Asbestos News
New Zealand company fined for failing to remove asbestos
A company from Wellington, New Zealand, was recently fined $20,000 after it allegedly failed to make sure electricity was cut off and asbestos was removed during the demolition of a former restaurant.According to the Dominion Post, the building was demolished in January by Concrete Cutting and Drilling, which was fined for allegedly putting workers in danger during the project.
Wellington District Court Judge Carrie Wainwright said the fine was a result of the company owner acting ignorant and naive in terms of the demolition work. The company, which was reportedly completing a demolition for the first time, had pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to make sure its workers were safe, according to the news source.
The back wall of the structure reportedly contained asbestos, but the carcinogenic material was not removed from the site before the demolition, the news source said. This could have serious consequences as the inhalation of loose asbestos fibers has been known for decades to cause a number of deadly diseases including asbestosis, lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma.
12/14/11
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