like a fiberglass/ refactory compound" but it turned out to be white asbestos.
You can not tell what it is usless a sample is lab. tested.
A subsequent inspection found that EVERY gasket was asbestos along with 100's of other componets.
The lesson here is DO NOT BELIEVE WHAT IS WRITTEN ON THE BOX as so many auto parts are made in these places.
Wear dust masks when doing any brake work or cleaning gaskets with wire brush.

THIS STUFF WILL KILL YOU. a long painful death

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Research is the difference between speculation and investment. Anyone who copys some one else will always be second
www.minisprintgt.com

thanks for the warning dave



Cheers TUCK3R

Yeah, asbestos has been outlawed for some time now but many cars still have asbestos parts - brakes, clutch and gaskets.
I always avoid industrial dust. I wouldn't be suprised if the 'organic' fibres used now are just as dangerous.

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Dean Hutton's first car was a Mini.

David...I would have thought in this day and age being covered in any dust in a marine engineering environment would always be minimised??? I know what I'm saying would be difficult, but would wetting down (not hosing) the lagging before and during the removal and having a vacuum cleaner close to every stage of the unwind help???

I recently had a "not happy Jan" moment when my big boss forgot to mention the thousands of Defence civilians also exposed to the same threat:

Fitzgibbon alarmed by Navy asbestos report

Posted Wed Jan 7, 2009 9:00am AEDT
Updated Wed Jan 7, 2009 9:22am AEDT

Sailors at commissioning of HMAS Stuart

Cancer fears: The Navy has been granted exemptions to the 2001 asbestos laws (AAP Image: Mick Tsikas, file photo)

Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon says he is alarmed by reports that thousands of Royal Australian Navy sailors could have been exposed to cancer-causing asbestos.

A risk assessment report prepared by a Defence contractor has found thousands of sailors could have been exposed to chrysotile asbestos in spare parts held in naval stores.

The use and importation of asbestos-containing materials was made illegal in Australia in 2001, but the Navy has been granted several waivers and exemptions.

Mr Fitzgibbon says that is coming to an end.

"I'm alarmed by the report. I'm alarmed by what I've been seeing in terms of the culture within Defence since I came to Government a year ago," he said.

"I've told Defence that we will not stand for it and I expect the problem to be fixed, notwithstanding the fact that it's likely to cost Defence a lot of money."

Mr Fitzgibbon says the Navy has until next year to eradicate the parts which contain asbestos.

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"Show me the Mini!"

oh well i guess its back to wearing dust mask when doing brakes and making sure u wear gloves aswell.

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oil leak?..what oil leak..that puddle under the car is just sweat from all that horsepower

The main thing is to wash the dust off with water before you start.

yeah but once its on the parts it gets everywhere.

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oil leak?..what oil leak..that puddle under the car is just sweat from all that horsepower

It does not matter if it gets everywhere as long as it does not get in your lungs.
Back in the old days they used to blow the dust off the brakes with compressed air.

It was the best material used in the old gaskets for extractors

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A couple maybe 4 years ago i was at a mates place where 2 doors down they were knoking down an old asbestos beach/holiday/fishing/cancer shack we were on his front verandah having a quiet one (NOT A MOMENT) knocking down said dwelling were the only licenced asbestos removalists in the area 'apprently'.Watching the surf coming in turned right as the lads came out of the house all dressed in regulation coveralls and masks[good job boys]then proceed to unzip themselves tie the arms around their waist remove the masks and of course DUST THEMSELVES OFF .It gets better/worse for some reason they decide to turn the truck around,yes lined in the manditory black plastic 'where they had throwen the dusted off overalls but didn't bother to shut the rear gate driving down the street what falls out a she at load of the wall paneling followed by one of the dust brothers running behind and picking it up and throwing it back into the truck.Then he hooks into a U turn at a side street tailgate ablaze and it hits the power pole
Don't know if it's funny or scary 'cause it's true

I helped a mate out over a number of months as he was renovating his place recently, popping in over the 2nd Saturday or so to lend a hand.

One weekend he asked me and a couple of other mates to come over and help him fill a skip bin one day, and we spent the better part of the morning filling it up. At the end of the job he casually mentioned that the garbage bags (around 4 of them) contained asbestos on them. @#$%, if he wants to put himself at risk that's his business, but I would have like to have known. I never helped him from that day onwards.

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One should never skimp on the zip ties.

Whats this "going back to wearing dust masks" business??

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDMkVq1jRGU

When i was at high school., they were removing asbestos from all the buidlings and we stll had to be at school! I didnt know heaps about it I still dont really but I didn't think it right that we're walking around while they are doing that?!

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Mellow Yellow 1976 Leyland

20 years ago I was in building work, we were building an addition to an old nursing home, the roof insulation was all blue asbestos, my boss said it was Ok to work in the area, as long as I didn't smoke! WTF!?

Mesothelioma is a very nasty disease!

And did you know it was the workers wives who were most affected due to the fact that women do not cough up and spit out dust (ok most women LOL), and these said wives did the laundry, shaking the dust off the overalls before putting them in the wash!

Dust masks all round I say.

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Cool stuff!!

When you look at china's track record lately, lead paint on kids toys, poisonous chemicals in baby formula just pinting something on a box means nothing.
According to the AIMPE report they are finding asbestos in all sorts of parts,gaskets etc and these are supposed to be asbestos free.
There is a AMSA[Aust Maritime Safety Authority] inquiry into this vessel I was on. The govt is being given more and more evidence on this problem, but until they get their thumb extracted nothing will be done. In the mean time people can contract a asbestos diesease and die later. stiff tities.
Wetting down is the best solution to the dust and a mask. it must be P2 grade or better, not some cheap chinese crap $2 for a 100.
If in doubt treat it as asbestos

Mick I know just where your coming from with these crap laws. 80% of the tugs in Aust are still full of it and legally they do not have to remove it.
PS Mick I did the job myself and kept everyone out of the E/R. This stuff can not kill me twice

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Research is the difference between speculation and investment. Anyone who copys some one else will always be second
www.minisprintgt.com