Asbestos News
Australian politician criticizes handling of asbestos at hospital
An Australian politician recently criticized a government agency for taking too long to remove asbestos from a hospital.Member of Parliament Mike Horan said that Queensland Health only took action on the deadly substance after receiving numerous complaints from staff at the Toowoomba Hospital on Darling Downs.
A spokesperson for the state health organization said that asbestos was found in the facility's pathology ward and it was removed except for a small amount deemed to be low risk.
However, Horan said that every last bit of the naturally occurring carcinogen should be removed.
"I believe that the risk to staff should be zero and any asbestos that's been left lying around, as it was just a few short weeks ago, should all be removed," he told the news source. "Queensland Health have got to have total respect for their staff and abide by having zero risk of asbestos."
Asbestos abatement is essential as exposure to the substance has been proven to cause a number of serious illnesses such as lung cancer, asbestosis and malignant mesothelioma, a rare cancer that attacks the lining of the chest, abdomen and many of the body's internal organs.
5/4/11
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