Asbestos Anxiety

[BiancaAM]

A few months ago at a block of land we were about to start building on, we had someone illegally dump rubbish from a demolition. We went to check it out with my 2 young children. Anyway we later found out that within the rubble were some cement sheeting at the back of some old tiles that likely had asbestos in them. I am now consumed with anxiety about the fact that my children may have been exposed to asbestos. I feel like I will have to live with this fear the rest of my life, wondering if they will ever become sick from it. Although I know it is likely a small chance they inhaled any fibres, it just terrifies me and I dont know how I will deal with this fear that I can do nothing about. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I have a history of GAD but this has just pushed it into overdrive.

[geoff]

hi Bianca, can you tell me the colour of the sheeting please, but if the sheeting was dumped there and you and your 2 young children were not close to it then you shouldn't worry.

One of my sons also has the same worry and always asks me straight away if there is any concern so I ask him a few questions and most likely all is OK, please get back to me as I'm about to log off and at the moment there is no cause for alarm. Geoff.

[BiancaAM]

I did not see the sheeting but some tradies had said they had found some in there. We were near the rubble.

[BiancaAM]

However we were not there when it was being dumped.

[geoff]

hi Bianca, as a handyman/builder I've had to deal with this before and there are many positives for the safety for you and the children, and just because it's been dumped on your property, firstly you don't know whether or not it has asbestos and secondly it's difficult for people to put this into the weekly bin for the dump truck to take it away, and thirdly the tip fees are too costly, don't worry, please let me know, just stay away from it at the moment until I hear back from you. Geoff.

[BiancaAM]

Thank you for your response Geoff. We already had it removed for a lot of money. So at least it is gone.

[geoff]

hi thanks, if you weren't there when it was dumped that's great, no problem and even if the tradies say they have found some there, I need to know what colour it is, but don't go near it, best to get someone who deals in asbestos removal then that will satisfy your fear.

You can be sitting next to asbestos sheeting and be totally safe, but it mustn't be broken and in windy conditions in front of you, and I've removed heaps of titled sheeting many times before, and because you've seen it, won't mean that you or the kids are in any trouble, just stay away and I'm sure 10/10 you have no trouble.
My son keeps asking me and I keep telling him there won't be a problem.
Let me know tomorrow so I hope you can trust me, finally my son does about this concern, you just need someone who knows, OK. Geoff.