On Wednesday 6 March 2013, ACT Health conducted an air-monitoring test at Canberra Hospital as part of standard safety measures associated with reconstruction works taking place within the building. Old vinyl adhesives on level eight of the building, which contained bonded asbestos fibres, were being removed for the safety and protection of the public and staff.
The recent air monitoring revealed that levels seven and nine of the building contained an unknown airborne fibre. ACT Health is concerned that this fibre may be airborne asbestos fibres, which may pose a detrimental threat to the health of staff, patients and visitors.
Despite this concern, Charles Guest, ACT Health Public Health physician, has stated that the risk of exposure to asbestos fibres was extremely unlikely and remote. The hospital says that the removal of the old vinyl adhesives were undertaken with great care and precaution by experienced and certified asbestos removers. Further, a multitude of factors could have contributed to the airborne fibre readings; for example, it may be the dust from other construction work taking place within the building, or clothing fibres.
The nature of these airborne fibres will be revealed in approximately twenty-four hours. Although it has not been confirmed that these fibres are a threat to human health, Dr Guest suggests that people with health concerns should consult their general practitioner as a precautionary measure.
Asbestos has been said to be a constant threat in Canberra as a result of poor building practices from the past. Despite the fact that building contractors are dealing with asbestos responsibly, it continues to remain a potential threat to citizens in the area. Dean Hall, secretary for Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union ACT, has stated that concerns regarding asbestos are raised on a weekly basis.
Asbestos releases detrimental fine particles of dust containing asbestos fibres. The inhalation of asbestos fibres can subsequently lead to asbestos related diseases, including mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer. Although mesothelioma treatment and mesothelioma compensation in the Australian Capital Territory is available, mesothelioma itself is not curable.
In Australia mesothelioma compensation (or asbestos compensation, or asbestosis compensation) is available to those who unfortunately do contract asbestos conditions.
