Asbestos News
Australian store given one week to cleanup asbestos
An Australian health and safety agency has given a shop owner one week to remove loose asbestos from his store.Recently, asbestos sheeting fell from the roof of the store in Donnybrook, Western Australia, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. The incident forced a portion of the Donnybrook central business district to close down so that the carcinogenic substance can be properly handled.
WorkSafe, the state authority responsible for enforcing the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984, gave the owner a week to deal with the asbestos problem. In addition, the agency is looking into claims the merchant made that the local municipal authority gave him improper instructions for dealing with his asbestos issues.
Asbestos was once widely used in the construction of homes and buildings due to its utility as an insulator and flame resistant properties. However, it is vital that asbestos be properly accounted for and dealt with as the inhalation of the deadly mineral fibers can cause a range of serious illnesses such as malignant mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer.
WorkSafe is working with local authorities to make sure the asbestos is kept damp until it can be removed.
3/11/11
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