Asbestos backboard removal- Whose responsible?

Normally, a meter installation engineer is ‘pre-authorized’ to pull the main fuse without any need for further DNO involvement. In your case, though, both the DNO and the supplier will  have to attend: the DNO to change the backboard and replace the cut-out and the meter engineer to do the rest. Getting OVO and the DNO to coordinate their work will probably be a nightmare, but if if can’t be done, get the backboard changed first. I think ‘new meter required, but can’t be installed on asbestos backboard’ should be a good enough reason for SSEN to change it for you.  

Actually it depends on the specific DNO if a meter engineer can pull a main fuse or not. 
In this case you are correct @Steve-o that the backboard is your responsibility but it will certainly take some coordination from both DNO and supplier to replace. There will also need to be some additional support for the asbestos removal and disposal 

Hi @Steve-o,

This is one of the trickier ones to navigate as it may take some coordination like our volunteers advised. It really depends on what is on the board. Are you able to share a photo of the setup that you have and we can take a look?

We have a similar article here that can also shed light on your situation. 

I hope this helps and keep us updated of your progress.

Hi guys.

Thank you for your helpful replies. Am I right in thinking I can't get an asbestos specialist in first because they won't be allowed to touch the various units attached to the board? But both Ovo and Scottish and Southern said they won't touch the equipment until the back board is replaced. Is it a question of coordinating a joint visit of Ovo, the DNO and an asbestos specialist to get the job jobbed? If so, who should be doing the coordinating?

I've included a photo for reference, as per ChristopherS's sensible suggestion. 😊

What was the result of submitting your application? They won’t let anyone else touch their equipment, an asbestos-trained technician, for example.

You are correct regarding needing to coordinate all relevant parties for this swap @Steve-o but from the picture, I’m struggling to see the asbestos. 
That backboard looks wooden, unless it has some sort of additional backing

Me too 😉 I rather assumed that it was some sort of asbestos sheet faced with a fire-resistant veneer, since Steve seemed to know what he was talking about. 

Ha! I've no real idea what I'm talking about, that's why I came here. 😁

That's the picture I sent to OVO customer services. They said it was an asbestos back board. So, if it's not an asbestos back board, where is the asbestos flagged up by the two engineers who aborted the smart meter upgrades (twice)?

Presumably the engineers have seen something .. it’s just that looking at the photo, it looks very much like my backboard which is definitely not asbestos 

So who knows … 

I have to admit… I’m not a huge fan of that exposed wire below the main fuse...

It’s an earth Blastoise, connected to the Open earth bar and connected to the outer shield of the incoming cable. Zero potential

Looking back at your picture @Steve-o , I wonder if they’ve looked at the white background (wall?) and presumed that was part of the backboard. The engineers might have looked at the notes rather than examined the board fully … just a thought

The screws on the board look like they’re aged well enough to indicate the boards been there for a considerable time. We can’t rule out asbestos unless @Steve-o has already had the board/wall tested which confirms it. It may be worthwhile having this tested if you haven’t already to confirm the presence of asbestos. 

If you get the results and they are clear then it would make getting the backboard changed a step easier! 

Keep us updated on your progress with this one I will be following this topic closely! 

This has led me into a veritable rabbit warren. As far as I can make out*, a meter engineer who aborts a task because he suspects asbestos may be present should complete a report to that effect and hand a copy to the customer. This should also be recorded on the customer’s account, which is why there is presumably a ‘predicted abort’ flag on Steve’s. The report should detail where precisely the nasty stuff is, and the engineer should have left a warning sticker (BP’s engineers have left at least four different stickers over the years), but I can’t see one in your picture. Perhaps you could ask Support if they can send you a copy of the report(s) if they exist.

There is one other avenue to explore: your local council’s environmental health department. A good EHO¹ should be able to advise you how to proceed and might even conduct a site survey if one of his parishioners is at risk.  

*  Source: meteroperators.org.uk/download/asbestos-guidance-document_2019/?wpdmdl=8715

 

1. Strictly off-topic: I had a good friend, a retired gentleman. People were always asking him what he did before retiring, and his answer was always ‘ratcatcher’. I eventually learnt that he had a PhD in biology and been for many years the head of the environmental health department for a large local authority in the whisky belt. He would have come to look at your asbestos-infested meter cupboard.

Not sure who the DNO is but here UKPN seem to suggest that they would coordinate things .. I have seen different comments depending on region and ownership 

I assumed SSEN, going by “we’ve been sent back and forth between OVO and Scottish and Southern ...” in the OP. 

I had a quick look at your UKPN site and see that they’re pretty clued up as regards this asbestos business. I searched the equivalent SSEN site, but not a whisper about asbestos there. Some DNOs are more equal than others.

When I had recent work done by UKPN they asked me to send a short video of the meter area which meant no surprises when they arrived. A very useful idea.

Amazing suggestion @juliamc. I think with this type of scenario the more detail and information we have the better 🙂

Account number is **Removed by Mod** Cliff

I asked OVO to replace my Econ7 meter 3 months ago. An ‘engineer’ called on 17 July, took a quick look at the meter cupboard and said ‘never seen that before, distributor will need to deal with wiring before meter can be swapped’ and drove off after about 10 minutes. I later got an email saying DNO had been notified and should make an appointment within 8 weeks. After 8 weeks I contacted OVO on Chat and was told DNO had been informed. I phoned DNO who knew nothing of it. After making numerous queries and complaints I finally got told this week the problem was ‘asbestos in meter cupboard’ and DNO had responsibility to rectify. I have several issues with this (incidentally I’ve read all the online help on this kind of issue I can find)

1. I complained that OVO should have told me about asbestos at the time of the visit. No response from OVO.
2. I complained ‘asbestos in meter cupboard’ told me nothing - where exactly was the asbestos alleged to be, and how did the ‘engineer’ reach this conclusion on the basis of a brief visual inspection. How could I discuss the matter with DNO in this state of ignorance? No response from OVO.
3. I pointed out several times that there was no DNO equipment in the meter cupboard so why is the DNO being held responsible. The main fuse and cut-off are on the wall opposite and the ‘engineer’ did not even look at them. No response from OVO.
4. I have asked to see the OVO ‘engineer’s’ report and the request made to the DNO. No response from OVO.
5. I have pointed out this is time critical and should be priority because of RTS withdrawal. No response received.
6. I have pointed out that the warnings OVO gave about RTS were completely inadequate, just generic warnings like ‘your meter may not work’ with no explanation why or description of the consequences. No response received.

I attach pictures of meter cupboard. Nothing unusual I can see except defunct Horstmann meter left it situ when Schlumber Econ7 installed so they didn’t have to bother with rewiring. The blue/brown/earth wiring was installed three years ago when entire property rewired and new customer unit installed.

The DNO is SSEN.

Any advice how I can get OVO to confront their responsibilities and respond to legitimate queries and complaints? It’s above the pay grade of the help/complaints staff. All they can do is look at what the computer tells them and may not understand the issues. There are only two directors for the entire company and no mention of technical advisors.

Also any advice on what is likely to happen when RTS withdrawn if this doesn’t get resolved. I understand the meter may be jammed ‘on’ at the day or night rate or ‘off’ and not record anything. 

I am not an electrician.

There must be many thousands of people in this position.

You still have a few months yet. Bear with me - I need to ask a few folks for advice here.

Ok, I’ve spoken to SSEN just now and gotten their advice.

But to me, that Horstmann device appears to be a LOCAL timeswitch - not an RTS one and it appears to be active. I don’t think you’re on RTS for that reason.

SSEN has advised that removing the asbestos may be out of scope for them - you’d likely need to pay privately for a specialist to do it at your own cost. OVO would NOT be responsible for this cost either as it’s not in the meter or anything OVO manages/owns.

You’d also need to arrange for SSEN to visit on the same day to temporarily kill the power to the property, so that the asbestos specialists can work safely.

For further advice, please call 0800 048 3516 or send an email to the email address I’m about to share with you via PM.

Thanks very useful, would be good if this is not a race against time. 

Don’t mind paying, can you or anyone recommend specialist asbestos removers for this kind of job? I live in Oxfordshire (Witney).

Bearing in mind OVO has not told me where exactly the asbestos is, according to the ‘engineer’, assuming it really is there.

Sorry whats ‘PM’ - email is going there?

Cliff

PS I own the property but it is occupied by two invalid relatives, not me

OK ‘PM’ = private message, got it

I can’t recommend one myself, but try https://www.gov.uk/asbestos-in-home for advice.

PM is a Private Message. Check https://forum.ovoenergy.com/inbox/overview