your lucky then. If the seal is in a bad condition you will be at a higher risk even with your resp,overalls, h vac and sheeting down etc...... Your risk assessment and method statements will need to cover you for all possibilities.
better to employ proper qualified persons imo.
i agree to be fair. I wouldn't even change an asbestos rope seal in good condition never mind poor condition. Even though we can change rope seal when they are wet, I don't, I get some other gas bloke to do it if he wants to.
Best left to professionals in my opinion. If an asbestos rope seal is damaged then its new boiler time in my opinion. There may be some bloke who will swap it over, and fair enough, but not me, it stays where it is and its up to the customer to decide what they want to do.